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Matt Ryan’s draft stock just went up a little bit.
According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, Ravens quarterback Steve McNair has informed the team that he will retire. He told coach John Harbaugh and G.M. Ozzie Newsome of his decision last night.
The Ravens have since issued a release announcing the move, and scheduling a press conference for 1:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday.
The move leaves the Ravens with Kyle Boller and Troy Smith as the top two guys on the depth chart.
And while it’s good that the Ravens knew about McNair’s plans before the draft, it would have been better for the team to keep things quiet until after the draft, so that other teams wouldn’t suspect that the Ravens are hot for any of the quarterback prospects.
Unless that’s what the Ravens want teams to think.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Definitely look for a team to trade up with the rams and try and snag matt ryan
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April 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
good. now instead of retooling we can rebuild the offense.
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April 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
This is horrible news. With the 8th pick the Baltimore Ravens select QB Matt Ryan.
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April 17th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I think that may be exactly what the Ravens are doing. Kyle Boller played as well or better than McNair last year. I don’t know why everyone was just handing the starting job to McNair anyway. He was already in Mark Brunell territory anyway in my opinion. I don’t see any reason why Boller can’t turn into the next Vinny Testiverde and end up having a solid career. Kyle does not seem to have the same (ahem) issues that David Carr has and the Ravens don’t need a superstar at QB with their defense.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Kinda sad…McNair was a great player who got old VERY quickly. Smart move on his part to retire.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Looks like Favre found his fishing buddy.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I guess it really was McNair puking at the off-season workouts, lol.
Go ahead Andy Reid, trade ‘em AJ Feeley for a second day pick. God, the Browns are going to beat the Ravens brains in for years to come.
Brian Billick should change his name to Nero for what he did to this team, but I guess alls well when you win a Lombardi.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:15 am
This is either really good news or really bad news. On one hand it gives the competition to probably Troy Smith (since Boller has a good game, then tanks it with a horrible game) and there isn’t much of a dispute heading into the season. Or, it means that The Ravens select Matt Ryan and there isn’t a solid vet. to show him the ropes. Which would thrust Boller into action until at least week 5. Now the team can’t focus on corner backs and recievers, it needs a leader whether its through the draft or with Boller (possibly) or Smith stepping up.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Not just good news, great news. McNair had a fluke year in Baltimore when they went 13-3, his second season he was trash and oft injured. I think Joe Flacco would be a much better fit for the Ravens than Matt Ryan or Brian Brohm. To be honest, I’d actually wait until much later and draft Colt Brennan. Sure, his TEAM got smashed by Georgia, but the kid still has a strong arm and can make throws. With the #8 pick the Ravens would be smart to take an OT to replace Ogden who’s sure to retire soon as well.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I would think that the coaching staff would be doing backflips after hearing this.
McNair was a warrior for sure, his first season in Baltimore he dragged the Ravens into the playoffs. But he was so beat up against the Colts that he couldnt get the ball more than 8 yards down the field.
But really he never helped this team and the case could be made that he actually prevented it from growing. My biggest knock against McNair was that he never practiced. Absolutely he was tough as nails and played through pain, but at the same time its nearly impossible for teammates to get used to playing with one guy on sunday and another guy 3 or 4 days a week.
Regardless he had an impressive career and we him all the best.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:22 am
About time, I don’t think there was a slower player in the NFL. I don’t see why they don’t put Troy Smith in more. He was a consistant QB for Ohio until he was owned in the national championship.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:27 am
is that the same yahmpy from the emb?
The eagles have two QB that can be had for a first day pick, and I am not talking about McNabb.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Good news no doubt…. Does anyone know what the salary cap implications are? Mcnair had a decent salarly and had a ~21M signing bonus.
Let’s get on with fixing the offense. No doubt that will occue just when the defense will fall apart!
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Good move by Mcnair. Leave with some of your body left and a bit of dignity. Last year was a TERRIBLE performance at QB…I mean really, really bad…I felt bad for the guy.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
McNair retiring will spare us from endless boring reports about how his shoulder is doing…thank goodness. Here’s to the blackbirds bringing in Joe Flacco
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:29 am
McNair had a great career and I’ll be sad to see him go. Would be nice if he could retire as a Titan (or GASP! an Oiler).
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
My image of him will always be him escaping from Kevin Carter in the last minutes of Super Bowl XXXIV to keep the drive alive, vintage McNair.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, Matt Ryan or Steve McNair. It doesn’t matter: the team will still finish in the McBasement.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I don’t see what this changed in the Ravens’ draft plans. Steve McNair was a diminishing return anyway, and if you’re going to draft a guy like Matt Ryan in the first round, it’s not going to be for the short-term. If they were going to draft him, they still will. If they weren’t, they had to be fairly confident of their long-term situation or at least planning to look somewhere else.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
The ravens could get a good QB in round 2. That QB would get less cash and also would be signed quicker.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Man the Ravens are hurting on offense, if they get Matt Ryan then they will be cool but, Brohm’s arm doesn’t have enough zip on it for the NFL IMO. If Atlanta take Ryan then the ravens need to try and trade for Derek Anderson.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Sounds to me like they want somebody to trade in front of them for a QB hoping a player falls to them at #8.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Titans fans were hoping for him to come to his senses, and agree to be a backup/mentor to Vince Young.
Guess not.
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April 17th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Hey there’s room in the PFT dumbster, oh, he retired… my bad!
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April 17th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Ummm, no Hartley. He’s already his mentor, and believe it or not Kerry Collins is better.
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