I worked in Nashville for almost four years as program director and host at WNSR in Nashville in the late 90's.  We covered the Tennessee Titans from the time they showed up in Memphis as the Tennessee Oilers.  I didn't know the late Steve McNair personally, but I did encounter him professionally and in the locker room after practice.  He was always gracious and he was one of the players on our "good guy" list.

As I'm sure most people were, I was shocked and numbed by news of his tragic passing Saturday.

And I'd like to echo the words of his former coach Jeff Fisher (one of the all time good guys) who said of McNair yesterday, "We all have been given the right to judge and my hope is that Steve will be remembered and also forgiven,. My hope is that we can get past the circumstances and let those go."  Amen, Coach.

You can get on your moral high horse and gut McNair all you want, but in my book, that's for a higher power to decide. 

The Steve McNair I choose to remember is a guy who was a warrior.  A guy who played through intense pain and numerous injuries.  A player who helped a city fall in love with a team.  A man who was a good teammate and an easy going, fun loving, hard playing NFL player. A guy who could literally put the entire Titans offense on his back and carry it down the field.

Steve McNair was the kind of player we want on our team.  He was tough.  He played injured.  He did what needed to be done to win.

Off the field, he gave back to the community that cheered him every Sunday.  He gave generously and tirelessly. 

Steve McNair died a tragic death.  It's always tragic when someone passes out of this life at 36, even if the circumstances could have clearly been avoided.  But in remembering those 36 years, remember him as he was on the field and as a community servant rather than those things mere mortals aren't empowered to judge.