BALTIMORE RAVENS
McNair Brings Needed Switch From Boller to Pro Bowler
In 2003, Jamal Lewis rushed for 2,066 yards and 14 touchdowns. In two seasons since then, he has rushed for 1,912 yards and 10 touchdowns.
(By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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The face of the Baltimore Ravens long has been linebacker Ray Lewis, but when quarterback Steve McNair entered the picture, there suddenly was a recognizable leader on offense as well.
Traded from Tennessee to Baltimore in June, McNair, 33, is eager to regain his winning form after watching the Titans finish 4-12 last season. With the trade, the Ravens gained a proven (though aging) quarterback who has been to the Pro Bowl three times and in 2003 was the league's co-MVP. It has been a welcome change from the seemingly revolving door of unsuccessful Baltimore quarterbacks, the last of which was Kyle Boller.
To succeed, the Ravens need running back Jamal Lewis to have numbers closer to those of 2003 (2,066 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns) than last season, when he rushed for 906 yards and three touchdowns.
They also will need a healthy McNair, who is well aware of the expectations. He does have a familiar face to throw to in wide receiver Derrick Mason, who played with the Titans from 1997 to 2004. With McNair at quarterback, Mason compiled four straight seasons with 1,000 yards receiving.
"I feel like the thing I've got to do is just continue to play my game, and everything else will take care of itself," McNair said. "I'm not trying to go out there and be Superman. I'm just going to go out there and play my style of game -- basically running the football, just handing the ball off, just throwing the football."
