Willis McGahee led a Denver Broncos rushing attack that ranked first in rushing attempts and yards in 2011. The 30-year-old was a yard short of the third 1,200-yard season of his career, a mark thinks he can reach in 2012 with Peyton Manning replacing Tim Tebow at quarterback, writes Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post.

"My goal is to do better than I did last year. And that means I've got to get past 1,200 yards," McGahee said. "With Peyton coming to Denver, I don't have to worry about nine defenders in the box."

"When Tebow replaced Kyle Orton at quarterback in Week 6, the Broncos went from a team that passed the ball 60 percent of the time over the first five weeks of the season to one that ran the ball 60 percent of the time. Opposing defenses did not think Tebow could beat them with his arm, so they stacked the box to defend the Broncos. McGahee also suggested that the decision-making on those read-option plays could have been better.
"It had its good days, and it had its bad days," McGahee said of playing with Tebow. "Sometimes it was good. And sometimes, you just had to take the situation you were in and make the best of it.

"There were times when Tebow could've given the ball to me, but he kept it. And there were times when he was supposed to keep it, but he gave it. When you're running the option, there can't be any hesitation. I call it running on blind faith."

The 36-year-old Manning will not be running the read-option, so McGahee's biggest hurdles to 1,200 yards will be fending off age (he turns 31 in October), the offense becoming pass-heavy and competition for carries from Knowshon Moreno and 2012 third round pick Ronnie Hillman.


(nfl.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee described the year-long suspension for Vilma as "tough."

McGahee was teammates with Vilma at the University of Miami from 2000-2002 and the two remained friends.

"That's it. It's tough," McGahee said. "I mean, it's not me so I can't really say anything. I'm pretty sure he'll be all right. He'll appeal it I'm pretty sure."
Vilma issued a statement Wednesday afternoon that he would "fight this injustice," "defend my reputation" and "stand up for my team and my profession." Vilma typed the statement in all capital letters.

Denver-based agent Peter Schaeffer called the suspensions "broad and unreasonable."

"I think it's another example of commissioner's overbearing power in the league to suspend players for actions of coaches," Schaeffer said. "If they were any of my players we would fight this to the bitter end."

The suspended players have three days to appeal the punishment. New Orleans head coach Sean Payton appealed his one-year suspension but was denied by Goodell.

"The union has to stand up for these players to make sure the union is an integral part in this type of discipline," Schaeffer said. "It seems to me these players are being scapegoats for a much bigger systemic problem."


(denverpost.com)

Having a quarterback like Peyton Manning alters the leadership dynamic on the practice field from when Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow were around. "It's different, because we didn't really have that last year where the quarterback was demanding of us, telling us where he wanted us and just taking charge," RB Willis McGahee said.

Heading into his 10th NFL season, McGahee expects that his career will be lengthened simply because Peyton Manning is around. "I don't have to take all that pounding anymore, because with Peyton out there, just being him, he's going to take a lot of pressure off the run game," McGahee said.

All McGahee needed was rest in order to shake the nagging knee and hamstring problems that dogged him in the second half of the season last fall. "I had to fight through it," McGahee said. "It didn't get right until the season was over with when I actually got some rest because I didn't get the rest that I needed."

McGahee's biggest game in his renaissance season came at Oakland in Week 8, when he ran for 163 yards, of which 125 came on zone-read option plays. But he's not eager to return to those days. "It's like running on blind faith, you know what I mean?" he said. "Either you're going to get the big run or you're going to get hit. I'm not a fan of getting hit, but it was my job description and that's what I had to do."


(cbssports.com)

Update: McGahee will have some added competition in training camp this year after the Broncos selected Ronnie Hillman in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Recommendation: McGahee enters the season as the presumed starter in Denver and with Knowshon Moreno still battling back from a torn ACL, there is little reason to suspect that his job is in any kind of jeopardy. That being said, Hillman has been described as a Darren Sproles-type back, which could make him particularly important in PPR leagues, leaving McGahee with a little less value.


(rotowire.com)

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee and his girlfriend, track and field star Marshevet Hooker are expecting their first child together. According to our sources, that would be Willis’ 9th child.




(terezowens.com)

Working out? Willis McGahee didn't start really doing it until his third year of playing football.

In the NFL.

"It was just something that I had to get off my butt and do," the Denver Broncos running back said. "When you're younger, it's OK [not to]. You can get away with just relaxing and not doing anything. But the older you get, it becomes harder, and I realized the more you work out, [playing] becomes easier. It puts years on your life."

McGahee -- along with several other NFL stars -- is trying to spread that message through the NFL's Play 60 program, which encourages everyone to exercise for an hour a day. The program also provides workout classes with NFL players in select cities (McGahee spoke to Playbook last weekend from Equinox fitness club in Miami Beach).

And McGahee is happy to spread the word of working out's benefits to everyone.

"[It's] exciting just working out," McGahee said, "showing people you've got to be in shape and be able to do certain things so you won't be sitting around the house and just chilling."

McGahee clearly hasn't been just chilling; through personal training that involves some MMA, the South Florida resident and former University of Miami star is entering his 10th year in the league. McGahee, who played for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens earlier in his career, is looking forward to his second season on a Broncos team that has high hopes after acquiring Peyton Manning.

"[Working out has] kept me going," McGahee, 30, said. "I'm still running with these young guys. It shows a lot of what I do to prepare myself and get my body right for the situation."

The Play 60 program runs through this weekend. Classes in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York are available here; proceeds go to the United Way and the Play 60 program.


(espn.com)

Denver running back Willis McGahee: He will likely get a backfield partner early in the draft. McGahee is 30 and was nicked up a lot last season. He was fantastic, but will be best served if the Broncos get him some help.




(espn.com)

Miami hasn't produced a first-round draft pick since 2008. It's only fitting that a running back has the best chance to end that drought.

Yes, it's a bit of a reach to refer to three years without a first-round pick as a "drought." That represents a long slide only because Miami had produced at least one first-round draft pick every year from 1995-2008.

Lamar Miller could become Miami's first opening-round pick since Kenny Phillips went to the New York Giants with the 31st overall pick in 2008. Miller is set to become the latest in a long line of Miami running backs to earn a shot in the NFL.

Even though both of Miami's Heisman Trophy winners were quarterbacks (Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta), the Hurricanes' running backs have made much more of an impact in the pro ranks lately.

"As much as any position for Miami, the running back position has been strong," said Rob Rang, a senior draft analyst for nfldraftscout.com.
Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers and Willis McGahee of the Denver Broncos earned Pro Bowl invitations last season. Gore ranked sixth in the NFL with 1,211 rushing yards, while McGahee was eighth with 1,199 yards. No other school had multiple 1,000-yard rushers in the NFL last season.

And it isn't as if Gore and McGahee are one-year wonders. They've been doing this for quite some time.

Gore is a three-time Pro Bowl pick who has rushed for over 1,000 yards five of the last six seasons. He has run for a total of 7,625 yards and 43 touchdowns during his seven-year career. McGahee is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who has exceeded the 1,000-yard mark four times.

Other former Miami running backs on NFL rosters include Damien Berry (Baltimore Ravens) and Graig Cooper (Philadelphia Eagles), though neither player has a single career carry thus far.

Miami's running back contingent looks even stronger if you add Clinton Portis, a two-time Pro Bowl pick who has run for nearly 10,000 yards in his pro career. Although Portis didn't play last season after getting released by the Washington Redskins, he indicated earlier this year that he wants to play again and has been medically cleared.

Texas' collection of NFL running backs looks equally impressive.

Ricky Williams retired in February after rushing for more than 10,000 yards in a career that included five 1,000-yard seasons. Cedric Benson ran for 1,067 yards with the Cincinnati Bengals last year, which marked the third straight season he had exceeded the 1,000-yard mark.

Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs rushed for a combined 2,567 yards in 2009 and 2010 before a torn anterior cruciate ligament limited him to two games last season. Chris Ogbonnaya rushed for 340 yards with the Cleveland Browns last year.

Texas very easily could have been the choice. After all, while Miami seemingly sent running backs to the NFL with assembly-line precision about a decade or so ago, it's worth noting that not a single Miami running back has been drafted since the 49ers selected Gore in 2005. Berry and Cooper were both undrafted free agents.

Miami ultimately got a slight edge in part because of Miller's pending arrival.

"We have him as a second-round pick," Rang said. "He is a slashing style of running back who runs a little upright, but he has excellent straight-line speed. And he showed a little more toughness last year than a lot of people anticipated from him because he had been kind of typecast as kind of just a speed threat.

"At the same time, he's only been productive for one year. ... He's not quite as polished as other Miami running backs have been in prior years."
History is on Miller's side. Miami running backs have a habit of outperforming their draft position.

Although McGahee and former Indianapolis Colts star Edgerrin James were first-round draft picks, Portis went in the second round and Gore lasted until the third round. If Miller is as productive as either Portis or Gore, whichever team drafts him will be thrilled.



Our choice: Miami.
Who they've sent: Damien Berry (Baltimore Ravens), Graig Cooper (Philadelphia Eagles), Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers), Willis McGahee (Denver Broncos), Clinton Portis* (free agent, intends to play in 2012).
Who's next: Lamar Miller is a projected second-round pick in this year's draft.
Why we picked them: Gore and McGahee each earned Pro Bowl invitations and ranked among the NFL's top 10 rushers last year. Miami was the only school that had two of its former players rush for at least 1,000 yards last season. Portis also is a former Pro Bowl selection. Gore, McGahee and Portis have each accumulated over 7,000 career rushing yards.
Other finalists: Arkansas (Cleveland's Peyton Hillis, Dallas' Felix Jones, Oakland's Darren McFadden), California (Detroit's Jahvid Best, Seattle's Justin Forsett, Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, New England's Shane Vereen), Oklahoma (Dallas' DeMarco Murray, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson), Texas (free agent Cedric Benson, Kansas City's Jamaal Charles, Baltimore's Chris Ogbonnaya, recently retired Ricky Williams).
Candidate you might not have considered: Tulane has produced 2011 Pro Bowl pick Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears and Mewelde Moore of the Pittsburgh Steelers.


(yahoosports.com)

DENVER (CBS4) – Willis McGahee thinks the Broncos will still be strong on the ground next season, despite what’s expected to be a much improved passing game with Peyton Manning running the offense.

CBS4′s Vic Lombardi joked with McGahee about the topic Monday during his guest appearance on Xfinity Monday Live. He asked how things went that morning when Manning joined his new teammates at Broncos headquarters for the first time.

“Is it true that you walked up to Peyton Manning and said ‘I don’t care who you are, where you’ve been or what you do, I get 30 carries a game, I’m Willis McGahee?” Lombardi said.

McGahee laughed and said he “wouldn’t entertain that,” but in all seriousness he wants the Broncos’ rushing attack to remain a force to be feared.
“At the end of the day, we still want to be the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL,” he said.

The Broncos were indeed No. 1 in that category last season, and it wasn’t even close. Their 2,632 yards on the ground exceeded the Texans — the NFL’s No. 2 squad — by a whopping 184 yards.

And speaking of those Texans, a fan in the crowd at the Tavern Downtown on Monday posed a question to McGahee about them, asking if they might be the favorites to win the AFC this year.

“No. We’re the favorites in the AFC this year,” said McGahee with no hesitation.

McGahee’s excellence last season — his year included 1,199 rushing yards — earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. While on vacation Lombardi checked out some of the Pro Bowl practices and found a lot of joking around among the players and hamming it up for the fans.

Lombardi wondered if the offseason workouts that have just begun in Englewood have a similar vibe.

“We don’t mess around, it’s all work,” McGahee said. “I don’t want people to get that illusion that we’re just out there playing around. That’s what you do at the Pro Bowl; we have a good time there. That’s Hawaii. But when we’re in our home city, who we’re playing for, it’s all about work.”

That work will include plenty of drills with Manning, a quarterback known for his exhausting work ethic.

“I think he made a good decision as far as coming to play for the Broncos,” McGahee said of Manning. “This is a great organization and a great city to play for. The people are going to back him up 100 percent.”

Another fan asked McGahee about the Mile High Salute, which McGahee did several times this season after scoring a touchdown. The popular gesture was a signature move for Ring of Famer Terrell Davis during his career with the Broncos.

“I talked to Terrell and Terrell said it was okay. You know, you’ve got to get permission from the older guys nowadays,” McGahee said. “He said it was all good, so it worked out.”

With Manning at the controls in the fall, fellow Running back Knowshon Moreno, who specializes in catching the ball out of the backfield, could see more action. McGahee said he’s plenty comfortable catching short passes as well, but he hopes Moreno’s knee injury last season doesn’t have an impact on his production.

“Knowshon is a big part of our offense. He’s one of those guys that can get out there and miss in open space and we’re counting on him to be back,” he said.

There are fewer and fewer mentions of McGahee’s former teammate Tim Tebow in Broncos Country now that the trade that sent him to the Jets is in the rear view mirror, but McGahee was quick to praise him for his leadership last season.

“He had a lot of courage. He played with heart and he had a lot of emotion in his game, so that’s what I like about him.”


(denver.cbslocal.com)

It's the off-season. Do you know where your Broncos are -- uh, we mean, the ones who aren't huddled around fawning over their fearless new leader? We know where one of them is, or was, rather, earlier this week. Broncos running back Willis McGahee was in Miami, his old stomping grounds, on the set with Lil Wayne for the filming of the new video for Shanell's "So Good," her song with Drake and Weezy. Shirtless and flexing his pecs, the Broncos ball handler was evidently cast to play the Young Money diva's love interest. NecoleBitchie posted some pics from the shoot, including the one and the one below.

Even though now-deposed QB Tim Tebow led the Broncos to the AFC West crown in 2011, Denver RB Willis McGahee admitted something was missing Monday in light of the team's pending acquisition of QB Peyton Manning.

"It's music to my ears, Basically, he can really take us to another level," McGahee said of Manning on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

"We were young and I think those guys got the jitters out of them last year, even though we did go to the playoffs and represented the AFC West. It was a certain something that we were missing. We were missing that general to take charge in tough situations and I think he brings that to the table.

"And once those guys see him out there I think they're going to rise to the occasion and just have a breakout year."

McGahee wasn't done making the media rounds.

"He can take our team to another level," he told NFL Network on Monday afternoon.

"I think he's gonna take us to the promised land."

McGahee also did a bit of tweeting:

To all my free agents across the nfl, I think u know what time it is. It's about to go down...


(usatoday.com)

The Broncos are reportedly seeking a "bigger tailback" to share the workload with Willis McGahee.

Coach John Fox is seeking physicality and durability as much as pure size at tailback. The Denver Post lists Boise State's Doug Martin, Utah State's Robert Turbin, Notre Dame's Jonas Gray, San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman and Mississippi State's Vick Ballard as potential targets in next month's draft.


(rotoworld.com)

Updating a previous item, Denver Broncos RB Willis McGahee said via Twitter Sunday, March 4, that he intended to remain a Bronco for the rest of his career and that, 'I don't understand how you can write an article about a person without confirming if it's true about him/her.' McGahee's comments were in response to a report stating he wanted to renegotiate his contract.


(fantasysp.com)

Unhappy with his contract, Broncos running back Willis McGahee recently joined a long list of NFL players who have fired agent Drew Rosenhaus.

The Broncos recently informed Rosenhaus they would not renegotiate McGahee's contract just one season into his four-year, $9.5 million contract.
McGahee then followed offensive tackles Bryant McKinnie, Jared Gaither and Anthony Davis, linebacker London Fletcher, safety Dashon Goldson and new Broncos wide receiver Jason Hill as among the 13 NFL players who recently dismissed the agent.

McGahee made $3 million last year on a $1 million salary and a $2 million signing bonus. This year, he's scheduled to draw a $2 million salary with no bonus this year.

While McGahee is not expected to hold out, his case for a new deal is based on making the Pro Bowl last season by leading the NFL's No. 1 rushing team with 1,199 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Given that production, McGahee's $2 million salary pales next to the expected running back franchise tag salary of about $7.7 million. At least nine NFL running backs average at least $5 million a year.

The Broncos, though, can argue they were more than generous last season because McGahee had averaged only 532 rushing yards in his previous three years as a backup to Ray Rice in Baltimore. McGahee turns 31 in October.


(denverpost.com)

After The Denver Post reported Sunday that Broncos RB Willis McGahee fired his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, because he was unhappy with his contract, McGahee took to Twitter to assure fans that he wants to end his career in Denver.

"I will retire a bronco #nuffsaid," McGahee wrote on Twitter.

McGahee didn't deny that he fired his agent, but said that the article misstated his position and reasons for firing Rosenhaus.

"I don't understand how you can write a article about a person without confirming if it's true about him/her," McGahee tweeted.

In firing Rosenhaus, McGahee joined a growing list of players who have fired the agent in recent months, including RB LeSean McCoy, LB London Fletcher, OT Bryant McKinnie and S Dashon Goldson.

McGahee gained 1,199 rushing yards on 4.8 yards per carry in his first season with the Broncos, thus making a potential case for a salary increase. However, ater the 2011 season concluded, the Broncos informed Rosenhaus that they would not renegotiate his four-year, $9.5 million contract, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post.

McGahee is set to earn $2 million next year, after earning $3 million in 2011.


(profootballweekly.com)

The Broncos need to find a running back to pair with Willis McGahee, who ran for 1,199 yards in his first season in Denver. But McGahee is 30 and was dinged up a lot. Denver will likely add a running back in the early rounds of the draft unless it address that need in free agency. The Tebow-run offense was as its best when Denver ran the ball well, so help in that area is paramount.


(espn.com)

Our #snOMG snowpacolypse on Friday really dumped on Name.com, a local domain and website firm. The company released a spoof of a GoDaddy.com Super Bowl ad in which a nude model gets her body painted -- except the person being touched up is nearly naked Broncos running back Willis McGahee. Unfortunately for Name.com, the McGahee spot got snowed under -- but look below to watch it and the Go Daddy ad side by side.

Few expected RB Willis McGahee to end the season in the Pro Bowl and with more 100-yard games than anyone else last season, but that's what happened. He became the first 30 years-or-older RB to surpass 1,000 yards and average more than 4.7 yards per carry since Fred Taylor in 2007.



(cbssports.com)

While Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee was signing autographs during Thursday's Pro Bowl practice, a Baltimore Ravens fan felt the need to take a shot at one of his teammates, Tim Tebow.

To be specific, the Baltimore supporter made fun of Tebow by saying if Denver had a better quarterback, the team would win more often. We're not sure why he chose that route, considering Tebow started off 7-1 as the starting quarterback, helped his team win a division title and won a playoff game -- the same number of playoff wins the Ravens had this year.

Either way, McGahee's comeback was fantastic.

"That's not nice. That's like saying if you had a better kicker, you'd have won," he said, causing the rest of the fans in the area to scream "Oh!" like a bunch of grade school students. Even the Ravens fan was impressed.

McGahee, of course, was referring to Baltimore's heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots, in which kicker Billy Cundiff missed a chip shot that would have sent the game into overtime. Again, we're not sure why the Ravens fan would take a shot at Tebow for not winning enough when Denver and Baltimore won the same amount of playoff games in 2012. Nonetheless, we thank the fan for this clip.

The Broncos will have offensive players in the Pro Bowl.

The team announced Tuesday that left tackle Ryan Clady and running back Willis McGahee have been added to the Pro Bowl roster. Both players had been first alternates.

McGahee and Clady will join defensive teammates Champ Bailey, Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil in Honolulu.

McGahee was the Broncos’ best free agent addition in 2011 — racking up seven 100-yard games this year, and helping the Broncos lead the league in rushing. McGahee also made the Pro Bowl in 2007 when he played for Baltimore.


(denverpost.com)

Broncos coach John Fox "no longer wants Willis McGahee to have 20 to 28 carries," according to the Denver Post.

McGahee had at least 20 carries six times this season, and averaged 4.8 yards per attempt. He'll enter next season as the clear starter, but the Broncos may add talent to the position. Knowshon Moreno is recovering from an ACL tear.


(rotoworld.com)

Denver rushed 55 times in the first meeting with KC, and that was with top rusher Willis McGahee limited to four carries due to a hamstring issue. McGahee has been battling similar ailments since that Nov. 13 game. The RB admitted he had "a little hitch" last weekend, too, but is over it now. "I'm going to stay in the whole game," he vowed Tuesday.



(cbssports.com)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has become the NFL’s second player to reach 1,000 yards rushing with three teams after having a 24-yard rush on the second play from scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

McGahee entered the game with 990 yards rushing, and broke 1,000 against his former team, Buffalo, which selected him in the first round of the 2004 draft.

McGahee now has four 1,000-yard seasons, and it’s his first since he had 1,207 yards in 2007 with Baltimore. He twice rushed for 1,000 yards in four seasons with the Bills.

He joins Ricky Watters, who rushed for 1,000 yards with San Francisco, Philadelphia and Seattle.


(ap.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee will have some explaining to do to his pals in his native Miami when they see his quote about what he misses about Buffalo.

McGahee was drafted by the Bills in 2003 and played the first four of his nine seasons in Buffalo.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the snow,” McGahee said of Saturday’s matchup in Buffalo. “I haven’t played in the snow in a long time. It’ll be nice to have a snowy game.”


(denverpost.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A change in scenery and eating habits has done wonders for Willis McGahee.

By playing in a run-friendly system, along with reuniting with his former position coach, the Denver Broncos tailback has revitalized his career. McGahee, who even eliminated red meat from his diet to become leaner, is on the cusp of his first 1,000-yard season in four years.

A surprise? Maybe to some.

But not to running backs coach Eric Studesville, who lobbied hard for the Broncos to sign the free agent just before camp.

Sure, McGahee was coming off a pedestrian 380-yard season for Baltimore in 2010, but Studesville saw flashes of the vision, the power and the quick feet that made McGahee a two-time 1,000-yard back when they were paired in Buffalo.

Studesville campaigned vigorously on McGahee' behalf. The Broncos listened and were rewarded.

"I see the same intense competitor that's always been there," said Studesville, whose protégé has 990 yards rushing this season.

At first, McGahee's transition to a new team was slow to take root. Without an offseason to get acclimated to his surroundings and digest an intricate play book, McGahee began the year backing up Knowshon Moreno.

That didn't last long. Moreno pulled a hamstring in a season-opening loss to the Raiders, giving McGahee the opening he needed.
Since then, the job has been all his.

And he's flourished, especially when healthy.

The 30-year-old McGahee has had his share of bumps and bruises. He needed surgery to fix a broken finger on his right hand earlier in the season — keeping him out for a game — and is currently hobbled by a nagging hamstring injury. But he fully intends on playing against his old team, the Bills, in his old stomping grounds, Ralph Wilson Stadium, on Saturday.

The Broncos (8-6) are tantalizingly close to securing their first playoff spot since the 2005 season, with the easiest scenario being simply winning this weekend and again in the finale when they host Kyle Orton and the Kansas City Chiefs.

"There's a sense of urgency. We're trying to get the organization to where it was back in the late '90s," McGahee said, referring to when the team won back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

McGahee needs just 10 yards to join Ricky Watters as the only NFL backs to turn in 1,000-yard seasons with three different teams. What's more, McGahee's six 100-yard games this year are tied for the most in the league.

That should get his name in the running for comeback player of the year, right?

"Nope," he said.

How come?

"You have to be hurt" to get that, he explained. "I never went anywhere. So, I'm not a comeback player."

The burly ninth-year running back was eager to sign with Denver and envisioned lots of carries in coach John Fox's run-oriented offense.
After the team struggled to a 1-4 start under Orton, Tim Tebow took over.

Out went the ball-control offense.

In its place has been the read-option, which better suits Tebow's particular skill set.

Turns out, it suits McGahee pretty well, too. He's thrived in this system, even rushing for 163 yards in Oakland last month, the second-highest output of his career. He also broke off a 60-yard TD scamper in that win over the Raiders, showing he still possessed a quick-strike capability.
"I love this offense," McGahee said.

He also serves as the eyes on the field for Studesville, reporting back to his coach if things are in need of tweaking. That's the kind of relationship they've developed over the years.

"He's a great resource on sideline. What he sees, getting a feel for how defenders are playing him, I've got tremendous trust in that," said Studesville, who filled in as interim head coach for the final four games last season when Josh McDaniels was fired. "He's a very sharp football guy."

He's also rubbing off on the younger backs.

Then again, that's not all that hard. Jeremiah Johnson, a second-year back out of Oregon, idolized McGahee while growing up. Johnson used to watch McGahee's games at the University of Miami each week, and then emulate the moves he just saw.

"This is kind of embarrassing, but I called myself Jeremiah McGahee. He was my guy," Johnson said, laughing. "I nearly cried when he got hurt in the championship game."

Even after suffering a serious knee injury in his final collegiate game against Ohio State, McGahee was still selected in the first round of the 2003 draft by Buffalo. He sat out his first season to rehab and recover.

Soon after, Studesville arrived in Buffalo as his position coach and launched McGahee's career.

Now, Studesville's helping re-launch McGahee's career in Denver.

"He's got a magnetic personality," Studesville said. "Not only with his personality but his work ethic. He competes at everything — checkers, cards, bowling. Whatever it is, he is going to want to beat you. That's been a positive for our room."

Fox has certainly been sold on McGahee

"We knew he was capable if just given the opportunity," Fox said. "When he got his opportunity, he shined."

Although he turned 30 in October, McGahee insists he's not feeling his age even with all the hits he takes. To keep fresh, McGahee relies on a regimen of ice baths, massages and visits to the chiropractor. He's also overhauled his diet.

"He takes tremendous care of himself," Studesville said. "He's done that ever since I had him in Buffalo. It's one of the things that adds to his longevity.

"He's just a guy you love having around, because of what he brings — competitiveness, personality and the expectation of success."

Notes: The Broncos practiced in an indoor facility after about a foot of snow fell overnight. ... DBs Brian Dawkins (neck) and David Bruton (Achilles) were limited in practice. When asked about Dawkins possibly playing Saturday, Fox said: "A lot of it is just how he feels."


(online.wsj.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee needs only 10 yards rushing Saturday at Buffalo for the fourth 1,000-yard season of his NFL career. His opportunity will come against the Bills, the team that made him a first-round pick in the 2003 draft.

McGahee was asked Wednesday what his memories of Buffalo are. "Got drafted there," he said. "It was a good time in my life. I was happy."
The Broncos will be happy if McGahee's sore hamstring continues to feel better. McGahee was limited in Tuesday's practice but was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

McGahee's emergence as the Broncos' top tailback has fueled their recent run. The Broncos are 4-1 in games when McGahee has had at least 20 carries. Two of the team's biggest losses were Oct. 30 against Detroit (when McGahee didn't play after hand surgery) and Sunday against New England (when he had only two carries in the second half because of the hamstring problem.

"I treat it the same way I have in the past," McGahee said. "If I can get it going, I get it going. If I can't, I can't do nothing about it."

McGahee hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since 2007 with the Ravens. He rushed for a career-high 1,247 yards in 2005 with the Bills.


(denverpost.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee increased his work load to full participation at practice today, just three days after tweaking his hamstring in a loss Sunday to the Patriots.

That McGahee was able to handle the full work load in practice is a good sign as McGahee closes in on his first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2007. McGahee currently has 990 rushing yards, and he could break the 1,000-yard mark on Saturday at Buffalo against the team that drafted him in the first round in 2003.

McGahee played three full seasons for the Bills after sitting out his rookie year while recovering from a major knee injury suffered in his final college game.

McGahee has dealt with several injuries this year, including a broken hand, a sprained ankle and two minor hamstring injuries, but has missed only one full game.

Should McGahee pick up 10 rushing yards in the next two games, he will be the first Bronco to rush for 1,000 yards since Tatum Bell did it in 2006.

"He has been the perfect fit for us," offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said after practice today. "He's been the guy to grind it out for us, and he's exactly what you're looking for."


(denverpost.com)

Practicing today for the Broncos are running back Willis McGahee, who missed the second quarter and was limited in the second half against New England with a hamstring injury, and safety David Bruton, who did not practice or play last week because of an Achilles injury.

The Broncos can clinch the AFC West title Saturday in Buffalo by beating the Bills, combined with an Oakland loss to Kansas City. The Broncos could also secure at least a wild card spot with a win and losses by the Jets, Bengals and Titans.

There is no scenario in which the Broncos (8-6) could secure a postseason berth this weekend if they lose to Buffalo. In that case, the division title and wild card spots would be determined on Jan. 1, when the Broncos host Kansas City.


(denverpost.com)

RB Willis McGahee is an offensive lynchpin but his health is a concern the last six weeks. A hamstring injury knocked him out of one game, limited him in another. A knee injury ended one game, limited him in the next. Now, he's battling another hamstring issue on a short week.



(cbssports.com)

DENVER — Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee suffered a left hamstring injury during Sunday’s loss to New England.

McGahee stretched out on the sideline for most of the second quarter and through halftime and returned for the third quarter, but departed after only two carries. Coach John Fox said after the game no players were injured seriously. But the team will have a quicker than normal turnaround for the Buffalo game, which will be played Saturday on Christmas Eve.

McGahee was off to a huge start against the Patriots, running for 70 yards on seven carries. But he's endured a string of nagging ailments of late. He had a left hamstring injury previously that hampered him badly in a win over the Jets on Nov. 17.

He then missed the final series of the Dec. 4 game at Minnesota with a knee issue and didn't appear to be at full speed against Chicago the following week.


(sportingnews.com)

A top 5 pick who was one game away from his team winning the national championship, Willis McGahee caught a screen pass from Ken Dorsey and turned up field.

In a split second, McGahee destroyed his ACL, PCL and MCL. But, the Miami born running back wasn’t going to let that stop him.

McGahee decided to enter the 2003 NFL Draft, where teams — for good reason — were cautious about his injury. Heading into April, teams knew that it may take a year or even longer for McGahee to ever play again.

The Buffalo Bills took a gamble on McGahee and selected him 23rd overall. After sitting out his entire rookie season, McGahee was back.

From 2004-2006, McGahee started in 40 games, rushed for 3,365 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. The Bills were finally cashing in on their investment. However, following the 2006 season the relationship quickly became sour.

“I couldn’t wait to get out of there,” McGahee said about Buffalo.

The Bills traded McGahee to the Baltimore Ravens for three draft picks (2007: 3rd and 7th, 2008: 3rd).

In his first season in Baltimore — i.e. the year before Ray Rice joined — McGahee averaged 4.1 yards per carry to tune of 1,207 yards and seven touchdowns. With the emergence of Rice — a quicker, younger back, who could also catch the ball out of the backfield — McGahee’s role decreased.

Over the following three seasons (2008-2010), McGahee started in 11 games and averaged 532 yards per season. After brief success as the Ravens short yardage back in 2009 (he scored 12 touchdowns), McGahee left Baltimore like Buffalo — a disappointment.

When the NFL lockout was lifted, McGahee signed a 4-year $9.5. million contract with the Denver Broncos to spell running back Knowshon Moreno. The beginning of the 2011 season looked like how the 2010 campaign ended for McGahee.

McGahee carried the ball four times for three yards in the Broncos 23-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

But, McGahee was about to catch his big break.

McGahee entered into the starting lineup after Moreno strained his hamstring in the Week 1 game against Oakland. All McGahee did was produce.
In six games this season he has rushed for over 100 yards — including a two touchdown, 163 yard performance against the Raiders on Nov. 6. Led by McGahee’s charge, the Broncos boast the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL (156.2 per game) and have won six games in a row.

Not bad for a 30-year-old running back, who has seen his productivity decline since 2007.

To put in perspective McGahee’s remarkable turnaround, consider this: McGahee rushed for 924 yards combined in the previous two seasons. With three games to go in 2011, McGahee has 920.

A lot of people point to Tim Tebow for the success of the Broncos this season , but even Tebow will admit — this team wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for McGahee.

Who would have thought?



(sportsofboston.com)

The Denver Broncos listed running back Willis McGahee as questionable to play Sunday against Chicago. He was limited in practice Friday after not practicing earlier in the week. He has said all week that he will play.





(espn.com)

Updating an earlier item, Willis McGahee was absent from Broncos practice Wednesday with an undisclosed injury suffered in Week 13.

The Denver Post's Lindsay Jones reports McGahee "limped off the field" late in Sunday's win over the Vikings. It's obviously unideal news, but considering the Broncos have stayed mum on their resurgent running back's status, it's unlikely he's dealing with anything too major. His status will be updated Thursday, if not sooner.

McGahee (knee) said Wednesday that he is planning to play against the Bears in Week 14 despite missing practice.

It's worth noting that McGahee has missed quite a few Wednesday practices recently, but hasn't sat out a game since Week 8. We'll know more on Thursday, but would tentatively expect McGahee to start against Chicago's No. 8 run defense.



(rotoworld.com)

Willis McGahee rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries as the Broncos downed the Vikings in Week 13.
He also lost a fumble, but McGahee's 24-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter give the Broncos the momentum for good. McGahee has been in and out of the lineup this season, but he's still on pace for 1,182 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 4.89 yards per carry. A serious candidate for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.


(rotoworld.com)

Two offensive starters returned to practice today for the Broncos, but star rookie linebacker Von Miller remains out while recovering from thumb surgery.

Running back Willis McGahee and wide receiver Eddie Royal joined teammates for practice in the South Suburban Sports Dome, where practice was moved because of heavy snow. McGahee missed Wednesday's practice with an illness, while Royal was held out with a toe injury.

McGahee is on track to play Sunday in Minnesota, while Royal will likely remain questionable up until game time.


(denverpost.com)

Willis McGahee's absence from Broncos practice Wednesday was due to illness, and not an ankle injury.

The wrap McGahee was seen sporting on his ankle Monday was apparently only a precaution. He should return to practice on Thursday, and be no worse than questionable on Friday's injury report. You should be able to start him as you normally would against the Vikings.


(rotoworld.com)

Apparently Willis McGahee didn't get the memo. The one that says running backs hit the wall when they hit 30.

McGahee turned 30 last month (on Oct. 20 to be exact), and on Sunday McGahee put in his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season. He hasn't had five 100-yard rushing games in a season since 2007 — he finished with five that year — and has had at least five in just two other seasons in his previous eight in the league. He had five in 2007 to go with seven in his first year on the field in 2004.

The Broncos have made no secret in John Elway's football plan that they hope to consistently build through the draft, but McGahee is a testament that some well-placed hits in free agency will always have a place in team building, if the pay-to-results ratio works out.

McGahee was one of the first targets, perhaps the first free-agency target for the Broncos in Elway's first time on the open market as a football executive. And in the end all involved, including McGahee, say Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville helped make it happen.

Studesville, who was McGahee's position coach in Buffalo "very strongly recommended" McGahee to the Broncos, according to head coach John Fox. The Broncos looked at the video and agreed, giving McGahee a four-year deal when most of their free agents got one-year contracts. The Broncos wanted to maintain flexibility moving forward in the re-building project.

McGahee has made that investment worthwhile and at his current pace will come close to a career high in rushing yards in his ninth season. That's much like wide receiver Brandon Lloyd did in 2010, going to his first career Pro Bowl in his ninth year in the league.

McGahee's best season was his second year on the field — he sat out his rookie year recovering from reconstructive knee surgery — when he finished with 1,247 yards in 2005.

This year, McGahee, having missed one game, is averaging 77.5 yards per game in the 10 he has played. He missed one game, against Detroit, because of surgery to repair a fractured bone in his hand. That puts him on pace for 1,163 yards for the season, which would be the third-highest total of his career.

What has made it all work for McGahee is he has a rare trait in a running back in that he is both patient and quick to the hole. He sets up blocks well, understands where the running lanes will and he makes quick decisions.

And once he sees the opening, he gets up the field, he doesn't often waste steps or opportunities.

He's also in good enough condition that his 23rd carry of the game on Sunday vs. the Chargers was arguably his best. He powered through two tacklers for a 24-yard run that put the Broncos in position for a game-winning field goal.

In a game where McGahee had 11 carries for three yards or less overall, including two for negative yardage, he had a 16-yard run and the 24-yard run in overtime.

"I'm built for that," McGahee said. "I'm not one of those guys who comes out and starts hitting it on the first play, if that happens, that's a bonus. I know at the end of the game those guys are tired of hitting ... I'm ready."


(denverpost.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee on Wednesday replaced the departed Kyle Orton as a team captain.

"He had the next most votes when we took the vote back before the season started," Broncos coach John Fox said. "So we took the next guy on the pecking order.

"He's certainly one of the leaders in our locker room."

McGahee has rushed for 658 yards this season on 139 carries, leading a run-heavy Broncos offense.

He arrived as a free agent this season, his eighth as an NFL pro. He previously played in Baltimore and Buffalo.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Willis McGahee — Although the early results were encouraging, it's hard to say for certain whether this crazy college offense the Broncos are running with QB Tim Tebow is good for McGahee and his fantasy numbers. In Tebow's first game as a starter this season, McGahee ran for 18-76-0. He missed the following game, then produced 20-163-2 against the Raiders. McGahee tweaked his hamstring two weeks ago against the Chiefs and left early on, then played last week but ran for only 18 yards against the Jets on 12 carries. Last week's stat line is ominous, but it's unclear to what degree it was system-related, hamstring-related or matchup-related. The Broncos are preparing to visit the Chargers, against whom McGahee produced 125 rushing yards on only 16 carries back in Week Five.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballweekly.com)

Willis McGahee truly will be a game-time decision.

Because of the Broncos' short week of preparation for their home game against the Jets tonight, McGahee will take all the way through pregame warm-ups to decide whether his sore hamstring is healed enough for him to play.

McGahee, who was injured Sunday at Kansas City, was limited in the Broncos' two practices this week and is listed as questionable on the team's injury report.

"He's made a lot of progress," coach John Fox said. "We just follow the medical protocol, and did the things the medical people think is going to be in the best interest in getting him ready for game time."

The Broncos have two healthy running backs on the active roster: Lance Ball, who gained 96 yards on 30 carries against the Chiefs, and Jeremiah Johnson, who was signed off the practice squad Monday. McGahee is the only Denver player listed as questionable for tonight's game.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Willis McGahee was back at practice today for the Broncos, but the team's starting running back isn't a sure thing to play Thursday night against the New York Jets.

McGahee, who injured his left hamstring early in the Broncos' victory over Kansas City on Sunday, went through warm-ups and stretching but did not participate in individual drills in the portion of practice that was open to the media.

The team's only other running backs are Lance Ball, who would start if McGahee is unable to play, and Jeremiah Johnson, signed off the practice squad Monday.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

The Denver Broncos released a bit of encouraging news on Monday. According to Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post, the team released a hypothetical injury report, as required by the NFL, and included running back Willis McGahee as a limited participant had there been practice.

McGahee had injured his hamstring after just four rushes in Sunday's 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been cleared to practice on Tuesday, and should things go all right, he is expected to start on Thursday night against the New York Jets.

McGahee will have a new backup in Lance Ball since Knowshon Moreno was lost for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Jeremiah Johnson joined the active roster for the second time this season after the Broncos took him from the practice squad. Johnson had joined the team for Week 2's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals but did not see any playing time.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has been a key cog in the team's offense all season long, but staying healthy has been one of the player's biggest issues. That issue has cropped up again while the Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, as the running back left the game after sustaining a left leg injury.

According to the Broncos' official Twitter feed, McGahee's sustained a hamstring injury. It's worth noting that this isn't the same injury that kept McGahee from playing a few weeks ago while he recovered from hand surgery. The 30-year-old didn't play as the Broncos got crushed by Denver in Week 8, but he looked totally healthy while running for 163 yards on 20 carries against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sbnation.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville wasn't sure what to expect when he first laid eyes on Willis McGahee seven years ago.

Selected in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Buffalo Bills, McGahee sat out his first pro season while recovering from a serious knee injury that occurred in his final game at the University of Miami.

Studesville arrived at Orchard Park, N.Y., as his position coach in 2004 and helped jump-start McGahee's career.

"To see a guy walk in and want to work and not look for an excuse and not look for an easy way out and not want any kind of handout, but just work, I was impressed with that from the first moment I was around him," Studesville said. "And that hasn't changed. He does the same things today that I saw back in 2004 when I first walked into the Bills building."

Some things he even does better.

McGahee's longest run that first season was 41 yards.

On Sunday, just two weeks after blowing out 30 candles on his birthday cake and 10 days removed from surgery on his broken right hand, McGahee reeled off a 60-yard touchdown run in a win at Oakland, where his 163 yards rushing were four shy of his career high.

"He's pretty good when he's not 100 percent, too," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "It's great. He's someone that comes in every day and works extremely hard. He's such a competitor in the games, and it's huge having him on our team. He's a great asset."

After watching his workload diminish each of the last three seasons as Ray Rice's backup in Baltimore, McGahee is on pace to gain 1,246 yards, which would be one yard shy of his career high set in 2005.

He's doing all this heavy lifting with a chip on his shoulder, too.

"I'm pretty sure there were teams out there saying I can't run the ball and I'm getting older," McGahee said of his foray into free agency last summer.
The Broncos weren't one of them.

Studesville, who had been retained by new coach John Fox to tutor the tailbacks, went to management and suggested they sign McGahee, with whom he had spent three seasons in Buffalo.

"I feel like he's still got a lot left in him and he would be a good person to bring here based on who he is and what he brings, his work ethic, his toughness, his physical run play," Studesville recalled telling his bosses.

"He was my No. 1 choice to bring here in free agency," Studesville said. "I thought he was the best fit for us. Willis was THE guy I wanted."

The big, ninth-year running back was eager to work with Studesville again, too, and envisioned lots of carries in Fox's run-oriented offense.

"There were (other) suitors," McGahee said. "But I was going to come to Denver regardless just because of Coach Eric and Coach Fox."

The Broncos felt that even though his number of carries had steadily declined in Baltimore, McGahee certainly hadn't.

"He did have a lot of hits taken off of him from two years ago, but he was a guy that we thought still had value," Fox said. "It took us a while to get him into the offense where he was feeling comfortable."

Without an offseason to get accustomed to his new offensive line, McGahee got off to a slow start in Denver, rushing just four times for 3 yards in his Denver debut, a 23-20 loss to Oakland in the opener.

Knowshon Moreno pulled a hamstring that night, and it was just the opening McGahee needed.

He took over as the starter and has posted four 100-yard games in six starts.

On his 60-yard scamper into the end zone, McGahee turned on the afterburners that surely shocked many around the league, and he wasn't even touched on a 24-yard touchdown sprint up the middle that sealed Denver's 38-24 win over the Raiders and made the Broncos (3-5) relevant again in the middling AFC West.

"He's still obviously got top-end speed still," Studesville said, pointing to McGahee's 77-yard touchdown runs in 2008 and '09.

His longest run last year was a 30-yard TD.

"Always had it," McGahee said. "It never went anywhere. Just needed the opportunity."

At this season's halfway point, McGahee's 123 rushes for 623 yards are higher totals than he posted in each of his last two full seasons.
Against the Raiders, the Broncos broke out the read-option offense that made Tebow so successful at the University of Florida and both men benefited, combining for 281 yards on the ground.

That's the kind of toughness in the run game that's been largely absent at Dove Valley since Mike Shanahan and Peyton Hillis were still together in Denver.

By putting the ball in McGahee's belly and then deciding whether to hand it off or keep it and run it himself, Tebow looked like he was running the Gators' offense once again. And the results were similar, too.

"I've never coached it before, so we're kind of learning this thing together, all of us," Studesville said.

"It's cool," McGahee said. "I'm having fun with it. It's all good."

McGahee was part of a pro-style offense at Miami but now is part of an NFL offense that's borrowing heavily from the college ranks.
"It's not an option offense. It's still a pro-style offense," McGahee insisted, but then added: "Whatever it takes to win. If that's what we got to do, then we're going to do it."

Studesville enjoys having the gregarious, witty McGahee in the meeting room again.

"Oh yeah, he's got great personality. The interesting thing about him, this is a guy who early on in his career certainly could have had reasons to have his head down like he got the short end of the stick because of a bad break," Studesville said. "It's never been like that. I've never, ever seen him like that.

"He's fun to be around, the guys like him. He is challenging now. He challenges everybody, me included. And everyone's fair game for comments and jokes and those things but then when it's time to work, he works and you can really respect that he brings that to the table."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chron.com)

Following his 163 yard, two touchdown performance against the Raiders on Sunday, Broncos running back Willis McGahee has been nominated for a weekly award on NFL.com.

McGahee, who is averaging an NFL-best 103.3 yards per start this season, has been nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week award.  Houston’s Arian Foster and Dallas’ DeMarco Murray have also been nominated for the award.

McGahee ran 20 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos’ 38-24 win over the Oakland Raiders. His rushing total was the highest of any player on Sunday.  — NFL.com

On pace for 1,246 yards this season, McGahee could become the first Broncos running back to rush for 1,000 yards or more in a single season since Tatum Bell accomplished the feat in 2006. Fans go vote for McGahee by going to NFL.com/GMC.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(broncotalk.net)

Even within his own locker room, quarterback Tim Tebow can be an acquired taste. The Broncos' offensive coaches, led by coordinator Mike McCoy, decided the best way to maximize Tebow's skill set — which is heavy on running ability and light on passing accuracy from the pocket — was to install a college-like, read-option attack, but running back Willis McGahee was leery.

"At the beginning, I wasn't too happy with the read option because it really wasn't doing anything until I learned to run it," McGahee said.

He notified the coaches that he was going to adjust his steps, and he received the go-ahead. Then McGahee had the second-best statistical game of his nine-year career, rushing for 163 yards Sunday against Oakland. His career-best game was 167 yards, also against Oakland, while playing for Baltimore in the 2009 season finale.

"When I realized it was working, I kind of got back in love with the read option," McGahee said.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Tim Tebow took the snap, put the ball in Willis McGahee's belly and decided whether to hand it off or keep it for his own run.

Those plays looked a lot like what he did so often in college -- especially the results.

Tebow threw two TD passes and ran for 117 yards, McGahee added 163 yards rushing and two more scores and the Denver Broncos beat the Oakland Raiders 38-24 Sunday.

"As long as it worked, that's all I care about," McGahee said. "He did a great job as far as reading the ends on what he had to do as far as keeping it or giving it. When I got the ball it was my job just to get some yards."

McGahee had a 60-yard touchdown run that tied the game on the first play after Carson Palmer threw his second interception for the Raiders, then added a 24-yarder to ice it in the closing minutes. Denver took the lead in between those big runs when Royal returned his first punt of the season 85 yards for a touchdown.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee says his broken right hand shouldn't hinder him Sunday at Oakland.

McGahee practiced Thursday for the second straight day and was able to carry the ball in either hand.

"He's looked great," offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said. "It's great to have him back out there."

McGahee missed last week's game against Detroit after undergoing an operation to insert screws and a plate into his right hand, which he broke on a defender's face mask at Miami a week earlier.

This week he's been wearing padding over the incision.

"I don't think it will affect me," McGahee said. "I'm feeling pretty good about it. It's actually not getting in the way, so there's no problem there."

McGahee said he's not worried about defenders targeting his right hand, either, because he can always cover it with his left hand.

"If they do" go after it, "then I'll go after them," he said. "I will get the last laugh."

McGahee said he suffered what doctors call a boxer's fracture.

"I can bend my hand without it hurting or anything," he said while demonstrating by clenching his fist and relaxing his hand.

McGahee wasn't the Broncos' starting tailback when Denver lost 23-20 to Oakland in the opener. Denver rushed 13 times for 38 yards in that game, and coach John Fox said Thursday that he "abandoned the run too quickly" that night.

"We're going to have to do a better job of balancing the attack this time around," he said.

And that's where McGahee comes in, broken hand and all.

He's had three 100-yard games since supplanting Knowshon Moreno as the starter in Week 2.

"We really didn't do nothing at all in that first game," McGahee said. "I had four carries and Knowshon had the rest. I probably had like 9 yards (actually just 3), so I know I didn't do anything. This is the time right now to do something to turn our season around."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee returned to practice today, eight days after surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand.

McGahee wore a glove and then had the hand wrapped as he took handoffs and warmed up with his teammates. McGahee appeared to be holding the ball in his left arm.

The Broncos moved today's practice to the South Suburban Sports Dome — an indoor facility about two miles from Dove Valley — for the second-consecutive Wednesday because of snow.

Every player made the trip to the bubble, but three — tight end Virgil Green (neck), safety Quinton Carter (concussion) and cornerback Cassius Vaughn (hamstring) — did not participate.

Head coach John Fox and quarterback Tim Tebow will meet with the media after practice, shortly after 1 p.m.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Broncos Von Miller and Willis McGahee dropped in on Paris Elementary School in Aurora this week as part of the National Football League’s “Play 60″ program that encourages children to be active physically in sports and other fun activities.

Here’s how it went down:



Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has a broken right hand, the same hand he uses to carry a football, which would seem to make the task slightly more difficult.

Still, a week after undergoing surgery to insert a plate and five pins to repair his hand, McGahee said he expects to play in Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders, according to The Denver Post.

McGahee told the team's official website  he hadn't held a football since the injury and categorized himself as "day to day."

There wasn't a lot of luck involved on the play that caused the injury, in which McGahee found his hand stuck in an opponent's facemask. He broke the hand, was penalized for a facemask and then fined $7,500 by the league office.

That right there is the definition of adding insult to injury.

"Look, I paid the price for it," he said. "I got an injury on my hand. I had to have surgery. I'm taking it to appeals court now, but it looked like I was really holding onto his facemask all the way down, which I really wasn't."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

There is puffiness on top of the right hand, but surgery to insert a plate and five pins will do that.

It's the same hand

Willis McGahee uses to carry the football. Today marks one week since McGahee underwent the operation to repair a broken fourth metacarpal, and yet he's planning to play Sunday against the Raiders in Oakland.

"It's day by day, basically," he said.

McGahee is the Broncos' leading rusher and among the best backs in the NFL this year. He had three 100-yard games in a four-game span and was about to make it four out of five when he got his hand caught in the face mask of a Miami Dolphins tackler in the third quarter of the Oct. 23 game.

McGahee wound up getting a triple whammy — penalized for grabbing the face mask, suffered a broken hand and fined $7,500 by the league. He's in the process of begging mercy upon Roger Goodell's court.

"Look, I paid the price for it," McGahee said. "I got an injury on my hand.

I had to have surgery. I'm taking it to appeals court. It looked like I was really holding onto his face mask all the way down, which I really wasn't."
In their 45-10 loss to a Detroit team that likes to take physicality to the level of intimidation, the Broncos missed McGahee, who is a bruising, between-the-tackles runner.

"I missed them," he said. "We had a rough time. Hopefully we can turn things around going against Oakland.”

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Broncos running back Willis McGahee may have had the costliest stiff arm in NFL history on Sunday.

Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that McGahee got a $7,500 fine for grabbing the facemask of Miami’s Sean Smith on Sunday. And that’s not even the worst thing that happened to McGahee on the play.

McGahee also broke the fourth metacarpal in his right hand on the play when it got stuck in Smith’s facemask, requiring surgery that will force him to miss a game or two. And the 15-yard facemasking penalty McGahee got on the play wiped out an 11-yard run.

At least McGahee wasn’t the most heavily fined player in that game: Dolphins defensive back Yeremiah Bell got a $15,000 fine for a hit on Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nbcsports.com)

The Broncos are back outdoors, and back in pads, for practice today.

With the two main practice fields at Dove Valley cleared of snow, starting quarterback

Tim Tebow went to work with a full complement of wide receivers. The only offensive player who remains out of practice is starting running back Willis McGahee, who had surgery on Tuesday to repair a broken bone in his right hand.

Head coach John Fox said yesterday that he wanted to see how McGahee did later in the week before ruling him out of Sunday's game against Detroit. That McGahee was not with his teammates today is yet another sign that he won't play against the Lions.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee had surgery Tuesday to repair a broken finger on his right hand, coach John Fox confirmed Wednesday.

While that much is known about McGahee's injury, what has been less clear is exactly how long he will be sidelined. Various reports list McGahee missing from one week to a month or more, but Fox hasn't been willing to commit to any timetable. Though McGahee isn't expected to play in Sunday's game against the Lions, Fox referred to him "day to day" and wouldn't entirely rule him out.

"We'll see what he looks like tomorrow," Fox said. "We will just see how it feels tomorrow, and we'll take it from there. I've seen guys play offense, defense with casts. A lot of it will depend on how fast he recuperates."

If McGahee is sidelined, the Broncos would be down to two healthy backs -- Knowshon Moreno, who was supplanted as the starter by McGahee, and third-stringer Lance Ball. Moreno and Ball took the bulk of the reps at practice Wednesday and figure to get a lot of action against the Lions.

McGahee's absence could open the door once again for Moreno, who tweaked his hamstring during the season opener against Oakland, didn't play in the next two games and has watched McGahee flourish. Moreno has been used more in passing situations, scoring his only TD of the season against San Diego.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

The Broncos will not have running back Willis McGahee this week against the Detroit Lions.

McGahee will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured fourth metacarpal in his right hand. He suffered the injury early in the third quarter of the Broncos' 18-15 overtime victory against the Miami Dolphins.

At that point, McGahee appeared on his way to his fourth, 100-yard rushing game in his past five games. He finished with 76 yards on 18 carries.
It's also not likely that McGahee will be recovered in time to play the following week against the Oakland Raiders, but he's already stated his intentions for being there.

With McGahee sidelined, the Broncos are expected to start Knowshon Moreno with Lance Ball as the backup. The Broncos also have running back Jeremiah Johnson on the practice squad.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

It’s not all good news for the Broncos on Sunday, after a stirring come-from-behind win in their home away from home of Sun Life Stadium.

McGahee left Sun Life Stadium with a soft cast on his right hand after suffering a fracture.

McGahee had his right ring finger and right pinkie wrapped. The Broncos' medical staff was reviewing X-rays after the game, and McGahee is expected to see a hand specialist today.

If McGahee needs surgery, he would miss significant time.

Running back Willis McGahee, who played at the University of Miami, suffered a broken hand during the 18-15 overtime win.  Coach John Fox confirmed the diagnosis after the game.

McGahee had 76 yards on 18 carries against the Dolphins, giving him 460 for the season.  It’s unknown whether and to what extent he’ll miss any time.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Playing in John Fox's run-first offense, RBs Knowshon Moreno and Willis McGahee were supposed to be the catalysts of the Broncos' attack this season. Coming out of training camp, Moreno, a third-year pro, was expected to be the primary runner, and McGahee, a ninth-year vet, was set to be the backup.

Just four games in to the season, however, those roles have changed. Because of an injury to Moreno, McGahee took over the starting role in Week Two and hasn't looked back, rushing for 256 yards over the past three games. He is a tough, between-the-tackles runner who can also catch the ball out of the backfield and throw a block on a blitz pickup. In contrast, Moreno seems to have lost some speed and is more of a third-down back at this point.

We hear the role switch won't be reversing anytime soon, as the team is pleased to see McGahee making the most of his starting opportunity.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballweekly.com)

In his final game of his 20s, Willis McGahee hardly looked a day older than 23.

For more than three quarters in Sunday's 29-24 loss to San Diego, McGahee wasn't just the Broncos' best offensive player. He was, for all intents and purposes, their only offensive player.

McGahee, who turns 30 on Oct. 21, two days before the Broncos' next game in his hometown of Miami, McGahee was responsible for 74 of the Broncos' 109 total yards in the first half.

When the game was over, McGahee had rushed for a season-high 125 yards (on 16 carries), his third time with more than 100 yards in four games. The last time McGahee rushed for more than 100 yards in back-to-back games, he was a 23-year-old rookie playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2004.

"I've got a lot to prove," McGahee said just before dashing out of the locker room Sunday night. "That's my desire. That's what I drive off of: People count me out. Keep counting me out."

That chip-on-shoulder mentality is clearly aimed at his previous employers (the Baltimore Ravens), and not at the Broncos' coaching staff that seems happy with him as the primary tailback, a role he assumed in the second week of the season after Knowshon Moreno was injured.

Moreno came back last week but has played primarily as the third-down back — or when McGahee needs a break. Moreno did not have a single carry Sunday against San Diego, though he did score on a 28-yard screen pass from

Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter.

McGahee, meanwhile, is showing the big-play ability that has been missing from the Broncos' running game for some time.

Against the Chargers, McGahee broke free for runs of 25, 17, 16, 12 and 28 yards. Six of McGahee's runs went for first downs — giving him more first downs on Sunday than any other Bronco, quarterbacks included.

"He's running downhill — fast — and he's breaking tackles. Us guys up front, we're happy with how he's playing," right guard Chris Kuper said. "It's obviously a joint effort with all of us, but he's obviously doing some things — if there's a guy free in the hole, he's making the move to make him miss, or he's able to run through him. You've got to put a couple bodies on him."

Kuper said the Broncos' run blocking has improved, but the team still has struggled to put together a balanced offense.

The Broncos rushed for 162 total yards but struggled to complete passes until late in the game. Sunday marked the first time the Broncos' offense accumulated more yards on the ground than in the air (113 passing). A combination of early drops and San Diego's tight defense made the Broncos wide receivers mostly obsolete.

Brandon Lloyd didn't catch his first pass until the final drive of the game, and

Eric Decker had only two catches, one for no gain and one for minus-4 yards.

"From what I heard — because I can't see it — they were just loading up the coverage and running a bunch of zone," Kuper said. "That's when we've got to pop more runs out and take pressure off the passing game."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Coach John Fox confirmed that Willis McGahee is the Broncos' feature back after clearing 100 rushing yards in two of the past three weeks.

"We're in a week-to-week, or a 'What have you done for me lately?' league, so right now, I think it's fair to say that Willis is that guy," Fox said. "I think his performance has kind of been the proof." McGahee has earned the job by the mere fact that he can handle the heavy workload without hitting the trainers' room. Just don't expect that to be a long-term gig in Fox's "What have you done for me lately" world.


(rotoworld.com)

It was only a matter of time until former Ravens running back Willis McGahee, who has earned a big role in the Denver Broncos backfield, spoke out publicly about his relationship with his former coach, John Harbaugh.

McGahee carried the load for the Ravens in his first season in Baltimore, but after Harbaugh replaced Brian Billick, his role diminished. (The emergence of Ray Rice as a Pro Bowl back was also a factor.) In his final three seasons here, McGahee averaged 8.6 carries a game, though he did score 14 total touchdowns in 2009.

"In Baltimore, me and the coach didn't get off to a great start when he first got there," McGahee told The Denver Post. "I couldn't do this or the other. But there wasn't any doubt in my mind that I couldn't play football."

The Ravens released McGahee shortly after the NFL lockout ended in late July and he inked a deal with the Broncos a few days later. (The Ravens later brought in veteran back Ricky Williams to replace McGahee.)

McGahee, 29, took over as the Broncos’ lead running back when Knowshon Moreno injured his hamstring in Week 1. He has rushed for 259 yards and a touchdown this season, including 103 yards on 15 carries in Sunday’s 49-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He also has 11 catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.

McGahee told The Denver Post that he now looks at his time in Harbaugh’s doghouse as a blessing.

"That's part of it, the longevity, being in the league longer,” he said. “Being a backup, I got to rest my body."


(baltimoresun.com)

Willis McGahee managed just 52 yards on 22 carries and two yards on three catches in Week 3, but did score a five-yard touchdown on a reception.

McGahee averaged 2.16 yards per touch.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Denver Broncos, Willis McGahee, running back: McGahee took the role of the workhorse for Denver as he carried the ball 28 times for 101 yards. The Broncos, ideally would like McGahee to carry the ball 12-15 times. But with Knowshon Moreno out with a hamstring injury, McGahee had to take the lead role. He did well. Expect him to get the chance to carry the ball often at Tennessee on Sunday.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Laughter may be the best medicine, the best vitamin supplement, the best energy drink. Laughter may be the reason Willis McGahee, the Broncos' soon-to-be-30 running back, believes he has plenty of carries left in the football tank.

"I was out there just laughing," McGahee said about playing against Cincinnati on Sunday. "I felt good. I felt happy. The game was still so fun to me. This is what I want to do, where I want to be. If it still feels like that, you know you should still be doing it.

"My body feels great, my mind is right, it was good to come through, get to work and get the job done when they needed the job done."

McGahee, 29, pounded away for 101 yards on 28 carries, helping Denver overcome a slew of injuries, including one to running back Knowshon Moreno.

It was McGahee's first 100-yard rushing game since the 2009 season finale, when he was with Baltimore, and the most carries he's had in a game since the 14th game of the 2007 season. It also was a chance for the 235-pounder to show he could run hard in the middle of the field, take care of the ball and push the pile.

All things Broncos coach John Fox wants in his running game and why McGahee was the team's chief target in free agency.

"Willis was ready to go, for sure," Moreno said. "We knew going into the game we were going to have to run the ball, and he did it."

Moreno said he's feeling "good, closer to coming back," and said he has started to run some. He said he will try to practice this week to test his injured hamstring.

"It's just getting out there and seeing how I feel," Moreno said. "And that's what this week is going to be about."

McGahee has shown what he can do. So when Moreno is ready to go, the Broncos might amend their original plan that Moreno would start and be the primary runner and McGahee would be the change-of-pace runner when the offense got inside the opponent's 20-yard line, or in short-yardage situations.

But McGahee isn't campaigning. "I'll do whatever they want me to," he said.

"We've always done it by committee — who has a hot hand," Fox said.

Lance Ball rushed six times Sunday.

"In hindsight, we probably should have given Lance more touches and maybe taken a little bit off Willis," Fox said. "But, like everything, there is a trust and experience factor that go into it."

In his nine previous seasons as a head coach — all with Carolina — Fox routinely divided the carries among his top two tailbacks. In three of those years, the Panthers' primary ballcarrier received 42.1 percent of the carries or less. In eight years, the primary runner received 54.8 percent of the carries or less.

Only once in those nine years did a runner top 60 percent of the carries. That was Stephen Davis in 2003 — a Super Bowl season for the Panthers — when Davis got just over that mark.

"Willis has been around," Fox said. "He was a very well-thought-of runner in college and has been in the National Football League with a few different teams, and he knows the NFL game. He understands the defenses. He understands what people are trying to do. He understands what we're doing."

McGahee said a committee approach is fine by him.

"When he says (by committee) he means it. This week he just told me, 'Look, you're getting it 25 times,' and I did because that's what was needed. When they hand me the ball, whether it's one, 10 or 30 times, I'll run it as hard as I can and let things happen."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Q: Do you think tailback Willis McGahee can hold up if Knowshon Moreno misses more playing time?
A: The Broncos certainly hope so. A hamstring injury, which Moreno has, is difficult to recover from quickly.

Moreno didn't practice last week, missed the Cincinnati game and isn't expected to be full speed this week.

McGahee, now in his ninth NFL season, rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries Sunday, helping the Broncos beat the Bengals 24-22 in Denver. That was McGahee's first 100-yard game since the 2009 regular-season finale, when he was with the Ravens. It was the most carries McGahee had since Dec. 16, 2007, when he gained 104 yards on 29 carries against the Dolphins.

"I feel good. I'm taking care of myself," McGahee said after Sunday's game. "I could carry it as many times as they needed me to carry it. I'll be sore, maybe a little bit, but you're sore in this league whether you get 10 carries or 25 carries."

McGahee turns 30 on Oct. 20, and the statistics for most running backs after their 30th birthday aren't pretty. But some backs, including the Chiefs' Thomas Jones, have shown they can contribute after turning 30.

Giving 25 or more carries to McGahee week after week would be a lot to ask of him. And that would beat up the Broncos' best option in short-yardage and goal-line situations. They likely will work

Lance Ball into the mix more. Ball gained 28 yards on six carries Sunday, including a 17-yard gallop — the Broncos' longest run of the game. They also may give some carries to Jeremiah Johnson and to fullback Spencer Larsen while waiting for Moreno to return.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Willis McGahee rushed 28 times for 101 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Bengals.
With Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) inactive, McGahee was a workhorse. He received seven carries on the opening drive of the game and was only spelled briefly by Lance Ball (six carries, 28 yards). McGahee is the goal-line back even when Moreno is healthy.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Moreno injures hamstring: Well the gimpy hamstring of Knowshon Moreno is replacing Fred Taylor‘s troublesome groin as the bane of the fantasy football injury report. Seriously, he hurt his hamstring again? The Broncos already said they were going to play the “hot hand” at running back this season, but now it looks like Willis McGahee could be in line for more attempts

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

The Denver Broncos are expected to run the ball more this season under new coach John Fox, but just who will be receiving the bulk of those carries is anyone's guess.

Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy told The Denver Post that the Broncos have no set rotation for the team's two top running backs -- Knowshon Moreno and Willis McGahee -- and instead will go with who has the hot hand.

"We're going to roll them," McCoy told The Post. "They're going to play, and if one of them is tired, the other one is going in. Then we'll just keep them going. Both of them are going to play plenty of snaps, but we're not going to worry about counting snaps with them.

"If someone is in there playing and they're on a roll, then they're going to stay in. When they need to come out, then they're going to come out."
Moreno, entering his third season, led the Broncos with 16 carries during the preseason, but failed to reach the end zone. Those touches went to McGahee, who had two touchdowns on 15 preseason carries.

In two seasons in Denver, Moreno has 429 carries for 1,726 yards and 12 touchdowns.

McGahee, a nine-year veteran of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens has 1,541 career carries, but has averaged 126.3 carries over the last three seasons. He scored 20 touchdowns the last two seasons with the Ravens, mainly as the goal line and short-yardage specialist. 

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nfl.com)

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee:

“We’ve got to bring back the ‘Salute,’” McGahee said, referring to the Broncos infamous post-TD celebration. “We have to represent for the running backs, Terrell Davis and those boys. When those guys were there we knew Denver was coming in and running the ball. That’s got to be our mindset – running the ball against whoever, whenever, whatever they put up. We’re ready.”

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(broncotalk.net)

Hey!  Willis McGahee here! My Baltimore house is now up for sale…it’s super nice if I do say so myself! Know someone who might be interested? Have them contact my agent from The Campins Company Baltimore Deb@thecampinscompany.com for info and to check it out! WM
Here’s the scoop!

4BR/3+2BA Single Family House
Offered at $799,900
Year Built 2008
Sq Footage 4,892
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3 full, 2 partial
Floors 3
Parking 2 Car garage
Lot Size 2,281 sqft
HOA/Maint $193 per month

IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS! 4 LEVEL GARAGE TH W/ ELEVATOR, GOURMET KITCHEN, CUSTOM BUILT-INS & UPGRADED TRIM, LIGHTING & FLOORING THRUOUT, LOWER LVL THEATER/MEDIA RM, A “WOW” LAUNDRY RM, DUAL MASTER SUITES EACH W/ 2 WALK IN CLOSETS, AN UPPER LEVEL LIBRARY THAT COULD BE USED AS A 5TH BR, MAINTENANCE FREE DECK…ALL IN THE SUPER CONVENIENT COMMUNITY OF MAPLE LAWN – WALK TO SHOPS & POOL!
Up and at ‘em! Make it a great day people!
Willis McGahee

Check out Photos of McGahee’s Apartment here

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(tccse.com)

Willis McGahee rushed for over 2,800 yards and 31 touchdowns on 671 carries during his four-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens. Solid numbers, but figures that declined substantially after McGahee’s 100 carry, 380 yards and 5 TD campaign in 2010. Yes the 5 scores represent a healthy total for a complimentary back, but by just about every metric out there, McGahee’s ’10 season was the worst of his four in Baltimore — both in terms of how frequently he was utilized, and how effective he was when his number was called. He needed to find a new home and seems to have done just that in Denver. With Ray Rice set to assume an ever greater role in the Ravens offense in future years, McGahee decided for understandable reasons that it was the right time to find a new home

Playing for first-year head coach John Fox in Denver, who’s notoriously committed to establishing the run, McGahee has been only marginally effective this preseason, amassing just 49 yards so far on 17 carries.  Similar to how he was utilized in Baltimore however, McGahee has shined in his short-yardage and goal-line duties, scoring a pair of touchdowns already. There’s no doubt that Knowshown Moreno will get the lion’s share of the carries, but Fox loves to run the football, so McGahee is wisely preparing this offseason as if he’ll be the starting running back for the Broncos in 2011.

Willis McGahee joined 104.3 The Fan in Denver with The Drive to discuss what goes through his mind when he trots on to the field in short-yardage situations, how he clearly understands and embraces his roles on Denver’s offense in 2011, whether he really believes that he’s in an open competition for Knowshown Moreno for significant snaps in Denver’s regular offense, how this Broncos team compares to any number of successful squads he played on while in Baltimore,  and how successfully bouncing back and rehabbing from a gruesome hip injury late in his college career has driven him to prove his doubters wrong and carve out a career for himself in the NFL.

What are you thinking when you get in the game in short-yardage situations?:
“I’m thinking get it by any means necessary. They brought me here for a reason and my job is to get the first down and make plays. That’s my goal.”

OK, what was that reason? What is your role?:
“My role is to come in and make plays regardless of the situation or who’s going to start. If I’m going to start, I’m going to start. If I’m not, I’m still going to go in there and approach it the same way.”

Have they told you it’s an open competition?:
“Nowadays, it’s a two-back team now. There’s no way one person carries the load. So I really think everybody’s going to get their share.”

Where is this Denver Broncos team compared to your time with the Ravens?:
“I really think we’re on schedule. We don’t have the team that Baltimore had because Baltimore had a lot of vets on the team which were some key leaders as far as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. But we do have the Brian Dawkins and those guys are going to make sure that we’re going down the right path. The good thing about our team is we’re young and we’re going to be together a long time.”

Why are you so special around the goal line?:
“I’m not special without the guys in front, blocking for me. But I’ve got this itch to get in that end zone because that’s where I feel like I belong.”

Take us through the mentality and attitude you’ve had to come back from the gruesome injury in college:
“I look at it as, when I got hurt, it is what it is. It’s something that you can’t control. You can’t do anything about it, just move on and keep fighting. Through that whole process, you had the writers and the fans saying, ‘He’ll never play football. He’ll never do this, never do that.’ That’s what I feed off of, people telling me I can’t do something. They told me I wouldn’t be a starter in the NFL. I did that. They told me I wouldn’t be in the NFL long, I’m going on my ninth year. … They told me that I wouldn’t be Willis McGahee. Who is somebody to tell me I’m not going to be Willis McGahee?”

What’s the difference between NFL franchises that win and those that lose?:
“In an organization that’s winning … there’s just a feeling in the locker room. The locker room is feeling like everyone has one common goal and that’s to win. … When I was in Buffalo, it was like everybody wasn’t on the same page. They didn’t have that one common goal. … It was just a handful of guys, it wasn’t everybody.”

Click here to order Willis McGahee’ proCane Rookie Card.


(sportsradiointerviews.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos were money between the 20s last year, and middling in the red zone.

Willis McGahee to the rescue.

Since his first season in the NFL in 2004, McGahee ranks third in the league among active running backs with 50 red-zone TDs, tied with Larry Johnson and trailing only LaDainian Tomlinson (96) and Thomas Jones (52).

The ninth-year running back has quickly become the offense's biggest offseason acquisition, scoring three red-zone TDs in the last two weeks, on runs of 1 and 2 yards sandwiched around a 13-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass from Kyle Orton.

"Willis just brings a good physical dimension to us," running backs coach Eric Studesville said. "But really, it's just a complement to what we're trying to emphasize offensively anyway."

More touchdowns, fewer field goals. All of which starts with a better ground game.

Last year, opponents didn't respect the play-action and blitzed like crazy when they were backed up, double-covered Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd, and forced a lot of Denver's drives to fizzle.

"We're just trying to run the ball more vertically, more physically down there," Studesville said. "And I feel like we have a talented room and any of those guys, I feel like I'd want to touch the ball down there."

A leaner, quicker Knowshon Moreno, a more experienced Lance Ball, a promising Jeremiah Johnson.

But especially McGahee.

The Broncos converted 29 of 56 trips into the red zone into touchdowns last season.

The 55.8 percent clip was actually middle of the pack in league rankings, but the failures were exacerbated by a dismal Denver defense that was the worst in the NFL and left such a thin margin for error.

"Oh yeah, that's going to change," McGahee said. "That red zone is where we weren't getting it in last year? It's going to be totally different this year. I know I ain't going to get it in every time, but we're going to be getting it in more than last year."

New coach John Fox likes to use a lot of two-tight end, two-back sets, so there's a renewed emphasis on the run in Denver with McGahee on board and Moreno getting through training camp healthy for the first time. Moreno leads the team with 98 rushes on 20 carries for a 4.9-yard average.

"He got hurt the very first 15 minutes of camp last year," Studesville said, recalling Moreno's pulled hamstring that sent him into the regular season still on the mend for the second straight year. "This time he's done a great job in the offseason of preparing himself, and I think you're seeing it. He is quicker, he is still strong, he's still aggressive and he's playing at a high level right now."

The M&M tailback tandem features a bruiser in McGahee and a cruiser in Moreno.

"It's a change of pace not only for the defense but also for the offense," McGahee said. "Knowshon's one of those scat backs that can get outside and hit the corner real quick. I'm a downhill guy and I like to be in the trenches banging."

McGahee swears he's not going to complain if Moreno gets the ball near the goal line and not him.

"If he's in or I'm in, one of us is going to get in regardless," McGahee said.

With their newfound balance and improved efficiency, the Broncos lead the league in yards per pass play (8.7) and they're finally finishing off the drives, converting six of nine trips into the red zone into TDs during the preseason.

"I like where we're at right now," Orton said.

And he absolutely loves being able to get the ball into McGahee's hands inside the 20.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(newstimes.com)

What does it say about your team when even your best, most accurate quarterback can't keep his passes from breaking windshields in the parking lot?

Here's the sad, sad story of Willis McGahee's Porsche, as told on Twitter by Lindsay Jones, Broncos beat writer for the Denver Post.

Inc pass into the end zone just cracked windshield on Porshe in players parking lot. Whoops.

Orton. Came in fast + hard. Off the bounce. RT @Jeff_Thornton: @PostBroncos Wasn't a Tebow pass, was it?

For what its worth, only about 10 yards from back of end zone to the players' parking lot. No fence. Not some crazy errant pass here.

Mystery solved: The Porsche belongs to Willis McGahee(notes).

As of yet, no one has tweeted a picture of the busted windshield, but let's cross our fingers that that's coming soon.

It's good to hear that it wasn't a crazy errant pass, either. Orton's an accurate thrower. If he's launching balls into players' windshields, Tim Tebow(notes) has probably totaled seven or eight cars during training camp.

Orton should go ahead and use it as a motivational tool, too. A lineman misses a block, he's going to need to pick up a Ding King on the way home. Someone drops a pass, the next one results in a call to The Auto Glass Guys.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sports.yahoo.com)

There is making yourself at home. Then there is Willis McGahee really making himself at home.

"It's a great fit. I just love it here," McGahee said as he squinted into the Colorado sun Monday. "Believe it or not, I don't want to go nowhere else. Whenever I decide to end it, I'd like to end it here."

McGahee, 29, is only a few weeks into his Broncos tenure, but he likes what he sees. And the team likes him, as it has shown by handing, throwing or pitching him the ball near the end zone.

The Broncos tried to pound McGahee into the end zone on back-to-plays Saturday night in their 24-10 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills. He scored on a 1-yard run. Denver quarterback Kyle Orton tossed him a short pass later, and he turned that into a 13-yard touchdown reception.

McGahee already has the look — and the sound — of a closer.

"You always want to get that ball in there when you have the chance," McGahee said. "You don't want to be one of those teams that gets all the way down there and has to pass."

"It's about touchdowns," Orton said. "I've always said you can run for as many yards as you want, you can throw for as many yards as you want, but the whole idea is to score touchdowns, to do whatever you need to do to get points on the board. (McGahee) is going to be a big help in doing that."

McGahee signed a four-year contract to join the Broncos this summer. That's the longest deal Denver gave to a free agent, showing the importance of acquiring McGahee.

At 235 pounds, McGahee has the size head coach John Fox desires in a running back.

McGahee also is an option as a receiver and blocks well enough when needed to play in long-yardage situations.

After passing on a first-and-goal play at the 1-yard line in their preseason opener against the Cowboys at Dallas on Aug. 11 — Orton's toss to wide receiver Brandon Lloyd was incomplete — the Broncos did nothing like that Saturday against Buffalo.

When they moved the ball to the Bills' 1-yard line to open the second quarter, the Broncos ran McGahee on first down on the right side. When that play was stuffed, they ran McGahee again on the right side — this time for a touchdown.

"That's how you want it to go. It's why I came here," McGahee said. "(The Broncos) are known for running the ball. Coach Fox is known for running the ball, and if you're a running back, that's what you want to do. You want to run the ball."

The Broncos are hoping McGahee can be the consistent finisher in the running game they have sought for years. The last time the Broncos scored 20 touchdowns rushing and had a running back contribute at least 10 was the 2005 season. That's the last season the Broncos won more than 10 games — they won 13 — and the last time they made the playoffs.

McGahee has rushed for 55 touchdowns in his NFL career, including 13 with the Bills in 2004. Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville was McGahee's position coach in 2004 at Buffalo. McGahee rushed for 12 touchdowns in 2009 with the Baltimore Ravens.

"The good run teams have that ability to run the ball in the situations when they want to run the ball," Studesville said. "They have to have those guys who can convert opportunities into touchdowns."

"When I came here, I didn't even meet with Coach Fox. I didn't have to," McGahee said. "I met with Coach Eric and I said, 'C'mon, let's go.' And that's what I'm going to do.”



(denverpost.com)

Willis McGahee carried the ball five times for six yards and a touchdown in Denver's preseason game against the Bills on Saturday.

He added two catches for 33 yards and another score in what was a vintage McGahee performance. McGahee is locked in as the Broncos' goal-line and short-yardage back, but is an incredibly low-upside pick in 10-to-12 team leagues.



(rotoworld.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Co. -- Willis McGahee could have signed with other teams after he was cut by Baltimore in July.

However, he studied the Denver Broncos’ situation and liked what he saw. He saw a hungry team that is starting a new program under the guidance of a head coach in John Fox who is known for running the ball first.

“These guys are a lot like me,” McGahee said Saturday. “Everyone is looking forward to being in a new situation … I’m glad to be here, knowing I’m playing for a coach who pounds the ball.”

McGahee has looked good in training camp and he had 17 yards on two carries in Denver’s preseason opener at Dallas on Thursday.

McGahee, who will turn 30 in October, had had a total of 379 carries the past three years. He had 380 yards on 100 carries last season in Baltimore. He said he is looking for an opportunity to carry the ball more in Denver. He should get the chance as he shares carries with third-year running back Knowshon Moreno.

McGahee, who missed his rookie season in Buffalo in 2003 with a knee injury, said he’d ideally like to carry the ball in the 15-17 time-a-game range. McGahee said his low carry totals the past three years have preserved his legs well.

“I didn’t have many miles on my tires the first two years of my career and now the past three years I haven't, either,” McGahee said. “I don’t even need a tire rotation … I feel good. I feel ready to help this team.”

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Have the Broncos ever had a running back like Willis McGahee?

Terrell Davis was 210 pounds.

Clinton Portis was 220. Mike Anderson was 230 with fullback speed.

McGahee is a powerfully built 235 who moves like a tailback.

He had two of the most impressive runs in camp during the full-pad practice this morning. Not bad for a guy who is getting $3 million this year ($2 million signing bonus; $1 million salary) on a year-to-year, $9.5 million contract.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

ESPN in their Yards To Glory Series counts down the top college plays in the history of NCAAF. Obviously there are quite a few proCanes involved!

25. Kelly's Throws
Jim Kelly helps upset Penn State in first start
Nov. 3, 1979: After a 3-4 start, Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger made a desperate move, giving freshman quarterback Jim Kelly his first college start at Penn State. Kelly, who was recruited by the Nittany Lions as a linebacker, didn't find out he was starting until moments before the game. He responded by throwing up in the locker room. Kelly also threw a 25-yard touchdown to Jim Joiner in the third quarter, helping the Hurricanes upset the No. 19 Nittany Lions 26-10.

31. Hurricane Willis
Willis McGahee scores school record sixth touchdown
Dec. 7, 2002: With Miami comfortably ahead of Virginia Tech 42-21 in the third quarter, running back Willis McGahee made Hurricanes history when he sprinted into the end zone from 31 yards out to score his sixth touchdown of the day, breaking the school record for total touchdowns scored in a game. McGahee didn't have to do much on the play. He simply bolted through the middle, made a slight cut to the right and jogged in to make it 49-21.

42. Leonard Part 2
Leonard Conley runs Miami past Nebraska in Orange Bowl
Jan. 2, 1989: Miami's diminutive Leonard Conley stood tall in the Orange Bowl against Nebraska, scoring both of the Hurricanes' touchdowns in a 23-3 win. The second score stood out, as he caught a Steve Walsh pass in the flat, juked Nebraska's Lorenzo Hicks and scooted down the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown. Miami receiver Dale Dawkins spurred Conley with a crushing downfield block. The catch marked Conley's longest in college as Miami handed Nebraska its first loss of the season.

73. Raising Cane
Michael Irvin's catch-and-run buries FSU
Oct. 3, 1987: In a game that featured two unbeaten in-state rivals, Miami trailed Florida State 19-3 late in the third quarter when Miami quarterback Steve Walsh almost single-handedly changed the game. He threw three touchdown passes in the final 16 minutes, including a 73-yarder to Michael Irvin that gave the Canes a 26-19 lead with 2:22 remaining. Walsh threw the ball into double coverage, but Irvin made the catch and helped preserve a 26-25 win en route to a national title.

80. Reed And React
Ed Reed helps save Miami's title hopes
Nov. 10, 2001: Miami's national championship hopes were on the line when a late defensive stand saved the Canes. Boston College moved to the Miami 9 in the final minute of the game. But Mike Rumph deflected a Brian St. Pierre pass to tackle Matt Walters, who started running downfield. Ed Reed took the ball from him and scored an 80-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left to give Miami an 18-7 win. Miami ended up winning the national title.

With a new No. 23 jersey on his back and a football grasped tightly in his right palm, Willis McGahee shadowed running backs coach Eric Studesville at Broncos training camp Sunday afternoon.

During the 2 1/2-hour practice, McGahee never strayed far from the running backs. And each time starter Knowshon Moreno finished a play, McGahee gave him a high-five or a slap on the shoulder.

Denver, meet your new running back tandem.

"There's no more one-back systems here in the NFL," McGahee said, joking that he and Moreno could be nicknamed "Stallions and Horses."

"I'm just going to come in and do the best I can," said McGahee, 29. "I'm going to help him out, and whatever plays I can make, I'm going to make."

The Broncos signed McGahee, a former first-round draft pick from the University of Miami who played the first eight years of his NFL career with Buffalo and Baltimore, to a four-year contract Sunday morning after he passed his physical. He isn't allowed to practice until Thursday.

"This is a new beginning, a new start," McGahee said. "It's wide open right now."

Broncos head coach John Fox was adamant throughout the offseason that he wanted to add a running back in free agency to strengthen the team's running game. The Broncos hope to have a run-based offense this season, a switch from the pass-happy offense of the past few seasons directed by previous head coaches Josh McDaniels and Mike Shanahan.

At 235 pounds, McGahee has the potential to complement the newly slim Moreno, who arrived at Dove Valley weighing about 200 pounds. Moreno expects to remain the starter, but McGahee is considered a better runner between the tackles and in short-yardage situations, a serious weakness for the Broncos in recent seasons. Last year with Baltimore, as Ray Rice's backup, McGahee had only 100 carries. But he scored five touchdowns.

One of those touchdowns — a 30-yarder — came against the Broncos.

"Contrary to what people say, it's no indictment on Knowshon," Fox said. "If you've followed my coaching history, you know I've had two first-rounders at running back, and I believe you have to have two backs to be a successful run team, just to keep them fresh and energized and to get through 16 games running as much as we want to run it."

McGahee, who turns 30 on Oct. 21, joked that "30 is the new 20" — quoting the song title by rapper Jay-Z — and said he is in the best shape of his NFL career.

Studesville said the game film the Broncos watched of McGahee, who has rushed for 6,167 yards and 55 touchdowns and averaged 4.0 yards per carry during his NFL career, is enough proof that McGahee's legs have plenty of mileage left in them.

"He's a guy who has performed in this league and performed well. He brings depth to the room and he's a little different from Knowshon,"

Studesville said. "Know-shon is more of a slasher, he's quicker, a space guy. He brings a different dimension, which is something you have to plan for."

McGahee said Denver showed the most interest in signing him after he was cut by the Ravens on Thursday, two days after they told him that he would be released. Studesville, who coached him from 2004-06 with Buffalo, was a big part of that. In three seasons together, McGahee averaged 289 carries and 1,121 yards.

"He's probably the only coach that knows me," McGahee said. "He knows what I can do and what I can't do. He knows my attitude and he knows I'm going to prepare for the game. It's like, 'Welcome home.' "

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Now that the Baltimore Ravens have notified Willis McGahee that he will be released from his contract Thursday, expect the Broncos to be among the teams interested in signing him.

McGahee, 29, was with the Buffalo Bills from 2004-06 when Eric Studesville was his running backs coach. Studesville is now the Broncos’ running backs coach. McGahee rushed for 1,207 yards in 2007 with Baltimore but he has averaged just 6.7 carries a game the past two seasons as Ray Rice’s backup.

If the Broncos do go with McGahee, he would likely be the 1B back to Knowshon Moreno.

There is the Studesville-McGahee connection, and then there is the John Fox-DeAngelo Williams connections. Williams is a feature back, capable of handling 20 carries a game. He played his first five seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Fox, who is now the Broncos’ head coach.

Other running backs the Broncos may pursue in free agency include Atlanta’s Jason Snelling, Jerious Norwood (whose connection is GM Brian Xanders) New Orleans’ Reggie Bush (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen), Dallas’ Marion Barber III and Oakland’s Michael Bush (no connection, just good backs).

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(denverpost.com)

Okay, it won’t officially be a transaction until Thursday. But we’re going to hear a lot of reports of agreements, deals, and other planned player moves all week long before anything is official.

The first such report is no surprise: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Willis McGahee has been informed he will be released by the Ravens.  We included McGahee on our list of players likely to get cut because he has a $6 million salary and seemed unwilling to take a pay cut.

McGahee will make less money wherever he signs, but he becomes a solid option for teams looking for a backup running back.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

It's long been expected that the Ravens will cut Willis McGahee once the lockout ends, but the backup running back voiced some uncertainty.

"I wonder what the ravens are going to do wit me," McGahee posted on Twitter around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

McGahee, 29, is scheduled to make $6 million in 2011.

The Ravens will only save $2.5 million in salary-cap space, but the Ravens need all the help they can get. According to ESPN, they are $5.33 million under the proposed cap (and that doesn't take into account the tenders for the restricted free agents).

In March 2007, the Ravens traded three draft picks (two third-round ones and a seventh-rounder) to the Buffalo Bills for McGahee. He earned his first Pro Bowl in his first season with the Ravens, leading the Ravens with 1,207 yards rushing (which ranked eighth in the NFL).

But McGahee has never clicked in the offense since coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron arrived. His carries have decreased each season, dropping to a career-low 100 last season.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(baltimoresun.com)

According to the Carroll County Times, Willis McGahee is "not inclined" to accept a pay cut to stay with the Ravens.
McGahee's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said so in a March interview. Unfortunately for Willis, there's no chance of him equaling his scheduled $6 million salary elsewhere, either. The Ravens still want him back at a reduced rate.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Former Miami running back Willis McGahee said he would “like to have my ring” if it is found that Ohio State won the 2003 BCS title game while competing with ineligible players.

The validity of that championship has reached no higher than speculation stage, but has been a topic of conversation given Ohio State’s current NCAA problems. McGahee, a former Hurricane great, told CBSSports.com that he still feels that Miami was “cheated” out of a win because of back judge Terry Porter’s controversial pass interference call.

Asked specifically if Miami should be declared national champions if Ohio State won with ineligible players, McGahee said: “I feel we were cheated anyway. We beat them. The pass interference with the eligible, ineligible players. It wouldn’t have made any difference. I can’t get my money back that I missed out on a second ring. If they did [cheat] I’d like to have my ring.”

Miami won the 2001 national championship and was beaten out for consecutive titles in 2002, losing to Ohio State 32-24 in double overtime. Porter’s call came on a play in which Miami’s Glenn Sharpe went up for a ball against Ohio State’s Chris Gamble came on a fourth-and-3 play from the Miami 5. That loss stopped a 35-game winning streak by the Hurricanes.

For Ohio State to be scrutinized, the NCAA would have to decide it is worth going back beyond the four-year statute of limitations to prosecute the Buckeyes. If players competed while ineligible at anytime, Ohio State would likely have to vacate victories. There is more of a chance that the program would have to vacate 2010 wins. There is no evidence that Ohio State played any ineligible players in 2002, only reports that players were receiving extra benefits for long periods of time. Nine years after that season, Al Golden is beginning his first with the Canes.

“He turned Temple around,” McGahee said recently following a workout on campus with several other NFL players. “The fact that he turned that program around says a lot about his character, his coaching staff. The good thing about it is, he came to the University of Miami.”

McGahee ran for 2,080 yards in two seasons at Miami. His college career ended after a devastating knee injury in the fourth quarter of that Ohio State game. McGahee came back, rehabbed his knee and become an effective NFL back over the past eight seasons.

McGahee’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is the same as just-departed Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. It was Rosenhaus who marketed McGahee during his knee injury, allowing the back to be drafted 23rd overall only 3 ½ months after the injury.

Significant issues remain about Pryor’s talents heading into the supplemental draft.

“He’s [Rosenhaus] going to get in there and talk to the teams, tell them about his client [Pryor], get the word out,” McGahee said. “The knee, he did that. I did my part. I had to work.”

There is a Ohio State quarterback-Miami-McGahee connection. Former Heisman winner Troy Smith was a teammate with the Ravens.

“They said Troy Smith couldn’t play quarterback,” McGahee said. “I’ve known Troy for four years. He came out and won the Heisman Trophy. When he got his shot, he took advantage of it. If you have the ability to throw and read coverages, doesn’t matter how tall you are, as long as you have the heart.”

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

Kevin James, the star of the upcoming film Zookeeper, is a big sports fan — he was even an athlete himself, wrestling in high school back on Long Island.

So it’s no shock that he decided to pal around with Willis McGahee on the red carpet in Miami Beach. McGahee shattered records as a running back at the University of Miami before going pro and putting together three 1,000-yard seasons for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.

James was taking part in the premiere of Zookeeper at the Regal South Beach Cinema. The film stars James as a lonely zookeeper trying to find love who gets the help of some unlikely advisers — his animals. The film opens nationwide on July 8.





(pbpulse.com)

The Ravens reportedly want Willis McGahee to return as Ray Rice's backup if they can get him at a reduced rate.

McGahee will want to explore free agency after he's released, but a return to Baltimore shouldn't be ruled out. In a depressed running back market, McGahee is unlikely to land a starting job or the contract that goes with it.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Comments

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

To read our rankings of players 43-35, click here.

To read our rankings of players 34-26, click here.

25. Jeremy Shockey TE New Orleans Saints/Carolina Panthers: In Shockey’s nine-year career he has not once been able to play all 16 games in a single season and unfortunately 2010 was no different. Shockey was only able to play in 13 games which ultimately led to the emergence of fellow proCane TE Jimmy Graham and Shockey’s release in the offseason and signing with the Panthers. Shockey accumulated a career low 408 yards receiving, and career lows in receptions (31) and yards per reception (31.2). Shockey will be reunited for the 2011 season with proCane offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski in Carolina. If he can stay healthy and the Panthers can find a quarterback, Shockey could have a big season because Chudzinski’s offenses emphasize the TE.

24. Bryant McKinnie LT Minnesota Vikings: After making the Pro Bowl in 2009, but not being voted to the Pro Bowl in 2010, most would think McKinnie did not have as good of a 2010 campaign, but on the contrary McKinnie according to himself and coaches played more consistently in 2010 while protecting Favre’s backside as well as Tarvaris Jackson’s. McKinnie still needs to lose some weight this offseason to improve his quickness versus edge rushers and vowed to do that with a personal trainer, especially since he will be seeing Julius Peppers twice again this season.

23. Willis McGahee RB Baltimore Ravens: McGahee the last two seasons has been stuck behind Ray Rice as the number two back for the Ravens. As a result in 2010 McGahee had his worst year statistically with only 380 yards rushing and 5 TDs on the ground and 1 TD through the air on only 100 rushing attempts. McGahee in 2009 had totaled 14 TDs as he was the main red-zone threat for the Ravens, but wasn’t featured as much inside the 20-yard line in 2010. McGahee can still be a starter in the NFL and is approaching free agency this year where it looks like he will not be resigned by the Ravens. Look for him to have a bigger impact in 2011.

22. Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints: After not appearing in the first two games of his rookie season, Jimmy Graham slowly made his presence known for the Saints as he topped 70 yards receiving in two games and finished the 2010 season with five touchdowns as he subbed for fellow injured proCane Jeremy Shockey. Graham performed so well in 2010 and showed so much potential that the Saints released Shockey this offseason and plan on using Graham as their feature TE in 2011.

21. Rocky McIntosh LB Washington Redskins: McIntosh had his best season statistically with 73 tackles despite playing for the first time in his career in a 3-4 defense as the RILB. McIntosh has had a solid and somewhat underrated career and turned many heads by showing his versatility and playing so well in a 3-4 defense as well as versus the pass. Most seem to think he won’t be with the Redskins next year, but look for him to have no trouble signing with another team and picking up where he left off.

20. Kenny Phillips S NY Giants: Phillips played in only two games in 2009 because of the need of microfracture surgery on one of his knees. Many at the time said Phillips’ career was over and he would never be able recover after such a serious injury and surgery. Not only did Phillips come back, but he had a solid season in his first season playing beside fellow proCane Antrel Rolle. Phillips played in all 16 games and started 15 of them. Though he only recorded one interception he had career highs in tackles (77) and pass deflections (5). Phillips did admit that it took him a while to feel 100% physically and mentally but he did stay healthy and put up good numbers which leads us to believe he is in for a big 2011 season.

19. Antrel Rolle S NY Giants: In his first season with the Giants, Rolle was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and had a solid though not spectacular season for the Giants. Rolle started all 16 games and the fact that he had only one interception may be misleading as he played a lot closer to the line of scrimmage than most safeties. Look for Rolle to become more comfortable in the Giants’ defense and as long as he continues to play well on the field and create less headlines off of it, he and Phillips could become one of the best safety tandems in the NFL.

18. Eric Winston RT Houston Texans: The only explanation we can come up with for Winston not making a Pro Bowl yet, is that he plays for the small market Texans. Winston has been stellar at RT for the Texans and 2010 was no exception. Winston played at an All-Pro level during 2010 with one exception versus the Tennessee Titans where he was beat for two sacks. Look for 2011 to be an even better season for Winston and the Texans, and look for him to make his long overdue first Pro Bowl.

17. Brandon Meriweather S New England Patriots: Meriweather made his second consecutive Pro Bowl after a good 2010 season, though he was inconsistent at times. Meriweather started 13 of the 16 games and in three games only record one tackle while versus the Colts, for example, recorded 7 tackles and an interception. His inconsistency led to him sharing time with the other Patriot safeties as his numbers did slip from his 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Patriots do expect more from Meriweather, and look for him to step up in the 2011 season with the increased competition at the safety position.

16. Chris Myers C Houston Texans: Despite having a solid 2009 season Myers did take a lot of heat in the offseason from Texan fans mainly because of the lasting image of Kris Jenkins throwing him to the turf towards the end of that season. Myers followed up his solid 2009 campaign with a stellar 2010 season where he was ranked as the #3 center in the league by ProFootballFocus.com and anchors a Texans offensive line which at one point featured three proCane starters; Myers, Eric Winston, and Rashad Butler. Look for Myers to continue his stellar play in 2011 and hopefully make his Pro Bowl debut.

Check back tomorrow to see which proCanes were ranked 15th through 8th!

ESPN's James Walker says that the Ravens will try to get Willis McGahee back at a lower rate after they release the veteran running back.

McGahee is intent on getting a bigger role, so he's a poor bet to be back in Baltimore. He had just 100 carries while playing behind Ray Rice last season. Once released, McGahee will garner interest from teams as a rotational runner.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

The Boston Globe's Shalise Manza-Young advises Patriots fans to keep Willis McGahee in mind once free agency begins.

McGahee remains under contract, but there's little question the Ravens will release him once the labor unrest is settled. The Pats have met all of the second-round RB candidates, and ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss suggest Mark Ingram could even be a round-one option for New England. McGahee would be overkill if the Pats add an early-round rookie.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

Sports Illustrated's Peter King speculated on Tuesday that the Ravens might be able to get a fifth-round pick in exchange for running back Willis McGahee.

The Ravens are expected to release or trade McGahee, who is due $6 million this season. But the Ravens can't trade the veteran running back until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

Answering a reader question on what the Ravens could receive for McGahee, King wrote: "Maybe a fifth-round pick. Maybe. He's going to be 30 this year, he hasn't rushed for 1,000 yards since 2007 and he gets hurt. I'd rather use a good draft choice on a running back of the future. Especially in a season with so much uncertainty about how players can be acquired, draft picks are going to be gold. One last point: If you ask me if I'd trade a 2012 fifth-rounder for McGahee when the games actually start and there's a new CBA, I'd be more inclined to do it."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Due to his high salary, the Baltimore Ravens are still expected to eventually part ways with running back Willis McGahee via release or trade.

A pay cut is unlikely to be accepted, and McGahee is due $6 million next season. Plus, the Ravens have former Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice as their featured back.

"We don't expect to be back unless they'll pay him his contract," agent Drew Rosenhaus said during a television appearance.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh recently said the team won't make a final resolution on cutting or keeping the former Pro Bowl running back until the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap situation are resolved.

Harbaugh was noncommittal on whether the team will retain him.

"I don’t think we know anything along those lines because we don’t have to yet," Harbaugh said at the NFL scouting combine. "The way it’s all set up there’s no reason to make any decision before you have to. What the salary cap is going to be, how those numbers factor in, are important."

McGahee rushed for a career-low 380 yards and five touchdowns on 100 carries last season. He averaged only 3.8 yards per carry.

"Willis McGahee can play," Harbaugh said. "He’s a good person, a hard worker, a leader on our team. I’m a big fan of Willis McGahee."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

The biggest reason why the Ravens are expected to cut running back Willis McGahee is his 2011 price tag.

McGahee's $6 million salary would exceed every Ravens starter currently under contract for next season except one -- safety Ed Reed, who is scheduled to receive $6.5 million in 2011. (Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is technically not under contract right now because he hasn't signed his $12.5 million franchise tag tender).

In fact, 11 players on the Ravens roster are under contract to make at least $3 million in 2011:

Ed Reed, safety: $6.5 million
Anquan Boldin, wide receiver: $6 million
Todd Heap, tight end: $4.6 million
Ray Lewis, linebacker: $4.5 million
Derrick Mason, wide receiver: $4.5 million
Joe Flacco, quarterback: $4.48 million
Domonique Foxworth, cornerback: $4 million
Jarret Johnson, linebacker: $3.5 million
Kelly Gregg, nose tackle: $3.5 million
Terrell Suggs, linebacker: $3.4 million
Matt Birk, center: $3 million

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)

My Baltimore Sun colleague Mike Preston put his football hat back on Monday and reported that the Ravens will likely release veteran running back Willis McGahee. According to Preston's source, the Ravens' brain trust decided during their recent evaluation meetings that they wouldn't bring back McGahee -- and his $6 million salary -- for the 2011 season.

It is hard not to see this one coming, though the potential release has little to do with his performance the past couple of seasons. Paying $6 million to a backup running back is unjustifiable, especially when you're trying to retain a Pro Bowl fullback who is willing and capable of taking on a larger role as a ballcarrier.

McGahee has been a productive player over the past two seasons, rushing for 924 yards and scoring 20 total touchdowns in that span. But Ray Rice's star has simply been brighter.

The pint-sized powerhouse had a breakout season in his second year in Baltimore, finishing second in the league in yards from scrimmage in 2009. Rice validated his big season by carrying the load again in 2010 without showing signs of breaking down.

Meanwhile, McGahee had just 100 carries this past season. If the Ravens were to keep McGahee and hand the ball to him 100 times again in 2011, he would get paid $60,000 per carry. Yeah, not going to happen.

But with 207 carries over the past two seasons and 1,541 in his career, McGahee, 29, probably still has a couple of productive years left in him. Don't be surprised if some other team gives him a chance to prove it in a more evenly-distributed ball-carrying committee.

And good for him. McGahee was a team player after Rice rocketed past him on the depth chart, and he deserves a larger role elsewhere -- if he wants it -- should he be released.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)

The Ravens need to be careful in the way they handle backup running back Willis McGahee during the offseason.

According to an NFL source, the Ravens decided at their recent evaluation meetings not to bring McGahee and his $6 million in base salary back for the 2011 season.

McGahee is under contract to the Ravens for 2011, but 2012 ($6.5 million base salary) and 2013 ($7.2) are option years, according to the seven-year contract he signed in 2007.

When asked if the Ravens were going to cut McGahee, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome replied: "I have said there will be no players released before March 3."

When asked if McGahee would be on the Ravens roster before the beginning of next season, Newsome said: "Right now, there are a lot of things that could happen before next season."

Newsome must have been pretty good as a youngster playing dodge ball.

But we can read between the lines. The Ravens were content to pay McGahee $3.6 million as a backup last season, but it will be hard to pay him nearly double that amount in the same role in 2011.

Newsome, though, is playing it right. He needs to be tight-lipped because it's to the point now where almost every team needs two good running backs to make it through a season, and the Ravens could use McGahee again as a complement to starter Ray Rice (1,220 yards on 307 carries).

McGahee's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return phone calls to his office the past two days. But it's safe to assume he knows the Ravens will probably cut his client, and McGahee will test the free-agent market.

Although he can still start for some teams in the NFL, a lot of teams won't be willing to pay McGahee top dollar anymore. He isn't as quick and decisive as he was four years ago.

McGahee also might be at the point in his career when he wants the regular beatdowns on Sunday afternoons to come playing for a contender instead of a pretender.

And that's where the Ravens have to be smart and careful. McGahee isn't what he used to be, but what's left is good enough for the Ravens. One thing they learned from last season is that Rice isn't a runner who can endure 25 to 30 carries a game, especially in his dual capacity as a threat in the passing game.

There has been speculation that fullback Le'Ron McClain could replace McGahee, but McClain is expected to become an unrestricted free agent later this offseason. Plus, he is a power runner and limits the running game.

McGahee still can run inside with power, or occasionally break a long one on the outside. He blocks well and last year rushed for 380 yards on 100 carries.

Soon after the Ravens release McGahee, they should stay in constant contact, and make him another offer. The team had personality conflicts with McGahee during his first two seasons in Baltimore, but he has made positive contributions since.

Soon after the end of the 2010 season, both owner Steve Bisciotti and head coach John Harbaugh emphasized improving the running game. The Ravens now have a quarterback that can beat you, but the No. 1 option is to still to run the ball. They can do that if they find a quality left tackle. They can do that if they move Michael Oher back to right tackle and Marshal Yanda to right guard.

And they can do that if tRice humbles himself a little more like he did during his first two years. Another key could be re-signing McGahee, who already knows the offense and his role.

The Ravens just have to find a mutually satisfying contract. Until then, they need to be careful with McGahee, who sometimes has a very sensitive side.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)

Over the last couple of years, the Ravens have been able to bring Willis McGahee off the bench in red zone or short-yardage situations, or when starting running back Ray Rice needed a breather.

That's a luxury not many teams can afford - having a Pro Bowl running back waiting in the wings - ready to give the offense a boost when he's called upon.

Going forward, the Ravens probably won't be able to afford that luxury, either.

McGahee is set to make $6 million this upcoming season, which is simply too large a number for a back who got just 100 carries last season, and only topped 50 yards rushing in a game three times.

That's not to say that McGahee hasn't been valuable the last few years. The former Bills first-round pick has been a big red zone presence, rushing for 12 touchdowns in 2009 and five more this last season, and he's ripped off a handful of huge runs in the last three playoff runs.
(Remember the 77-yard postseason-clincher in Dallas two years ago? Remember the 77-yarder in Oakland that featured the stiff-arm/slap/punch heard 'round the world?)

McGahee has also been a complete pro in Baltimore despite seeing his opportunities dwindle.

Since rushing for 1,207 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year with the Ravens in 2007, McGahee has seen his rushing yardage and carries drop every season since.

How many players in this day and age would be cool with that, at least publicly? The eight-year veteran has lost playing time to Rice and fullback Le'Ron McClain, but instead of venting through the media, he's taken the two younger backs under his wing and created a family atmosphere in which each back seems legitimately happy when another succeeds.

Unfortunately, despite all the positives he's brought to the team the last few seasons, the Ravens can't keep McGahee around with his current contract.

That leaves two options: McGahee could choose to take a drastic pay-cut to return to the team, or the Ravens would almost certainly release him.

The former option seems unlikely, both because of money and playing time. McGahee - a Pro Bowler in 2007 who has twice rushed for over 1,200 yards in his career - could probably find a bigger role and more carries elsewhere (the Dolphins might be a nice fit), and such a situation would provide him a nice salary.

It's possible McGahee is truly happy with his current role and the team dynamic here in Baltimore, and would be interested in staying around and making another push at a Super Bowl.

But while he's avoided any off-field conflicts recently because of a lack of playing time, it would be a surprise to see McGahee stick around Charm City next season.

Players aren't often excited about forking over the majority of their salary, and McGahee still appears to have a good bit left in the tank. If he wants a shot to prove himself elsewhere, he deserves that, and I'll be rooting for him regardless of what uniform he ends up in next season.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(masnsports.com)

Who knew Willis McGahee loved animals? Who knew he loved them enough to bare it all?

As part of a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) campaign, McGahee posed for photos nude, flashing his tattoos holidng a football made from synthetic materials (i.e., not pigskin). The campaign is called "Ink, Not Mink."

In a video posted on PETA's website, McGahee says "I don't think people really understand where [fur] comes from," said McGahee. "You don't want to electrocute an animal for its fur ... that's not right."

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)

Three of the four Ravens who went to the University of Miami are defenders, and now they have a coordinator who is also part of the Hurricane football tradition.

Chuck Pagano, promoted from secondary coach to defensive coordinator this week, was the secondary coach and special teams coordinator at Miami from 1995-2000. He coached four first-round draft picks, two of whom -- Ed Reed and Duane Starks -- the Ravens selected.

"My relationship with Ed Reed is pretty good," Pagano said. "I've known him since he was 17 years old when I dragged him into a biology lab and made sure all the Bunsen burners were off and talked him out of going to Tulane and coming to Miami. …He's got a strong family right here in Baltimore and he's got a ton of support. He's a warrior and he's a great leader and he'll go down as one of the all-timers to ever play this game."

Reed was just as complimentary of Pagano.

"Chuck will do everything he can to make sure the defense is prepared for each practice and every game," he said. "The time and effort he puts in and what he will sacrifice will be more than a championship-caliber.

"I believe his best coaching quality is working with the other coaches and players around him. Just like coach [Greg] Mattison, Chuck will get input from everyone, and that will help him be the best coordinator he can be and us be the best defense we can be."

In addition to Reed, Ray Lewis, Tavares Gooden and Willis McGahee comprise the list of former 'Canes in the Ravens' locker room. Lewis echoed Reed's description of Pagano as a personable, player-oriented coach.

"I really have had a truly personal relationship with Chuck, not only from when he got here, but even before because of our ties to the 'U,'" Lewis said. "Even though he didn't coach me, I have known what kind of man and coach he is for a while now. He has an extreme knowledge of the game, and the way he communicates that with his players and fellow coaches is amazing.

"You have to respect how he studies opponents and how he prepares for the task at hand each week. He is truly a pure players' coach. He is a man's man, and there is nothing that I wouldn't do for him. I am excited to see what we can do as a defense and as a team leading into next season. Here we go."

As Pagano broadens his focus from the secondary to the entire defense, he will have more chances to work with Lewis, and he said he was excited about that opportunity. Lewis, the only remaining member of the inaugural Ravens roster, played 1,111 out of 1,116 snaps this year.
"We chewed him out when he came out for that, for missing five plays," Pagano said. "You play at the level that he's played at for 15 years because of your due diligence in the weight room in the offseason, watching tape and taking care of yourself.

"He's taken great care of his body and he understands that his body is his earning power and what's made him. There is not a more passionate guy. Standing next to Ray Lewis and just knowing that you're going to war with him … it's a very, very comforting feeling."



(pressboxonline.com)

Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times reports that Ravens running back Willis McGahee is unlikely to be back unless he takes a drastic pay cut from his scheduled base salary of $6 million for next season under his seven-year, $40.12 million contract that has three remaining years with $19.7 million left on his contract. The Ravens are widely expected to move on from their backup running back that averaged just 6.6 carries per game this season. With Le'Ron McClain also a free agent, Ray Rice has a chance to emerge as the goal-line back.

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(gridironfans.com)

6 proCanes made early exits out of the NFL playoffs after he wildcard round this weekend.

Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles) all lost their respective games and will start their offseason.

Below are the remaining proCanes in the NFL playoffs.

AFC: Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).

After rookie Morgan Cox tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the Ravens’ 20-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 26, many members of the media covering the team learned that running back Willis McGahee was the backup long snapper.

That may have come as a surprise to reporters and fans alike, but McGahee said he has experience snapping the football.

“I’ve been doing it since college,” said McGahee, who left the University of Miami to enter the NFL draft after the 2002 season. “That’s something I had to learn when I was in college. The running backs coach [Don Soldinger] was the special teams coordinator, so we all had to do something.”

McGahee, who has never snapped in a game, said special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jerry Rosburg rushed over to McGahee after Cox sustained his injury.

“He actually came and got me ready, but Morgan went out there,” McGahee said. “Being the trooper that he is, he still went out there and snapped.”

McGahee said he doesn’t mind snapping in practice because he’s keeping an eye on his future.

“It’s going to benefit me when my career is over as a running back,” he said. “That’s when I’m going to go do it.”

So how good is McGahee?

“I’m better than most second-string long snappers,” he said. “But I am the last resort when your long snapper goes down.”

Click here to order Willis McGahee’s proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)

17 proCanes will participate in the 2010 NFL playoffs. 8 from the AFC and 9 from the NFC. Below is a list of the players.

AFC: Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).