McGahee Misunderstood?

One week ago, running back Willis McGahee was taken to task by several media members for making what were perceived as selfish comments on a national radio interview.

McGahee intimated that he was playing for himself and seemed to put some blame for his diminished production and rash of injuries this season on the Ravens' coaching staff for asking him to alter his offseason routine and running style.

But, McGahee didn’t want to come off as thinking singularly, further explaining himself before the Ravens headed to Miami, where they thrashed the Dolphins 27-9.

"It doesn't mean I'm not a team player," McGahee said at the time. "If I wasn't a team player, I would have shut it down in the middle of the season from the knee surgery and all that. It meant: 'I can't be what somebody else wants me to be. I can only be me.'

"I wasn't indicating it's all about Willis McGahee because Willis McGahee's season has been over since Week 5. It's not like the season I normally have, so it is over for me. So that's how I look at it."

Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh saw it in a similar fashion.

“I know that Willis is a team guy,” Harbaugh noted in a Monday press conference. “That’s something that he’s said many times. If you look at his comments up until what he said last week, it was really clear.

“I think what he was being pressed on was the fact of how did his season go personally. And he tried to answer the question honestly, that personally, he felt like he could have done better.

McGahee has battled through knee, eye, ribs and ankle injuries since training camp, which have contributed to a career-low 671 rushing yards in 2008 – a far cry from his career-high 1,483 total yards he posted last year.

Still, he has seen success in recent weeks.

In a Week 16 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, he racked up 108 rushing yards on eight carries, including an electrifying 77-yard scoring run. In the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he gave the Ravens a 17-7 lead in the second quarter with a tough 13-yard touchdown dash up the middle.

And, McGahee had the biggest offensive gain in the Miami Wild Card contest, when he sprinted 48 yards to the Dolphins’ 4-yard line, setting up a touchdown sneak from quarterback Joe Flacco that iced the outcome.

“I know one thing: He’s focused on what he can do right now to help our team,” Harbaugh continued. “We talked about what he can do in December, what he did, and what he can do in January. And, he’s doing those things. He had a heck of a December; he’s having a heck of a January.

“He’s focused on this week right now.”

After the Dolphins game, where he had 62 yards on seven attempts, McGahee was careful when he spoke.

“I don’t want to get into trouble for saying anything,” he stated with a laugh. “Every time I say something, it comes out different. I’m just chilling. I’m just happy we got a win.”

(baltimoreravens.com)