McGahee not worried about his future in Baltimore

OWINGS MILLS –  As running back Willis McGahee packed his suitcase in the locker room following a 20-3 AFC divisional playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, he wasn’t certain whether it was his last game playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

Signed to a seven-year, $40.12 million contract following a trade from the Buffalo Bills three years ago that included $15 million in guaranteed money, McGahee is due a $3.6 million salary next season.

Even if this does turn out to be an uncapped year if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t brokered,  it’s still a lot of money to pay a backup running back with Pro Bowl selection Ray Rice entrenched as the starter.
Whatever happens, McGahee said he’s unconcerned about his future after tying a franchise record by scoring14 touchdowns in a reserve role.

“No doubt about it, I still have a lot left in my tank,” McGahee said. “Right now, I’ll let them handle it when the time comes.

“Man, I ain’t even worried about it right now to tell you the truth. If I do, I do. If I don’t, I don’t. It is what it is. Who knows what the future holds for me? Sky’s the limit.”

McGahee predicted that the roster will undergo some changes.

That could include potential retirements from wide receiver Derrick Mason and free safety Ed Reed. Reed said it’s a “50-50” proposition whether he continues to play due to a nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder that has hampered him for the past two years.

“I don’t think we have a long way to go,” McGahee said. “We’re right there. It’s just the fact that we won’t have the same players next year. Things are going to change.”

One year removed losing in the AFC championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens are faced with another offseason of tinkering with the parts of the team to try to take the next step forward.

“You look at the whole big picture, obviously we’re not where we want to be right now,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We want to be to the point as a football team where we  can win a divisional playoff game, we can win the AFC championship game and we can win the Super Bowl. We tried like crazy to be good enough to do that.

“But we’re not good enough yet. We’ve got to find a way to make our team better, and that’s what we do in the offseason. You do the best job you can to become a better team next year.”

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(ravens24x7.com)