Bryant McKinnie has missed the start of Raven’s Training Camp with what was only described by Head Coach Jim Harbaugh as an “issue.” This has led to speculation that McKinnie could be cut, speculation that NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora says is true. According to La Canfora, McKinnie’s days “appear quite numbered in Baltimore.” In the mean time, the Ravens are fining McKinnie 30 thousand every day he misses.
This is just the latest issue for McKinnie since the end of the lockout almost one calendar year ago. Once one of the league’s better offensive tackles, McKinnie showed up overweight for the Vikings out of the lockout and was promptly cut. He got himself back into decent shape and played alright at left tackle for the Ravens last year, but weight and durability issues reared their head again when McKinnie had to miss minicamp to work on his conditioning. After that, McKinnie was given an ultimatum by the Ravens coaching staff, who told him he’d be cut if he wasn’t at 345 pounds by Training Camp.
Now it’s Training Camp and McKinnie is not out there and, unlike minicamp, it doesn’t appear to be an excused absence as he’s being fined. The Ravens are operated right now as if Michael Oher, previously their right tackle, will be their left tackle and the inexperienced Jah Reid, a 2011 3rd round pick, will be their right tackle. Oher has struggled thus far in his career at left tackle.
The Ravens have guard depth with Bobbie Williams and Kelechi Osemele, so they could also move right guard Marshal Yanda to right tackle, where he played in 2010. That would, however, mean the Ravens would be playing their best offensive lineman out of position and I don’t know that starting both the 36-year-old Williams and the inexperienced rookie Osemele at guard, with Yanda out of position at right tackle, is any better than just starting Reid at right tackle. Things are starting to look pretty bleak in front of Joe Flacco in Baltimore.
As for McKinnie, he could be cut in the next few days. Heading into his age 33 season, if he’s cut, he might have a very tough time finding a new team. Being cut by two teams in a twelve month span for weight related issues hardly puts a “sign me” label on a player, even one who is a former Pro-Bowler (2009). Don’t be surprised at all if McKinnie has played his last snap in the NFL.
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