If you talk to people within the Ravens organization about Jameel McClain you will hear glowing terms used to describe the undrafted linebacker from Syracuse University.
“A Leader”
“Intelligent Player”
“Team First Guy”
Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees would say “starting linebacker” since he’s on record saying that the job is McClain’s to lose.
Unfortunately for McClain and the Ravens, one description you won’t hear used to describe the 6-year veteran is “healthy.”
The doctors have completed their work on McClain’s back. He suffered a spinal concussion and while he feels better and is in shape vis-à-vis weight and cardiovascular training, MRI’s continue to suggest that McClain has not fully healed – not ready for contact.
“It just has to heal”, said a disheartened John Harbaugh. “Until [the spine] heals and we have proof that it’s healed, he’s not going to be out there.”
Meanwhile Josh Bynes, Daryl Smith and Arthur Brown are getting plenty of reps with the first team and with each day of practice that goes by it seems less and less likely that McClain will return in time to start the season, if at all. And if McClain can’t return in time it will be interesting to see what the Ravens do.
They could keep McClain on PUP and hope that the injury properly heals during the 6-week PUP sabbatical. They could place him on injured reserve with a “designated for return” label that would allow the Ravens to activate him during the season after he sits out a total of 8 weeks.
However, the problem with that designation is that NFL teams can only use it for one player each season. Is McClain worthy of that designation? After all the team did win a Super Bowl without him. What if Ray Rice or Torrey Smith or Joe Flacco suffers an injury where such a designation would be more valuable to the team?
The Ravens could also try and negotiate an injury settlement with McClain and save some cap space. McClain currently carries a $4.2M cap figure (9th highest on the club), $3M of which is salary. Cap relief could put the team in position to acquire an attractive free agent wide receiver should one become available.
It’s quite a shame that McClain can’t get back on the field to take advantage of the opportunity at hand. But injuries are part of life in the NFL. Teams and players understand that. Class acts like the Ravens and McClain will eventually land on a reasonable and fair solution that they both believe is best today and down the road.
Until then, the Ravens will keep a watchful and caring eye on a man who was once homeless on the streets of Philadelphia – a man who understands the value of resiliency when facing adversity.
Here’s to calling you “healthy” soon Jameel.
