Former teammates, friends, family pay tribute to McNair

"He turned and looked at me and winked," Titans coach Jeff Fisher recalled last night during a memorial service for the slain quarterback. "He grabbed a ball, threw it twice, and ran on the field. Four plays later, he throws a touchdown pass to Erron Kinney and we win by three points."

Fisher said he caught up to McNair walking off the field that day in Pittsburgh and started to talk when the quarterback interrupted and pointed to the sky.

"No more turf toe, no more sacks. No more shoulder problems, and no more interceptions, only touchdown passes. I'm going to miss you, No. 9," Fisher said.

McNair's wife and family, friends, former teammates and coaches gathered with thousands of fans to remember his accomplishments on and off the field.

Ravens receiver Derrick Mason, who played with McNair in both Tennessee and Baltimore, called the loss heartbreaking before the service. During the service, he called McNair's wife, Mechelle a woman who loved the quarterback until his final day.

Fans began lining up yesterday morning to view McNair's closed, silvery-gray casket at a funeral home and later outside the church. A helicopter provided live TV coverage as McNair's body was moved by hearse, and three of four local TV stations showed the memorial service live.

McNair's casket was on display at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked by a large photo of him posing with his 2003 NFL MVP award on the right and another of him holding a football on the left.

About 4,500 filled the church sanctuary for the service.

The 36-year-old McNair, who was married and had four sons, was shot to death at his condominium early Saturday by his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself. Police said the 20-year-old's life was spinning out of control. But that wasn't how those who knew McNair chose to remember him.

The program included a statement from the McNair family.

"Today in our loss, our hurt and our pain we recognize our gains in you, our friends and loved ones . . .. They have all been a source of strength and comfort at this time to our family," the statement read.

Titans owner Bud Adams, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, and more than 30 of McNair's former teammates attended.

Philadelphia native Eddie George, who helped McNair take the Titans to their lone Super Bowl in 2000, was among the pallbearers with four of the quarterback's former offensive linemen. They escorted his casket out as the service ended. During the service, George read a poem describing McNair as a warrior.

"You fought a good battle. Your life has just begun," George read.