Why is this FUN??? The Ravens have showed little, if any, indication that they are willing to pursue another quality starting back (neither Dillon and Brown are even the back that Jamal is). If the Ravens don't sign Jamal, they're in real trouble.

I'm sorry if I don't see that as "fun" Mike.

You're having lots of fun with this Jamal chase, huh? I figure, there's no need to panic. If we don't get Jamal, we'll find somebody in the draft.

We have no reason not to have complete faith in Ozzie Newsome.

What's the reason for McGahee's decline in production last year? Was he hurt, bad o-line, or is he simply another declining former star like Jamal?

Fun, huh? Maybe for a sports writer in the off season -- there's certainly lots of ups and downs and drama, to be sure. But considering how NOT fun our running game was in 2006, added to the fact that we've lost Ovie and Pashos (who admittedly added more O-line stability than run blocking contributions, per se), I'd hardly call this a fun couple of weeks.

By the same token, I like Mike Anderson, and I really like Musa Smith. (I'd just like to see Musa stay healthy.) When you toss in PJ and Justin, and the possibility of a RB draft pick, or an O-line draft pick, or both, I think we could be in worse shape. I could be wrong, but I think that if/when the Ravens finally cut the cord with Lewis, they might just discover that the solutions to their running problems were right under their noses the whole time. Now THAT would be fun!

Whatever happened to Mike Anderson? Perhaps last season's rushing attack had other problems besides backs, and I am not sure spending a lot of money on another "adequate" running back is going to be a solution or even particularly necessary.

Im so sick of hearing about Jamal. Let him go. Its time to move on. The Ravens need a back that can hit the holes and go. Does anyone not see that Jamal can't do that? Do you people watch the same games I do? He took us to the SuperBowl and that was great, but since then he has declined. All he does is look for the pile up in the middle and goes straight for it! He can't go side to side, he can't even turn the corner. Mike Anderson is more than capable of filling Jamal's shoes. What the heck did the Ravens sighn him for if they never use him? Everytime Anderson came in last year he showed that he could run and broke holes wide open.

For the Bills to be willing to get rid of McGahee after going through soo much to draft a player in the first round who couldn't even play for you for another year because of his knee injury, there must be a "problem" with McGahee. Why give up so soon after you ante up the entire franchise?? I'd be leary of bringing McGahee to the Ravens' organization. As for Jamal, I believe he'll play with more purpose in another uniform. The Ravens have their eye on the draft...Musa gets a 1 year deal?? plus Mike Anderson and P.J. Daniels are still on the roster so why bring in has beens like Dillon or Chris Brown? It doesn't make sense... They'll look to draft a stud offensive lineman and a running back who will have an immediate impact.

Memo to Ozzie: Let Twinkle Toes go. He isn't worth the hassle. McGahee is still available and has only been in the league a few years. Sign him or draft a running back. Jamal in a Packer's uniform is the funniest thing I've heard all week.

We Packer fans all agree that Lewis would look good in Packer green and hope they spring the deal real soon,he will be a huge success and Favre and the fans will love having him behind qb, running and catching his passes.I just hope the Ravens management keeps making the same mistake the Packers did with Ahman Green who was older than Jamal but can still run and was a fan favorite,the Packer fans will love whoever they decide to sign except possibly Randy Moss.

Just dont break the bank on Jamal. We've got Mike Anderson and co. Jamal's avg. is like 3.5 yards per carry? If thats the case, we cant do any worse.

McGahee missed a couple of games last year due to broken ribs, he ended up coming back earlier than expected and had a good end of the season. My question is, why is it a big deal if Jamal goes elsewhere? The Ravens need a runner who is decisive and hits the holes in order to have a balanced offensive attack. Jamal no longer possesses the ability to do this and subsequently is being stacked at the line where multiple defenders can get their arms around him. We need more than 2 yards a carry on 1st down. I say, adios Jamal. We sincerely thank you for your time here and best of luck wherever you land.

The Bills had injury problems on the o-line in 2006. They were one of the better teams in the NFL for running the ball to the right side in 2005, but injuries to free-agent pickup Tutan Reyes and longtime Bill Chris Villarreal tuned them into one of the worst in 2006 for right side runs.
Put McGahee behind a solid line again and he should get back to prior career numbers.
However, I would still rather see the Ravens use a first day pick on a RB, and not trade that pick for a veteran in his walk year. The contract they would have to hand McGahee would cause problems in 2008 and beyond.

I agree this J Lew drama is going to be fun, if for no other reason than it shows how far from grace Jamal has fallen since '03. But I'm not worried about who the Ravens sign and who they don't. The Ravens have two good RB's on their team right now- a proven veteran in Mike Anderson and a possibly solid back in Musa Smith if he can stay healthy. I think the Ravens already have better RB's on their team than people give them credit for, Jamal or no Jamal.

McGahee missed a few games last year
(much to the chagrin of my fantasy team... that and the Bills stunk). I say we trade a 3rd round and later round for him and give him an extension. Jamal would do well with a change of scenery in GB. But now with NE giving a 2nd rd pick for Wes Welker, I think we're in trouble...

Has anyone heard that Detroit may be willing to part w/ Tatum Bell??

Lewis isnt better than most any alternative. A young quick RB like Pittman who can also run hard between the tackles would be an ideal round 2 pickup. Putting him as the starter but giving Musa and MA significant carries to reduce his load would be ideal and productive.

i say its time to panic. The price for willis Mcgahee is too high and on top of that his contract with the Ravens would be worse than Jamal's. Mcgahee's agent is Drew Rosenhaus who will not settle for less than what Walter Payton himself deserved. McGahee had a bad year because of a bad oline he was hurt, butno more than jamal and does not have the bruising style of jamal. All these add up to a bad year for Ravens rushing without jamal.

Good, I hope the Packers sign him, so we can stop this Peyton Place nonsense of "Do we re-sign an over-the-hill running back with two bad knees or not" that seems to be a yearly event at One Winning Drive.

This is off topic, but why wouldn't we have made some of these cuts, like Mulitalo today, earlier and made an effort to keep AD around?

I just received the word from my personal friend and mentor that Jamal Lewis is going to the Browns. I have been JLewis friend since his days at our alma matter UT. JLewis is still a top 5 running back in the NFL and the Ravens will find out. It is going to be funny to see an old Ray Lewis trying to tackle JLewis. He will be the central focus of the offensive in Clevand; unfortunately, the Ravens did not know how to use one of the top players in the league, a future hall of fame and a great addition to any locker room. Adios Baltimore

McGahee broke two ribs in the middle of the season last year. He's a work horse. At this point in his career he's twice the running back Jamal is.

It would take me just a hot second to trade a 2nd round pick for a back of his caliber.

Jamal Lewis has been an admirable contributor to the Ravens over his career and I will miss having him on our team.

But let's be real: the Ravens defense is not afraid of facing Jamal as a Cleveland Brown this upcoming season. Sadly, Jamal was just too slow and easy to tackle in 2006, not the player he used to be, which is a large part of why the Ravens did not pursue him with more purpose.

I think it's fair to say that Ray Lewis is not afraid to tackle Jamal, and that it won't be very difficult for him or anyone else on the Ravens defense to do so this upcoming season.

Well Jamal is gone, I wonder are they adding McGahee? 3-season (3,9) Are those numbers going to rise ??? Please dont spend money save them! And go with Mike and Musa and maybe T.J. Duckett as a supplement.

I find it surprising that Jamal would choose to go to the Cleveland Browns.

What indication did he get that the Browns be improved over last year? Or did he just look at the fact that he was guaranteed more carries? The Browns finished 4-12 last year. IMO Jamal didn't do anything to help himself by going to them, except maybe to pad his pockets.

Ravens traded for McGahee...upgrade complete!

The subtlety here is that Ozzie Newsome has craftily downgraded the running game of a division opponent by letting them have our old RB who isn't the player he used to be while chewing up too much of their cap space, a player we know will demand to be the starter even though his production is no longer starting-caliber.

There's a reason the Browns are 4-12. Looks like it's going to stay that way.

Funny how all these Jamal whiners talk about how subpar his performance was in the past 3 years, but cite how much potential Mcgahee has. Look at Mcgahee's stats over the past 3 years...VERY mediocre for a running back! We'll see what happens...

Jamal don't leave the ravens your're all they have not only that but you're the best the've had you ,Ray and now Steve McNaire If you would only do what coach Brian Billick asks you to do all he's askin' you to do is go out there and pilay hard do your best and focous
on your game what makes you think you'll be able to do your best on another team the Ravens need you they need you more than ever they're your brthers and they love you we your fans love you at least I still love you
you are my #1mayby you don't feel the love from the other fans or from your other team members but you know I love you like I said you're my #1 so pleas don't quit the team don't get cut from the team Ilove you with all
my heart not only that but I have alot of faith
in you Jamal Luis

Signed with love forever true
and lots of prayer