McGahee being dumped by the Ravens?

by Pocono Bob on Jun 10, 2009 11:17 AM EDT Comment 43 comments

This is taken from the Baltimore Sun.

"The Ravens: 10 things you'll want to know"

10. Will running back Willis McGahee have a productive season?

No one knows about McGahee. When the mind is right and the body is healthy, McGahee is one of the best running backs in the NFL. His offseason work habits, though, have to improve. McGahee might be the Ravens' biggest bust acquisition in team history, as he signed a seven-year, $40 million contract in March 2007 after the Ravens had traded three draft picks to the Buffalo Bills for him. If the Ravens could, I think they would fast-forward his exit right out of Baltimore.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

0 recs | Comment 43 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Exit?

“If the Ravens could, I think they would fast-forward his exit right out of Baltimore.”

Season Ticket Holder Sec: 312, Row: 15
"There's NO place like home when it's the Big Tree Inn"

by Pocono Bob on Jun 10, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep, they can’t wait to see him go. No surprise. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear the same thing coming out of Philly in a few years about a certain LT. In fact, knowing the fans in Philly, it’ll probably start about October 2009.

"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987

by thefourwinds on Jun 10, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be surprised.

I think JP will be an All Pro for several years until he feels he isn’t being paid appropriately!!

by Byrdeputt on Jun 10, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree entirely. Peters is a great LT, but he`s no All-Pro, not by a long shot. And I’m not just saying that because of what he did to us, I didn’t think he was an All-Pro caliber LT with us either.

I think Phlly fans will turn on him in October or November ‘09 after McNabb goes down with a broken collerbone after a Missed assignment from Peters… Then again they might praise him as a hero for getting rid of McNabb for them too. Philly’s a weird town man.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 10, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They would definitely cut him if they could. His health is the main reason. His knees just aren’t the same anymore and he’s not even the same player he was in Buffalo. It’s actually kind of a shame when you consider that he was a lock top 5 pick and one of the best draft prospects at his position in a decade before his knee was destroyed in that National Championship game.

The reason the quote says “if the Ravens could”, is because McGahee’s contract is very prohibitive towards cutting him. The cap hit would up near 10 mil for releasing him and a decent amount of his contract is still guaranteed. Willis will almost definitely be stuck in Baltimore through this season and probably next season too. He’s still a solid backup, rotational guy and the only problem is that his contract is huge. So he’s an obvious target for the fans, but there’s just no getting out of his contract right now. This deal alone might be making the Ravens hope for an uncapped year so they can shed McGahee’s contract.

by kaisertown on Jun 10, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s still a solid backup, rotational guy

Entirely agree, which is why I think he’ll still be productive this year (and for a long time). Ppl seem to forget that Baltimore is the only team in the league who’s main runner is their FB (Le’Ron McClain), who is a TREMENDOUS power runner. And with McClain taking 60% of the snap, or more (which he did last season on route to a 900+ yard season), then McGahee becomes a very good “change of pace” option for the Ravens. Ppl are down on him now, but I’m not. I think that he’ll be good for 500-600 yards this year (if he can stay healthy).

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 10, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So then, you must have drafted him in your fantasy league, right? He’s washed up as a full-time starter. I have no pity for him; he burned a ton of bridges to the one team that gave him his window of opportunity.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 10, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I totally agree thats he’s a tasteless washed up starter for which I have no pity. But he is still a very capable second option for Baltimore.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 11, 2009 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hes paid too much to be a backup

thats why balt wants him out. i mean who would you rather, willis and his bloated contract, or rhodes at a couple mil a year…..if i was a balt fan id have much rather cut willis and signed rhodes this offseason

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Jun 13, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone...

recall who the three draft picks were? I may be wrong but I think Marshawn and Trent were two of them. One Bills Drive definitely got the best of that deal. That doesn’t happen often as the Ravens usually have a great eye for talent.

by Byrdeputt on Jun 10, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Bills got an ’07 Round 3 pick (QB Trent Edwards), an ’07 Round 7 pick (DE C.J. Ah You), and an ’08 third-round pick (eventually packaged with a Round 5 pick to Jacksonville for DT Marcus Stroud).

The Bills ended up with Edwards, Stroud and Ah You.
The Ravens ended up with McGahee.
The Jaguars ended up with Round 3 and Round 5, both of which were eventually dealt in the ’08 Draft as they maneuvered to draft DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves.

Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more

by Brian Galliford on Jun 10, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So

We basically gave up a Round 5 pick and McGahee to get Marcus Stroud and Trent Edwards. Sweet.

by Byrdeputt on Jun 10, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, that Round 5 pick was acquired in the Darwin Walker trade.

So we gave up Spikes, Holcomb, and McGahee to get Stroud, Edwards, and Steve Johnson (with the ’08 7th round pick from the Eagles).

by Krenn on Jun 10, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So we gave up
- Spikes : Not the same since the injury
- Holcomb : Not a bad backup, but if he’s your starter, ugh!
- McGahee: Not bad, but didn’t want to be here, and never really lived up to his potential, knee injury or not. Also a candidate for the “Dance Champion” trophy.

For a promising starter at QB (Edwards), a promising WR (Johnson), and a stalwart starting DT (Stroud). That worked out tremendously in our favor. This is a good way to look at it.

by syrbillsfan on Jun 10, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

And the “taking heads” at ESPN at the time (Mort in particular) killed us for the trade. It’s good to feel vindicated sometimes.

John I.

by jri111 on Jun 12, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well it is ESPN that we’re talking about here. You have to remember that they do have a biased against Buffalo. Add in their biased against TO and we’re in for a long year full of BS from ESPN.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jun 12, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but at least we will get talked about!

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Jun 13, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s like game of Kevin Bacon.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 10, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's nice to see we're not the only team....

To be burned by Willis McGahee. I think turning his departure into the addition of Edwards and Stroud more than make up for that stupid pick. Thanks Tom Donahoe for accidentally making a good long term investment (this all hinges on Trent Edwards being what we think he can be).

I love speculating in my mind about what could have played out if we didn’t draft him. Father of the year, Travis Henry, could have been our RB for at least another year (maybe two) before his troubles started (who knows if they even would have) and the domino effect that NOT picking McGahee could have on our franchise could have been huge. The eventual need for a RB could have put a guy like Stephen Jackson or Brandon Jacobs in our backfield and you never know, could have also meant JP Losman kept another team out of the playoffs for two years.

I know it’s impossible to know, and you could pretty much speculate like that with any bad draft pick, but Willis is more than just a bad draft pick. It’s one thing to draft a bust in the first round, but it’s even worse to draft a bust in the first round who plays a position that your team doesn’t really need because you believe it’s a “steal”.

by BuffaloWill on Jun 10, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I strongly support BPA, which, to me, seems why McGahee was selected. He didn’t exactly hurt the team with his play. He just showed that he’s not durable and not committed to working out. I only find fault in his bashing of the city and team that “made him a star.” I’d love to know where he’d have been drafted had Buffalo not taken the flier on him. He could have been the next Thurman Thomas, but the game played out differently. I’m sure that draft room brought up how Thurman fell so far because of knee problems and what he did for the franchise.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 10, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

He hurt the team by being a bad draft pick. He still hasn’t lived up to a first round RB…of course hindsight is always 20/20. The nice thing about being a fan is I get to be excited about it when they do it, and complain about it when they make a mistake (best of both worlds).

Except the injury, I don’t see the comparison between him and Thurman though. When we drafted Thurman we needed a RB and Thomas was a class act. When we drafted McGahee we had other needs, much more glaring than RB. Also, I see a big difference between taking a flier on a guy in the 1st round and the 2nd round, not to mention the differences between them as people. I’m just speculating about what could have been had TD not made that mistake. Of course you could do that with so many picks for so many teams…it’s fun though.

…BPA?

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best Player Available

I love me some DB's...I might just be Dick Jauron's long lost twin!

by DBLuv on Jun 11, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks...

Duh…

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I could see how you’d miss that with regards to Willis…BPA with a bum knee?

I love me some DB's...I might just be Dick Jauron's long lost twin!

by DBLuv on Jun 11, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you kidding?

He’s rushed for over 1000 yards 3 times in 5 years and every season that he played 15 games. In 2006 he rushed for 990 yards in 14. He scored 13 touchdowns in his first year playing for the Bills. He may not be an all-time great but he has certainly lived up to being a first round pick.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McGahee wasn’t that bad of a pick based solely off that rookie year. He was electric and was a huge part of what got the Bills as close to the playoffs as they have been in a long time.

And let’s not forget just how terrible those Donahoe OLs were. All things considered, McGahee was just as statistically successful as Lynch has been so far.

by kaisertown on Jun 11, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Close...

Horseshoes and hand grenades…

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree...

On average, half the teams in the NFL have a 1000 yard RB each year so 1000 yards isn’t really a big deal to me. I say he was a huge bust as our standards for a first round RB are obviously quite different.

He was no more productive than Travis Henry was (less if you look at Henry’s 2002 stats) so the fact is we didn’t need him. We drafted him thinking we were getting a deal on a franchise player and he wasn’t even close to that. I’m sure if they could do that draft over they’d have done it differently.

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, DeAngelo WIlliams, Joseph Addai (barely), Ronnie Brown (barely), Cadillac Williams, Steven Jackson, Kevin Jones, Willis McGahee, and Larry Johnson have thousand yard seasons in the last five years as first round picks. The majority of them have done it only once. McGahee did it three times and almost had a fourth. 8 guys drafted in the first round including Reggie Bush don’t have thousand yard seasons. Eight to 11… I would say he’s not a bust.

Of the guys drafted in the first round the last five years, only Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson have more yards than he does and only Johnson has more TDs.

McGahee, though I really dislike what he said about Buffalo, is not a bust my friend. Considering his first year was spent rehabbing his knee and not playing his career numbers are even better!

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We'll have to agree to disagree...

Like I said, our standards are much different. I’m not impressed with three 1000 yard seasons for a player we traded away before his rookie contract was up. That’s not my idea of a well spent first round pick.

Of those eleven players you named, eight of them are STILL producing 1000 yard seasons for the team that drafted them. Now, the only arguement I’d ever concede to McGahee not being a bust is what we got in exchange for him, but as far as his performance, way below expectations.

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can his performance be below expectations?

When he has met or surpassed all but two running backs also selected in the first round in the last five years?

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jun 11, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They are below MY expectations...

Don’t see how you can argue with that.

How can you say he’s met or surpassed guys like Bush, Peterson, Addai and Williams (or guys drafted in 2008)? I’m pretty sure their numbers will be better than McGahee’s unspectacular 5200 yards and 38 TD’s once they’ve played five seasons (maybe not Bush). You can really only compare him to Larry Johnston and the three guys taken in 2004 and he’s right in the middle of that group.

Our standards for a first round RB are different…you’ll have to accept that. I’d argue that probably half the RB’s taken in the first round are busts. I’m not going to compare Willis to guys who have been in the league for 3 or less years because you can’t.

You can love his play all you want…I don’t and never did. I think he was overrated and never met expectations. If he had, he’d still be on our team producing for us.

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think what we got in return has to be considered. Especially since he is a running back. If we drafted some QB in the first round and traded him away then it’s different. I wouldn’t even want a RB on my roster for much longer than 5 years. I would spend a first round pick in 20s on a RB every three years if he was going to play as well as McGahee did and we could just move him along for a pair of third round picks without ever having to give him the big contract that gets so many teams in trouble.

by kaisertown on Jun 11, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

I agree when you take what we got for him into consideration. As long as Trent works out, it ended up working out for us in the long run.

Are you saying you would’nt want a franchise guy like Thurman Thomas to be on the team for more than three years? I think if you get a player like him you keep him, and pay him. I know players like him don’t come along that often, but when they do…

by BuffaloWill on Jun 11, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t even want a RB on my roster for much longer than 5 years. I would spend a first round pick in 20s on a RB every three years if he was going to play as well as McGahee did and we could just move him along for a pair of third round picks without ever having to give him the big contract that gets so many teams in trouble.

Couldn’t agree more. I would almost fist fight anyone who disagrees.

by krytime on Jun 11, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. The only hate I have for McGahee is his non-football comments towards the city and people of Buffalo. He reminded me of Brian Cox. The kid is a stud, especially when you look at his numbers KNOWING that knee injury he sustained.

His career will be shortened because of it, but he did not hurt the Bills’ draft, imo.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 12, 2009 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember when...

Does anyone recall when the Ravens came to Buffalo after the Willis trade? Out near “7 corners” in Orchard Park there was a billboard that displayed one of the best websites I’ve ever heard of: “www.willisistrash.com.” I don’t think the site is around anymore, but man was it funny!

by Circling Wagons on Jun 11, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would take Action Jackson as a back up over him easy

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone"
-Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Jun 11, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure every Bills fan would, but that’s not the point. The reason that Baltimore wants to get rid of McGahee has nothing to do with how good of a player he is, his work ethic, what he’s like in the locker room or anything like that. They want him gone because his contract is huge. They want to go with a true committee this year with Willis, Rice and McClain all getting carries and when two of those guys make a mil a year and the third makes 6 mil a year, it’s time to get rid of the guy with the big price tag. But the problem for the Ravens is that the cap hit is astronomical and a bunch of money that Balitmore hasn’t paid yet is still guaranteed.

by kaisertown on Jun 11, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

I was just commenting on the post that someone had addressed the fact that he was still a quality backup that can benefit from being a change of pace. I was just stating that this may be true but i like Jackson as a backup more than i would Willis, further supporting his trade.

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone"
-Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Jun 12, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Injuried again

Rumor has it that as he walking out of the GM’s office, he tripped fell and laid on the floor till the trainer came over

by Sabresfan4ever1981 on Jun 11, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to know if he’s going to bag on the Baltimore chicks the way he did Buffalo gals. Also wonder if he thought Fell’s Point needed more TGIFs, Applebees, etc…

Willis had talent. He just didn’t use it the right way.

by krytime on Jun 12, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Plus he’s pretty slow now. He had to change his game to a power running style and (to me) it hasn’t really worked out that well for him. I’d say that’s why McClain took carries from him. It’ll be Rice this year; McClain’s going to be the true FB.

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs