McNair still up in air

Now his Titans (9-2) are preparing to visit the New York Jets (4-7) Monday night. A year ago on the same date, McNair took a shot for the pain in his strained ribs and rallied Tennessee to a 32-29 overtime victory over the Giants on the same field.

This time, the NFL's top-rated passer is nursing a strained right calf muscle that will keep him from practicing all week. McNair said yesterday it's too early to say whether he will play.

"We still got a long way to go and hopefully we can get a lot of stuff done in the next 48 hours. And hopefully by Friday, I can make a statement and be optimistic about if I can go Monday or not," he said.

McNair did not practice and stayed inside the team's training room, receiving treatment on his calf. Trainers are using ice, rest, and electrical stimulation to help the muscle heal, and McNair said he has improved. But he still has soreness and swelling.

Coach Jeff Fisher said the threat of further damage will determine whether McNair plays.

Taylor treatment

Lawrence Taylor had a strategy not found in NFL playbooks: He sent escorts to opponents' hotel rooms the night before games.

"You know what they like, and what type of women they like, and you just call the service," the Hall of Fame linebacker said in an interview that "60 Minutes" will air Sunday.

Taylor said the plan was to make sure opposing running backs were not ready for the game. The former New York Giants star said the prank was played on him. "Knock on the door, you open the door, and you got two beautiful women sitting there, [saying], `We're for you!' And I'm like, `You're in the right place,' " he recalled with a laugh.

Taylor, who played 13 seasons with the Giants, was the NFL's MVP in 1986 and a 10-time Pro Bowl selection.

He also spoke in the interview about the years right after his retirement, when cocaine took over his life. He said he reached a low point in the late 1990s.

"I had gotten really bad," he said. "I mean, my place was almost like a crack house -- not where you sold it, but I had a lot of stuff in my house."

Garcia to start

Jeff Garcia will start at quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers Sunday against Baltimore after missing the past month with an ankle injury. Garcia received the seal of approval from coach Dennis Erickson after he practiced with the first team without displaying any effects of the high ankle sprain that forced him out of the lineup in October. Backup Tim Rattay went 2-1 in Garcia's place, leading the 49ers to lopsided victories over St. Louis and Pittsburgh . . . Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe left in the middle of practice with an upset stomach but isn't expected to miss Sunday's game against the New York Giants . . . Michael Vick practiced with the first team and indicated he might serve as the Falcons' No. 2 quarterback at Houston . . . Quarterback Chris Chandler's right shoulder was still stiff and sore, forcing him to skip the Chicago Bears' practice drills and making him questionable for Sunday's game with Arizona . . . The injured reserve list received a workout as several prominent players had their seasons end officially. Among those placed on the list were Chargers wide receiver Tim Dwight (partially collapsed lung), Raiders safety Rod Woodson (left knee), Texans running back Stacey Mack (turf toe), Browns rookie center Jeff Faine (sprained right ankle), and Bills wide receiver Sam Aiken (right knee surgery).