The Ravens' coaching staff has done a good job of handling McGahee. It has never given him the star treatment. One of the worst things that could have happened to this team was for McGahee to believe that during the regular season he couldn't be replaced by Le'Ron McClain or Ray Rice. He actually thought that at one time, which is why he reported to training camp out of shape.
McGahee showed a great work ethic to get into the NFL after having major knee surgery during his final season at Miami. But coaches questioned his work ethic during his final years with the Buffalo Bills, and the Ravens weren't pleased about his no-shows at various minicamps during the offseason.
Harbaugh has his reasons for putting McGahee on the bench, but he won't throw him under the bus, even though McGahee didn't play Sunday.
"We have a plan for Willis," Harbaugh said after Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals. "He is going to be a big part of this team, no question about it."
Harbaugh has to walk a fine line with McGahee. His work ethic is questionable, but he has been a leader on and off the field for Rice and McClain. He has become their mentor and friend. Banishing McGahee to the bench for the rest of the season could present real problems.
Harbaugh will eventually get McGahee back into the lineup, and a fresh McGahee could do big things for the Ravens in the stretch run through December.
But when this season is over, he'll probably be gone, and so will McAlister. You expected the Ravens to lose some players because all of them weren't going to buy into Harbaugh's system.
But maybe the changes don't have to be so significant that they set the Ravens back for a few years.
Or do they?
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