McGahee Locked In

What started as a friendly conversation between two colleagues waiting for an airplane ended up solidifying the Ravens' running back position for years to come. With a five-year contract extension signed Friday afternoon, Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome led the Ravens into the Willis McGahee-era of football.

McGahee still has one year left on his rookie contract before the extension kicks in.

In a press conference with McGahee and Ravens head coach Brian Billick, Newsome outlined the process that sent three draft picks to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for their highly-touted rusher.

Newsome, who was returning from Indianapolis from the NFL Combine on Feb. 27, opened up the dialogue with his Bills counterpart, Marv Levy, and the talks went on from there.

"For the past eight days, we had a conversation every day - myself and Buffalo - trying to work this deal out," explained Newsome. "This was not something that happened Wednesday night or Thursday; this was something that was ongoing for eight, nine, 10 days."

The outcome brought a 25-year-old back that has racked up 3,365 yards over three seasons in Buffalo. Although McGahee came within 10 yards of reaching 1,000 for the third-consecutive campaign last year, the young runner is confident he's only beginning to reach his potential.

In Baltimore, McGahee sees the offensive weapons around him that will allow him - and the rest of the unit - to succeed.

"My situation wasn't that great in Buffalo," he stated. "I thank God for getting the 990 [yards] to tell you the truth (laughing). If you look at it, I missed two games and was facing nine guys in the box a lot. If you get to a better team with receivers, a quarterback and a line helping out, it's going to be hard to stop everybody."

Selected 23rd-overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, McGahee sat out his rookie season to rehab from an injury that saw him tear three ligaments in his knee in his final collegiate game. Although it has been four years since that contest, the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, questions about the injury's affect still follow him wherever he plays.

McGahee said the knee has never felt better, and after he passed a rigorous physical Friday morning, the Ravens didn't have any doubts, either.

"I just spoke with [vice president of medical services/head athletic trainer] Bill Tessendorf who gave me the report from Dr. [Leigh Ann] Curl about the knee, and they think the knee is very fine," explained Newsome.

"I think the medical technology has proven so much that guys are able to come back from [ligament tears]," he continued.

As happy as the Ravens are with their marquee free agent signing, McGahee still feels like he needs to prove to the organization that he'll pay dividends on the field.

"You always have something to prove when you go to a new team, just to show your teammates, coaches and organization that you can play and you belong here," said the running back. "So, that's my main thing, just showing that I want to be here, and I'm ready to do whatever."

To him, that starts off the field. Like many players from the University of Miami, McGahee does a lot of his offseason training at his alma mater, but he seemed eager to start the Ravens' offseason workouts and Organized Team Activities.

"This is a fresh start," he commented. "I'm going to be up here working out. If the coach tells me to come up next week, I'd be up here next week. That's how it is."

To bring in McGahee, the Ravens gave up two draft picks in April's selection meeting and one for 2008, something Newsome called "an excellent value." When you factor in the talents that Billiick saw in his new charge during evaluation, the value is even better.

"The thing that jumped out at me, and I was most interested in looking at Willis, was [that] he is a legitimate single-back runner with regards to the schemes that you use when you're in a two-tight or three-wide receiver set," said Billick. "He's also a legitimate two-back; you put a fullback in front of him, and he's comfortable in either mode. He's also very good out of the backfield, can be very explosive out of the backfield."

Before any of the offseason camps begin, though, McGahee's first order of business might be finding a uniform number. A former No. 21 in Buffalo, he could have a bidding war on his hands with Baltimore's resident 21, Chris McAlister.

Or maybe not.

"He can have it," McGahee said with a laugh. "I have to find myself a new number."

Whatever that jersey number is, the Ravens hope their new running back will make it a memorable one well into the future.