Steve McNair, Derrick Mason and Samari Rolle came within one yard of winning Super Bowl XXXVI when the trio starred for the Tennessee Titans.
All three are reunited this year as members of the Ravens and want nothing more than to get that elusive ring. To do so, they joined a team that was once their greatest rival in the old AFC Central. In addition, Baltimore and Tennessee have split a pair of postseason battles.
Mason, a wide receiver who joined the Ravens in 2005, said having McNair as his quarterback again is like old times. He added that he?s more concerned with McNair developing chemistry with players like tight end Todd Heap and wideout Mark Clayton.
“Being with a guy that long, and him being absent for a year is equivalent to Steve being on IR [injured reserve] and then coming back to play,” said Mason, entering his ninth year as McNair’s teammate. “So I don?t think we lost anything.”
McNair, who joined the Ravens after spending 11 seasons with the Titans, said Mason offers him security as he learns Baltimore?s offensive system.
“Derrick?s a great guy,” McNair said. “He?s been the guy I?ve been working with for a long time. At this point, it?s just about me just getting in and learning the other guys.”
Rolle, a cornerback who signed with Baltimore last year after spending eight seasons in Tennessee, said he couldn?t think of anybody better to run the Ravens? offense than McNair.
“I think [McNair] is going to have an MVP-type season,” Rolle said. “You can already see how much better we are offensively. … I think we have the perfect quarterback to lead us. You know every Sunday he?s going to be there for us, and that?s a great feeling to have.”
Mason said he, McNair, Rolle and the rest of the Ravens have the same expectations now as he did each year in Tennessee: to get to the Super Bowl.
“Why would I have anything below that?” Mason said. “If I have anything below that, I think I?m short-changing myself, the team and the organization. I think we have, just like any other team, the talent. What has to happen is we have to put it all together, and I think the number one thing is we have to stay healthy.”
FORMER TITAN NOTES
» Rolle has 24 career interceptions, including a career-high seven in 2000.
» Mason has been the third-leading wide receiver in receptions (277) in the NFL the last three years, behind only Torry Holt (313) and Chad Johnson (282).
» McNair has a 56-37 record as a starting quarterback the last six seasons. That equates to a .602 winning percentage, which is sixth-best in the NFL among active quarterbacks.
