Police: Girlfriend may have killed McNair

NASHVILLE, July 4 (UPI) -- The bodies of former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair and a woman he had been dating were found Saturday in a Nashville condominium, police said.

Investigators appeared to be treating the deaths as a murder-suicide, The Tennessean reported. McNair's body was on the couch with Sahel Kazemi, 20, next to him. McNair, 36, had been shot several times, police said, while Kazemi was shot only once in the head and a gun lay close to her body.

Investigators said the bodies were discovered by Wayne Neely, a McNair friend, in a condominium McNair rented.

Don Aron, a police spokesman, was noncommittal about the investigation, saying more would be known after the bodies are autopsied Sunday.

McNair played with the Titans from 1995 to 2005 and led Nashville to its only Super Bowl in 2000. He shared the NFL Most Valuable Player award with Peyton Manning in 2003.

After leaving the Titans, he played two seasons for the Baltimore Ravens, announcing his retirement in April 2008. McNair opened a Nashville restaurant, Gridiron3, June 19.

Bud Adams, owner of the Titans, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the news.

"He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans," Adams said in a statement. "He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing."

Former Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said in a statement McNair was "a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what," said Reese, who currently serves as senior football adviser for the New England Patriots. "I don't think there was a player who played with him or against him that didn't look up to him and respect him."