SOMETIMES…ALL WE NEED IS MCNAIR THERE TO LEAD AND TO LOVE YOU ~ Clearly the Titans handling of Steve McNair is a delicate issue.  He has been the face of the Titans and while he isn’t a vocal leader, he certainly leads by example through his warrior’s approach to the game and through his heroic playmaking abilities in clutch situations.

So when the Titans turned him away from Baptist Sports Park on Monday, it couldn’t have been easy.  Word is the decision was the choice of none other than Titans’ owner Bud Adams.  An injury to McNair could lock in the $9 million salary the quarterback is due under the terms of his current deal as well as a staggering cap figure of $24.5 million.

Now the responsibility for such an enormous figure isn’t McNair’s.  If anything the team should bear responsibility for placing 20% of their cap on one player.  They initiated much of the restructuring of McNair’s contract over the years, which has pushed the cap figure to its current level.  The risk of injury however slight it may be, certainly could tie the hands of the Titans front office and force them to restructure other deals leaving the organization at risk in the future when a load of “dead money” could stare them in the face.

The Titans released this statement explaining their decision to turn McNair away:

"With the offseason conditioning program under way, we have no choice but to protect the club and its future from the possibility of having a significant amount of our salary cap at risk in a single player should he sustain a major injury.  This is entirely a risk management problem and not a reflection of the enormous respect we have for Steve, for what he means to our franchise, and the huge contributions he has made as a player and as a person.

"It was unfortunate the way this played out, but we think both Steve and Bus [Cook, McNair’s agent] understand the team's position. Other clubs facing the same dilemma have arrived at the same conclusion we did. We will continue our efforts to resolve the contract difficulties and look forward to Steve returning when this is completed."

Speaking on behalf of his client, Cook doesn’t quite see it the same way:

“I have never seen anything like that in my life. They can sugarcoat it any way they want to, but when you throw your starting quarterback off the property, an MVP, Pro Bowl guy who led them to the Super Bowl and one of the greatest players in the history of the team. To just to throw him out? After this, I don’t think Steve would want to go back any more."

Emotions aside, the Titans could still part ways with McNair.  While the organization is determined and eager to restore its winning tradition, it would be short-sighted and slightly naïve on their part to think that they can go from a 4-12 record to a playoff team in one year even with McNair.  Crazier things have happened but in all likelihood, the Titans are managing their team towards the 2007 post season.  And if that is the case, why carry the financial burden tied to Steve McNair?

That would bode well for the Ravens who probably already have a No. 9 jersey ready to go for that obligatory post signing press conference.  Keep in mind though that if the Titans do in fact cut ties with McNair, they could wait until after June 1 to spread out the dead money tied to McNair over a two year period.

Interestingly, the Titans if they are not enamored with Billy Volek (who reportedly has his home up for sale), could look to Kerry Collins.  That would be an ironic twist now wouldn’t it? 

Of concern to the Ravens, what if the Titans did sign Collins before releasing McNair?  Couldn’t that give Bus Cook a ton of leverage over the Ravens when they sit at the bargaining table?  Stay tuned!  I’m sure you will. 

BRING BACK THAT LOVIN’ FEELING….OOO THAT LOVIN’ FEELING ~ Leading into the Lady Terps National Title Game against Duke last night, I was quite taken by the collective will of the team to win for Brenda Frese.  To a woman, the Terps praised Frese for her dedication and commitment and they were unwavering in their resolve.  Not once did I hear an “I” over a “we” or “for her”.  They were all about the team and their coach.

They played as a unit and kept their composure when down by as much as 13.  Much to my surprise, I found myself every bit as much into the game last night as a Terps men’s game.  Perhaps even more so and I think it has everything to do with the oneness of this special team – it’s singularity of purpose.

How did it get that way?  I wanted to know because I can’t help but draw comparisons to the Men’s Terps team or even the Ravens.

"[Coach B] makes the phone calls; she makes the visits," said forward Laura Harper. "It's not some assistant. She doesn't make you feel wanted; she makes you feel needed."

Marissa Coleman who was lectured at mid court by Frese and forcefully told to get back to playing the game she's played for so long said, "Coach B is never going to put you down. Even when she's yelling at you she's going to be picking you up.  We definitely feed off her emotions. She loves coaching and we love playing for her."

Wow!  Can they share some of that Kool Aid?

The Lady Terps will be returning their entire starting team which included two freshmen and two sophomores this season.  The team’s youth and inexperience was brought into question heading into last night’s game. 

"Age is just a number," said Frese. "When you got kids that believe and they believe in each other and they got that kind of confidence, you can accomplish anything as a team."

With an emphasis on “as a team.”

Inspiring isn’t it?  I know that I was inspired and for the time being, these ladies have helped me to forget about the frustrations brought on by a few other teams around town.  Let’s hope they were watching and listening as well.

Thank you Brenda Frese, Kristi Toliver, Shay Doron and Company.  You brought back that loving feeling. 

WE MAY NEVER PASS THIS WAY AGAIN ~ In what could be the first of two visits to Baltimore in 2006, Vince Young was in town on Monday to meet with the Ravens, pound flesh, exchange pleasantries and then head back out of town.  When might his next visit be?  When the Oakland Raiders come into town to take on the Ravens at The Vault. 

HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS ~ I bet they will in Philadelphia.  Word is the Eagles will play host on Christmas (a Monday) to none other than Terrell Owens and the Dallas Cowboys.  For those that don’t know, the city of brotherly love has been anything but brotherly to the Cowboys.  Their angst towards the Cowboys dwarfs the disdain that Baltimore feels towards the Steelers.  You may recall that Eagles fans cheered wildly when Michael Irvin laid motionless on the rock hard turf at The Vet.

And if you think the spirit of The Season might soften the hearts of Philadelphians, well forget it!  They once joined forces to bomb Santa Claus with snowballs.

T.O. has no chance if this report turns out to be true!

AND EVEN THOUGH WE AIN’T GOT MONEY ~ In his "Around the League" piece on NFL.com, Adam Schefter reports that the Titans are “a mere $462,673 under the salary cap -- and that doesn't include signing the upcoming draft's No. 3 overall pick.”

Meanwhile down at Camden Yards where they do have money but won’t spend it, Peter Angelos is once again engaged in the Big Weenie contest in yet another attempt to win a battle yet lose the war. 

Mora originally wanted $10 million per year for 3 years to remain an Oriole beyond 2006.  The Orioles offered $8 mil per.  Mora met them in the middle at $9 mil per.  The Orioles said $8 mil per.

Don’t budge Melvin.  Don’t budge another cent!

Speaking of cents, if you have 9,000 of them, you can get a brand new Daunte Culpepper Dolphins jersey Saturday when the team hosts its season ticket holder appreciation event.  Wonder if the $90 gets you a lap dance too?