Steve McNair Killed

Steve McNair Killed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Police worked Sunday to unravel the relationship between slain former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his friend, a 20 year old woman who was found shot to death alongside him in his downtown condominium.

McNair, who led the famous Tennessee Titans' drive that came a yard short of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead on a sofa in the living room Saturday with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head. His friend, Sahel Kazemi, was very close to him on the floor, killed by a single gunshot. A pistol was discovered near her, but police said it took a while to find the firearm.

Robert Gaddy called 911 after being alerted by a friend that something was wrong with McNair. Gaddy had been friends with McNair since they played at Alcorn State. Police asked him not to discuss what he saw in the condo or McNair's relationship with Kazemi.

"I want people to know that Steve did not deserve this. A person as great as Steve McNair did not deserve to have his life ended in such a fashion," Gaddy told The Associated Press on Sunday morning.

McNair, 36, and Kazemi were together just two days earlier, when she was pulled over driving a 2007 Escalade registered to her and McNair. She was arrested on a DUI charges, and he was allowed to leave in a taxi.

McNair and Kazemi apparently knew each other from a restaurant the quarterback and his family frequented, but workers there wouldn't talk about their relationship. Police also refused to release any details about their relationship, simply calling Kazemi a "friend."

"It's still kind of hard to believe," Fred McNair said. "He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he http://www.official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Eric-Reid-Jersey.html wanted to be a role model to kids."

He Joe Staley Jersey said he did not know who Kazemi was.

The bodies were discovered by McNair's longtime friend, Wayne Neeley, who rents the condo with McNair. Gaddy called McNair's death a tragedy for the McNair family.

"People have certain things that they do in life. We don't need to look on the situation at this time (but) on the fact we just lost Jimmie Ward Jersey a great member of society," Gaddy said. Saturday and that Kazemi's vehicle was already there. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans' stadium.

An arrest affidavit from Thursday said Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on her breath when she was pulled over, but refused a breathalyzer test, saying "she was not drunk, she was high."

McNair and his family frequented the restaurant where Kazemi was a waitress, according employees and patrons of Dave Buster's in Nashville. Keith Norfleet, Kazemi's ex boyfriend, told The Tennessean newspaper that McNair and Kazemi met at the restaurant.

"She was reliable 90 percent of the time," manager Chris Truelove said of Kazemi. "She was pretty outgoing. A lot of the guests liked being around her, and she liked being around the guests."

Co worker Shantez Jobe, 33, she said was friends with Kazemi.

"We talked about who had more fashion sense, and who was the cutest, and who could get more boys, you know some Jimmie Ward Womens Jersey of the stuff girls do," Jobe said.

In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.

McNair, a four time Pro Bowl selection, led the Titans to the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23 16 to the St. Louis Rams. He was co MVP of the NFL with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in 2003. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in April 2008.

His most notable moment came in the 2000 Super Bowl. With the Titans trailing by seven, he led the team 87 yards in the final minute and 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of a touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his 9 yard pass, but was tackled at the 1 yard line by the Rams' Mike Jones.

McNair accounted for all of Tennessee's yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14. The rest of the yardage came on penalties against the Rams. Before that, he brought the Titans back from Joe Staley Kids Jersey a 16 0 deficit to tie the game.

"If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy," former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. "I can't even wrap my arms around it."

McNair grew up in rural Mount Olive, Miss., and became a nationally known college football star playing for Alcorn State, a Division I AA school in his home state. He was so dominant in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, he became a Heisman Trophy contender. National media flocked to little Lorman in the southwest corner of the Magnolia state to get a look at "Air McNair." He still holds the Division I AA (now known as Football Championship Subdivision) records for career yards passing (14,496) and total offense (16,823).

McNair was the third overall draft pick in 1995 by the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans. He finished his career with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. McNair's rugged style led to numerous injuries and aches. He played with pain for several years, and the injuries ultimately forced him to retire.

"On the field, there isn't a player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position," the Ravens' Derrick Mason said.

During a five game stretch at the end of the 2002 season, McNair was so bruised he couldn't practice. But he started all five games and won them, leading the Titans to an 11 5 record and a berth in the AFC championship game for official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Carlos-Hyde-Jersey.html the second time in four seasons.

McNair played all 16 games in 2006, his first season in Baltimore, and guided the Ravens to a 13 3 record. But he injured his groin during the season opener in 2007 and never regained the form that put him in those Pro Bowls.