Gulp

by Peter Bean on Mar 8, 2007 1:11 PM EST in News

As the Steelers continue to sit on their 8-8 laurels, teams around the league continue to improve.

Like Baltimore.

Um, this scares me.

--PB--

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Why does this scare you?

You could give Brian Billick the greatest offense ever assembled, but he would still find a way to make them shitty. I'm glad they got McGahee and his 3.9 career yards per carry average. It means they won't run the football. He does nothing against good defenses and he's a soft runner. He won't run you over. And, that's the kind of runner they need . . a bruiser. Also, don't worry guys, he's a free agent at the end of the year. He'll sign an extension soon, and put them into an even worse cap situation.

They can have McGahee. If it keeps them from drafting Tony Hunt, Antonio Pittman, or Michael Bush . . good.

by Big7BenMVP on Mar 8, 2007 3:41 PM EST reply actions

I have to agree

If Willis McGahee scares you, you haven't watched Willis McGahee play. He doesn't live up to his talent level.

I don't think Jamal Lewis signing with Cleveland is cause for concern either. He's far removed from his 2003 season, and running behind the Cleveland O-line will ruin any RB.

by Desroko on Mar 8, 2007 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

Over at FootballOutsiders

there's some discussion using their metrics. McGahee will probably be better than the aging Lewis, but they're giving up a lot for him - a third and seventh round pick this year and a third rounder next year, plus a sizable contract for McGahee. When they already have a mediocre running back on the roster, this move doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless McGahee has a breakout season.

by Desroko on Mar 8, 2007 4:14 PM EST reply actions

Fair points

But this makes them better in the short term. No question about that, I'd argue.

I wholeheartedly agree they overpaid, for what it's worth.

by Peter Bean on Mar 8, 2007 4:33 PM EST reply actions

Plus Baltimore lost Adalius Thomas

One helluva defender, better than Joey Porter. I know they are a division further removed than Baltimore, but I am more disheartened by the moves of the patriots.
\
Mary Rose

by maryrose on Mar 8, 2007 5:23 PM EST reply actions

McGahee extension

Baltimore did go ahead and sign McGahee to his extension. The way it looks to me, the contract is backloaded and he'll get cut before he sees even half of it. Why don't these players realize that?

From Yahoo Sports:
McGahee, who was acquired Thursday by the Baltimore Ravens in a trade with the Buffalo Bills for three draft picks, signed a new six-year contract extension worth more than $32 million.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the deal, which included $15 million in guarantees. That guarantee comes in the form of a $7.5 million signing bonus McGahee will be paid now and guaranteed option bonuses of $6 million in 2008 and $1.5 million in 2009. Beyond that, McGahee receives base salaries of $595,000 in 2007 (final year of original deal), $605,000 in 2008, $620,000 in 2009, $3.6 million in 2010, $6 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2012 and $7.2 million in 2013.

by cgolden on Mar 9, 2007 8:55 AM EST reply actions

Okay, the Ravens

did much better than I thought. He'll be gone or his deal restructured before the Ravens take the biggest hits. Smart move on their part.

by Desroko on Mar 9, 2007 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

They did better, but . . .

Let's all remember that Steve McNair is still a walking injury report while Kyle Boller is a free agent at the end of the year. That means that at the end of the year, they'll have no one to run the quarterback spot. McNair is signed through 2010, but do you really think he's going to be their quarterback the entire time? This deal could also hinder them in resigning Terrell Suggs, who is a free agent after 2007.

In a way, I'm glad they signed him to this deal. Even though he won't see the final three years, it screws them over for now and into the future because of the players they will lose because of it. They should have just resigned Jamal Lewis to a one-year deal, then stayed the course by getting an extension done with Suggs this offseason.

by Big7BenMVP on Mar 10, 2007 3:58 PM EST up reply actions