NFL
NFL notebook: McNair ponders early retirement

By Seattle Times news services

Titans QB Steve McNair was co-MVP in 2003.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair isn't backing away from comments that he will consider retirement after this season.

McNair, 31, said yesterday his health and spending more time with his children are his top concerns.

"It's frustrating when you've got a 6-year-old boy (who) asks you to go play catch, and you've got to tell him no because you're injured. That's kind of frustrating," McNair said. "That frustrates you mentally because you can't do things as a father that you need to do.

"I want to be able to play catch. I want to be able to go out and do the things with my kids that a normal father would do. I can't do it banged up. That's the biggest consideration right now."

After a 31-21 loss to the Houston Texans in which McNair turned the ball over three times Sunday, the 2003 co-MVP said he would evaluate his football future immediately.

Given a chance to back off, McNair refused.

"It's nothing to do with this football team or what position we are in right now. It's all about my health. This year has been one of the worst as far as me not being on the field," he said. "I've been doing that for a long time, and my body right now, it's saying one thing, and my mind is saying another."

McNair aggravated his bruised sternum in last weekend's loss, an injury that put him in the hospital for two nights in September and kept him out of three games completely. Twice, he was knocked out of games.

Notes
 
• Ricky Williams wants overturned the $8.6 million award an arbitrator said he owes the Miami Dolphins for breaching his contract. Williams filed papers in federal court saying "the arbitrator acted in manifest disregard of the clear and unequivocal laws of Florida and Louisiana."

• Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green donned a flak jacket to protect his bruised ribs during practice and said afterward he felt good.

• Defensive end Alex Brown got a five-year extension from the Chicago Bears.

• Kelly Holcomb's cracked ribs and Jeff Garcia's sore shoulder could leave rookie Luke McCown as Cleveland's only option at quarterback against New England on Sunday.

• Washington Redskins rookie safety Sean Taylor plans to call teammates as witnesses to say he was sober when he was arrested for drunken driving on Oct. 27. Taylor pleaded not guilty, and his trial was rescheduled for Jan. 5.

• Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley will miss Sunday's game against Kansas City with a damaged left hamstring that is believed to be torn.

• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, out with an injured calf, returned to practice and is questionable Sunday against Minnesota.

• Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry could miss the rest of the season because of a lower-right leg injury.

• Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis is slated to miss at least one more week with an ankle injury. Tight end Todd Heap's status is uncertain due to a bad ankle sprain.

• Linebacker Zach Thomas, the Dolphins' leading tackler, will not play against Buffalo on Sunday because of a hamstring injury.

• Martin Gramatica, once one of the game's best kickers, was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going 0 for 3 against Carolina.

• Quarterback Trent Green did not practice because of sore ribs and remains questionable for the Kansas City Chiefs' game Sunday at Oakland.

• Jacksonville authorities asked a Senate committee for an additional $1.3 million to help pay for security requirements for February's Super Bowl.