It was very shocking to find out that NFL quarterback Steve McNair is dead. Not only dead, but found with a gunshot wound to his head.
Unbelievable.
McNair, 36, led the Tennessee Titans to their only Super Bowl in 2000. He retired following the 2007 season with Baltimore. In 13 seasons, he was elected to four Pro Bowls. He passed for more than 31,304 yards and 174 touchdowns, and he rushed for 3,590 yards and 37 touchdowns during his career.

Since his retirement, he has spent time fishing and hanging out with 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, who also had a gunshot wound in the head and was found dead beside McNair’s body in his Nashville, Tenn. Condominium. Two days earlier, McNair was a passenger when Kazemi was arrested for a DUI with McNair seated as a passenger.
McNair’s death is a heart-breaking example of how NFL and college football players, current and former, just have too much time on their hands. With the season being only four to five months, players have most of the year to get into trouble unlike basketball and baseball players who are busy competing for at least seven months.
With eight months off work and no shortage of money, football players are bound to get into trouble. Current Titans quarterback Vince Young spends his time throwing his money at strippers and fans, and former Titans cornerback Pacman Jones was involved in a deadly triple shooting at a strip club two years ago.
Former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick bankrolled an illegal dog-fighting ring and served nearly two years in prison. Cleveland receiver Donte Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian while driving drunk and is serving 30 days in jail.
My beloved University of Florida Gators have had 24 arrests in the last four years.
Last week, three college linebackers were involved in car accidents. Arkansas linebacker Khiry Battle was released from the team because of a DUI. Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle is recovering from a concussion after crashing into an apartment building while text messaging. North Carolina State linebacker Nate Irving was charged with careless and reckless driving and suffered a broken leg and a collapsed lung.
The NFL has discussed adding extra games to the 16-game regular season to bring in more revenue. Maybe McNair’s death coupled with Stallworth’s and Vick’s incidents will motivate the league to extend the season to keep players busy on the job.

By Teneshia LaFaye

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