The NFL lockout ended not more than two hours ago and the Baltimore Ravens are already planning their personnel moves. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Ravens have told RB Willie McGahee that they will be releasing him.
The news doesn't come as a shock at all. McGahee signed a seven-year, $40 million contract in 2007 but with the emergence of RB Ray Rice, McGahee's no longer necessary, at least at that price. He had three years remaining on his contract.
It's also possible the Ravens bring him back at some point but at a reduced price. They're only a little over $5 million under the salary cap so they needed McGahee's contract off the books to provide some flexibility.
McGahee hasn't carried the ball over 200 times in a season since 2007 so it's definitely fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank. But a team needing a veteran running back to bridge the gap or complement another running back could look to McGahee.
McGahee's 29 years old so he has a spot someplace in the NFL. It's just not clear if that will be in Baltimore.
Check out Baltimore Beatdown to see how Ravens fans are responding to the move.