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McNair Retires As Ravens Open Harbaugh Era
Ravens quarterback Steve McNair is ready to hang it up. The veteran signal caller will officially announce his retirement from a stellar 13-year career at a press conference at Ravens headquarters later today.

The announcement comes as the Ravens prepare to the take the field for their first mini-camp under new head coach John Harbaugh.

The 2003 NFL co-Most Valuable Player was the unquestioned offensive leader of the Ravens in two seasons in Baltimore. According to the team's official web site, McNair spoke to a capacity crowd during an emotional team meeting before the Ravens' first organized team activity Thursday morning.

Joining McNair will be Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome, along with longtime teammates Derrick Mason and Samari Rolle.

McNair, 34, finished the 2007 campaign on injured reserve after suffering a slightly separated left shoulder and underwent surgery on December 6 to repair the injury.

Regardless of his shoulder problem, McNair's struggled mightily this past season, leading many to believe that his days as the Ravens' starting quarterback were numbered.

Limited by groin and back injuries earlier in the campaign, McNair appeared in six games for the Ravens, throwing four interceptions and losing seven fumbles while tossing just two touchdown passes -- none since September 30.

A four-time Pro Bowler known for his toughness despite a myriad injuries throughout his 13-year career, McNair admitted that he was limited by the separated shoulder following a 21-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on November 11.

McNair spent his first 11 seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise after being selected with the third pick in the 1995 draft following an outstanding four-year career at Alcorn State. He helped lead the Titans to an AFC championship in 1999 and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV, where they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams.

McNair was traded to the Ravens following the 2006 season for a fourth-round draft pick.

For his career, McNair appeared in 161 games, completing 2,733 of 4,544 passes for 31,304 yards with 174 touchdowns and 119 interceptions.

Known as one of the best running quarterbacks in the history of the league, McNair's 3,590 career rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns rank fifth and third, respectively, all-time among NFL quarterbacks. ...

His departure leaves the team with Kyle Boller and Troy Smith at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively. ... For now.

With McNair's retirement, the team will certainly be addressing the position -- whether through the draft or via free agency. In fact, NFL Network insider Adam Schefter advised viewers this morning that Daunte Culpepper is eager to catch on with a new team and suggested the veteran might be a good fit in Baltimore.

Whatever direction they take, the need is obvious.

As Carroll County Times staffer Aaron Wilson recently noted, Boller has been erratic ever since the Ravens drafted him in the first round out of 2003, representing a blend of physical gifts and mental gaffes. As a result, Pro Football Weekly reports that team officials see the former first-round pick as a backup at best.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Smith displayed flashes of potential at the end of the season, but still has a lot to learn. It's not hard to imagine the team's interest in finding a more physically-gifted player if forced into an "on-the-job training" situation.

If that's the case. ... The top incoming prospect at the position, Boston College's Matt Ryan, led the ACC and ranked 10th nationally in total offense last season despite the fact the Eagles lacked a top-flight receiver.

He passed for 4,507 yards, 31 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in leading BC to an 11-3 record.

The team held a private workout with Ryan, who is considered a top-five prospect. To fall to the Ravens, Ryan would need to slip past the Atlanta Falcons (No. 3) and the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 5).

According to the Baltimore Sun, Louisville's Brian Brohm, a second-round prospect who worked out for the Ravens earlier this year, also met with team officials Wednesday at Ravens headquarters.

The Ravens have also had visits from two other quarterbacks: Delaware's Joe Flacco and Michigan's Chad Henne. Both could go late in the first round or early in the second. ...

Meanwhile. ... As noted above, the Ravens begin their first mini-camp today since hiring Harbaugh and according to Wilson, Newsome's curiosity is piqued.

The general manager has watched Harbaugh work the hallways and the weight room since replacing Brian Billick in January. Starting today, Newsome will get to observe the first-time head coach and his staff, including new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, putting the players through their paces as they begin a voluntary, three-day camp.

"I think the coaches are looking forward to the players and the players are looking forward to the coaches, and it's going to be fun for me to go out and watch other people teach and motivate our players," Newsome said. "I'm looking forward to watching how John interacts with the players on the field, how Cam does. …

"It's going to be as fun for me to watch the coaches as the players."

Although the Ravens will have three mini-camps, including a mandatory, full-team workout next month, this marks the first of the Harbaugh era.

In addition to making the now-necessary change of quarterbacks, Wilson advised readers this morning that a major emphasis this offseason has been getting the players familiarized with new position coaches, playbooks and philosophies.

In an article published by The Sporting News last week, Sun staffer Mike Preston advised readers to look for tight end Todd Heap to have a big season.

Preston cited two major reasons for setting the sights high.

First of all, Heap didn't play most of last season because of several injuries, so he has basically had a year to heal. Secondly, Cameron's presence will be a factor.

When Cameron was the coordinator in San Diego, the passing game revolved around tight end Antonio Gates mainly because the Chargers didn't have any deep vertical threats.

The Ravens are in the same situation.

As Preston explained, Baltimore basically has all possession-type receivers, and the best deep and most consistent threat is Heap. He runs great patterns, and has the best hands on the team. Preston expects Cameron to line Heap up on the outside to get mismatches.

Heap has already studied film of the old Chargers to see how Cameron used Gates.

It's worth noting that fellow tight end Daniel Wilcox is also high on Cameron. "I don't think he is going to let a defense dictate what we are going to do on offense," he said.

Wilcox told PFW he expects the Ravens to take a more aggressive approach on offense, something he says suits an offense that wants to prove it is better than it has shown.

"We think we are oversaturated with talent," Wilcox said.

Wilcox missed 11 games last season with a variety of injuries, the most serious being a left toe that required off-season surgery. With a new coaching staff in place and a new offense being installed, the 31-year-old is working to get back onto the field.

"I'm looking to get into the best shape of my life," Wilcox, who gives the offense another pass-catching threat at the position -- when he's healthy enough to hit the field. ...

For what it's worth. ... Wilcox has met with new Harbaugh on several occasions and has come away impressed with the former Eagles assistant.

"He seems like the type of guy who is about business," Wilcox said. "And business equals winning."

Chief among the changes coming?

According to Preston, the Ravens were known for having one of the softest training camps in the NFL, but that's about to change under Harbaugh.

The Ravens won't be military-like in their approach, but players will be in full pads every morning as opposed to hitting every other day when Billick was the coach. Veterans will now have to stay the entire camp instead of being allowed to go home after a few days (they could go home and return for practice the next morning under Billick).

Those wondering how tough it might be this summer should look no further than Day 1 of the off-season program.

"Guys are running sprints, they're coming out bent over, sucking wind and throwing up," Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta said after watching the initial sessions. "I've been very, very encouraged from what I've seen so far. I think you're going to see a difference in this team in terms of strength and conditioning, particularly with the offensive and defensive lines.

"This kind of conditioning pays off in the long run. This can only help us later."

Although no one comes right out and says it, the subtext of the stories coming out of Baltimore is that the new regime doesn't think the players were in good enough shape under the old regime.

Preston reports that the coaching staff noticed receivers avoiding contact or going down too easily after catches last season and the coaches want receivers to get bigger and stronger. ...

If nothing else, change is always interesting.

So with a new head coach and offensive coordinator bringing much different approaches and philosophies than the previous staff -- and with the likelihood of a new face under center, the Ravens will offer Fantasy owners plenty of intrigue in coming months.

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