According to Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens will cut running back Willis McGahee at his current $6 million salary.
According to an NFL source, the Ravens decided at their recent evaluation meetings not to bring McGahee and his $6 million in base salary back for the 2011 season.
McGahee is under contract to the Ravens for 2011, but 2012 ($6.5 million base salary) and 2013 ($7.2) are option years, according to the seven-year contract he signed in 2007.
Preston reports the Newsome told him directly that no players will be released before March 3rd, but dodged a question about brining back Willis. The move shouldn’t come as a shock to Ravens fans at $6 million.
Do you think Willis will take less money and return to Baltimore in 2011
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willis has done wonderful in bmore i think so
Really? I’ve never been a big Willis fan. He came to Baltimore preaching about how he is a top five running back, but I saw a lot of under achieving. I’m very grateful for Ray Rice, he’s the guy I wanted at the helm from the day he was drafted.
The Ravens should have used Willis (and Le’Ron McLain) more last year in my opinion. But the coaching staff's 2010 plans were obviously to feature Ray Rice 90% of the time. So given that, the Ravens should have traded Willis at some point last season for a speed receiver, some O-Line help or a corner back. And now, after largely underutilizing him during his time here they will now add insult to injury by getting nothing in return for him. Why the Ravens had McGahee, Stallworth, and Housh on the roster and then, largely, had them all sitting on the bench most of the time is beyond me. They could have traded two of those guys to bolster other positions that needed help. Overall pretty poor personnel management by the Ravens touted front office in my opinion. The Ravens front office does a pretty good job overall, but every year there also seems to be a few head scratchers.
Another example from this year would be the "anointing" of Michael Oher as the starting left tackle before the season started. This was akin to the Dilfer/Grbach move back in the Billick era. I think if the Ravens would have held an open competition for the LT position between Oher and Gaither, Gaither's “mysterious” array of injuries wouldn't have landed him on the IR and the Ravens would have had another desperately needed experienced O-lineman on the roster – who, not to mention, most likely could have played just as well as Oher at left tackle.
But instead the injury-depleted O-line yielded sacks and produced a struggling ground game, while the offensive coaching staff refused to use the two bigger backs in their stable, “stiff-arm king” McGahee and “the Bus II” McLain, to pound the ball. So between a sputtering ground game and no speed receiver on the field the overall result was what every Ravens fan has unfortunately become accustomed to over the years, an offense that only makes the opposing team’s defense defend 15 yards of offensive turf. So, at least in my opinion, the offensive struggles of 2010 were largely the result of a combination of some poor personnel management coupled with coaching tunnel vision at the running back position.
Go Ravens 2011….and……I'll shut up now!!!!!!
Excellent point on the open competition Jim. Maybe Harbs had Gaither in his non existent Dog House before the season even started.
Gaither was done… Period… As soon as he hit Harbaughs dumbass "Doghouse", Gaither was history… Just like Kruger… Harbaugh thinks he's coaching the Cape St. Claire 9-10 youth team….
I hate to say it and "The Agenda" happened to read my mind on it about 2 weeks ago, but the Ravens look like they are going the way of the Orioles…. Look at these guys that the Ravens recently signed… McKie, some unknown wide receiver, etc…
McGahee, Gaither, McLain, Houshmanzadeh, Washington, Mason are all but gone… They either were in Harbaughs "Doghouse" or ran their mouth about how the team was coached/playing… Harbaugh cannot handle someone questioning him and his methods… Look at how he lashed out at the fan during the season… That's why Zorn is history…. That's why you don't see Harbaugh bringing in any high profile coaches because he's afraid that they will go against him….
Overpaid second stringer whose best years are behind him. Jamal Lewis was criticized for tip-toeing his last few years, if that's the case Willie Mac shoulda wore a tu tu this past year. Granted, the o line was a disappointment, but Willie Mac was undecisive even when a small seem did open. Goodbye Willie Mac, I'm sure the package goods stores and the bars will miss your business, especially the night before games!
Yeah, Willis sure looked like a tip-toeing "undecisive" runner on that 20 yard scamper in KC. The guy played hard when he was in and all he got for it was largely a spot on the bench. Willis scored as many TDs as Rice with only 1/3 the carries. Don't get me wrong, Rice is awesome and deserves his touches, but Willis was more than serviceable and he'll be productive wherever he winds up. Most pro coaches are biased with personnel based on draft position. Who was the best runner in the NFL this year – Arian Foster – who would have hardly seen the field had it not been for injuries to other higher draft picks. The QB with the highest percentage of 300 yard games per games played in NFL history (42%), Kurt Warner, was bagging groceries shortly before he won a Super Bowl. Hards is hardly alone in his player bias and doghouse attitude. The best players should play – Harbs has a long lease, as well he should, for an impressive record and three playoff appearances, but he better be careful, playing only the players with the big salaries is what earned Billick his walking papers……
Jim,
Wow, so Willie Mac had AN impressive 20 yar run against a second tier playoff team…great! I’m sure he had 2 or 3 other nice carries this past season too. I’m glad you’re not the GM….”Gee Willis, while you were largely tepid behind the line this season, you did break off 5 nice runs and really played hard. Let’s give you a nice fat pay raise!”
Big Poppa was right in his post below when he said “your thoughts are like dust in the wind. All they are is dust in the wind”. Very nicely put, Big Poppa!
*indecisive
Jim, you didn't go there stating Harbaugh and his "impressive" (as you say) record and three Playoff appearances… Come on… "Impressive" record? Whats impressive about it? That he beat Cleveland and Denver? What about the Colts, Steelers (when they need a win)?
And then you throw out 3 Playoff appearances…. Oh man…. And I bet you are happy he made they Playoffs 3 straight years…
And you skew McGahee's "as many TD's as Rice" comment… McGahee always came in the game during goaline situations so he should have had alot of TD's…. Thats like saying "Refridgerator" Perry has more Super Bowl TD's then Walter Payton… Or I get more women then Brad Pitt (Of course I do because Pitt is married and I'm not)… Throwing out random garbage of numbers will get by "Joe from Essex" but not "Big Poppa from Parts Unknown"…
Have to admit that Willie Mac rounded 3rd in the later part of the year and was able to slam dunk it when needed. His running at the “Striker” position set his team up for the winning goal numerous times and his “slapshot” was still at a high speed even after dribbling the ball 5-6 times a game.
Speaking of which I’m going to “Carney Macs” for a “steak, avocado and spinach” wrap with a side order of hot “Jumanji Chips”. Goina down it with a frothing cold “Taco-Tuna” soda… Anybody in?
If you haven’t been there lately, you are going to be disappointed. Bottomless milk bar now sets a limit of 14 glasses!
Last time I was there they did away with the “Limitless Hot Tamales” because a bunch of clowns were staying there from lunch till 11pm munching on the “Tamales”…
Most glasses of the “Milk Bar” I ever had was 17 and thats because they kept refilling me when I had a 1/4 glass left… Think they did that so that they didn’t use much “Tequila”….
MGW – I’m goina go out on a limb here and say “Yes, I believe the story you mentioned above about Adrian Peterson and the Ravens”… Don’t know where you found it out but it made for good reading…
Whoever wants to read the inside scoop about Adrian Peterson, read MGW’s comments above…