Bryant McKinnie Headed Into Contract Year

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line was far from a detriment last season as quarterback Joe Flacco wasn’t regularly bashed into the ground and running back Ray Rice piled up yards.

Four of five starters are slated to return, including Birk, 35, and McKinnie, 32, after the team picked up his $500,000 roster bonus as well as right tackle Michael Oher and right guard Marshal Yanda.

McKinnie is heading into a contract year and the Ravens brought him in to for a meeting at team headquarters recently to evaluate his conditioning and outlook prior to picking up his bonus.

McKinnie didn’t grade out highly for his run blocking last season, but the 6-foot-7, 360-pounder had to drop weight in a hurry after ballooning up to 387 pounds during the NFL lockout and being cut by the Minnesota Vikings.

“He had done a good job, he’d been working in the offseason, he’s training,” Harbaugh said. “He’s in the same shape he was in when he left. We want to improve that from now until the start of next season. It’s going to be really important what he does between now and when the offseason program starts on through June that he gets in the kind of shape he needs to be in. It’s not like he’s a big, fat guy. He’s a big guy. We still want him to be able to move a little better and get a little quicker.”


(hometownannapolis.com)