Steve McNair leaves longtime home, heads for Baltimore

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Steve McNair finally split with Tennessee Titans and is heading for Baltimore.
McNair, who led the Titans to the 2000 Super Bowl, was finally dealt Wednesday to a team that has been seeking a prime quarterback throughout its 10-year existence.
He still had to pass a physical in Baltimore to finalize the deal, but the Ravens planned to introduce the man who shared the NFL's MVP award in 2003 as their new quarterback at a news conference this afternoon.
The Titans swapped the face of their franchise and a fan favorite for what is believed to be a fourth-round pick in next spring's draft. They had been trying to renegotiate McNair's salary from his scheduled $9 million to reduce a $23.46 million salary cap hit.
"Obviously, the best situation would've been somehow to have been able to pay him what his market value was and keep him," said Bus Cook, McNair's agent. "Without that, it's best for everybody that Steve moves on."
McNair, who turned 33 in February, was the winningest quarterback in franchise history. In 11 seasons, he went 81-59 and shared the MVP award with Peyton Manning three years ago.
The quarterback won a grievance last week that allowed him to return to the team's headquarters and work out after being told he couldn't on April 3.
The new deal
But the Titans had given McNair's agent permission to talk with Baltimore on April 30 about a contract, and Cook worked out a five-year deal with an $11 million signing bonus and $1 million salary for 2006.
That was much more than McNair could get from the Titans, who had drafted quarterback Vince Young of Texas with the third overall pick in April. The Titans declined to comment after issuing a brief statement announcing the trade.
"Upon passing a physical, final trade terms will be agreed upon," the statement said.
McNair is expected to be the starting quarterback for the team that ended the Titans' bid for a second straight Super Bowl appearance in 2001. That loss is merely one piece of the former AFC Central rivalry featuring physical games and trash-talking between the coaches.
Kyle Boller, the Ravens' incumbent QB, conceded on Tuesday that McNair would likely be the starter.