McNair Not Most Popular Titan Ever

Tennessean newspaper columnist David Climer is impressionable.

How else can you explain this quote from him in his July 10 column regarding the deceased Steve McNair: "He was the most popular player to wear a Titans jersey."

Really? So popular in fact that the first time he (McNair) wore a Titans jersey in a real game he was booed for his poor play. Meanwhile, the top-selling NFL jersey that year -- in all of the NFL, mind you -- was Titans running back Eddie George's No. 27.

Not only did George send the cash registers clicking at a rate matched by no other NFL player back in 1999, he remained in the top ten clear up until the 2001-2002 season, after which injuries and less glitzy stats became the norm.

McNair was never even in the top 25, not even in the year or the year after he shared the league co-MVP award with Peyton Manning.

Eddie George is the most popular Titans player ever, not just across the country but in Nashville. Hasn't Climer noticed that what counts in this country is sex appeal, and that George had that over McNair hands down. In fact, Frank Wychek was likely more popular than McNair.

Would Climer have made the same statement any time before July 4?

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