Andy Benoit

Posted by Josh Katzowitz

RB Willis McGahee didn’t get a rep in Baltimore’s 14-point victory against the Jets on Saturday, but afterward, he wasn’t upset by not playing and the coaching staff said not to read anything into his absence.

The Baltimore Sun writes that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and McGahee were spotted in the locker room after the game joking around with each other. McGahee also said he knew before the game that he wasn’t going to play. Cameron and McGahee were eventually joined by RBs Le’Ron McClain and Ray Rice.

Coach John Harbaugh explained to reporters why he didn’t feel the need to get McGahee in the game.

"We just don't need to play those guys every single week,” he said. “Willis has gotten reps. He may or may not get some reps next week. I don't think we need to see what Willis McGahee can do. He's touched the ball during the preseason. He does in practice. He's a veteran and we don't need a lot of reps from him.”

Before you say everything is cool in a Ravens running back corps that seems awfully deep at this point, remember what Andy wrote in the middle of this month. Namely, that there are teams interested in trading for McGahee.

So, perhaps Baltimore still is thinking about trading McGahee. Maybe they didn’t play him, because he’s gotten good reviews in training camp by reporting in good shape and the Ravens don’t want to diminish his trade value by sticking him in the game and him possibly stinking. Or maybe they don’t want to trade him, and they’re just saving him for the regular season.

Or maybe, like Harbaugh said, the Ravens know what they have in McGahee and are they don’t need to see him play in an exhibition game.

But if you look at Harbaugh’s quote, he doesn’t say anything about saving McGahee for the regular season. He just says McGahee didn’t need any reps. Which means that the trade rumors will continue.

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