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McGinest sees one last playoff run
You are forgiven if you’re not a Browns fan and you thought linebacker Willie McGinest already was retired.
After all, it’s not like he’s done much on the field the past couple of seasons. In fact, his most memorable moment last season came against Pittsburgh when he failed to tackle scrambling quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at a key point in what became yet another loss to the hated Steelers.
So, when McGinest, who once was an outstanding linebacker for the New England Patriots, a borderline Hall of Famer, told SI.com on Thursday that the 2008 season would be his last, the natural reaction was to shrug your shoulders. Big deal, right?
But McGinest’s reasoning for giving it one more year is what should warm the hearts of Browns fans. He said he wants to finish his career with one last playoff run, so he obviously thinks the Browns have that kind of season ahead of them. Otherwise, why not quit now? Surely he’s set for life financially, right?
McGinest is long past his prime, of course, but Browns head coach Romeo Crennel loves the guy because he’s a leader on the field and in the locker room. It’s good that he’s hanging around.
That said, it’s unclear how McGinest actually fits or whether he will maintain a starting spot in the base 3-4.
The Browns will have to be careful. Willie’s not a pass rusher anymore, and while he can still be effective against the run when the play is right at him, his days of pursuing ballcarriers and quarterbacks in space are pretty much done.
In 27 games for the Browns over two seasons, McGinest has seven sacks and 107 tackles. He’s been a shell of the player who racked up 78 sacks with New England and set the record for postseason sacks with 16.
If nothing else, McGinest will be able to tutor some of the younger linebackers. No doubt he’s helped Kamerion Wimbley the past two seasons. Seventh-round draft choice Alex Hall should be able to soak up some knowledge, as should fourth-rounder Beau Bell, although he plays inside.
“I have no regrets or no qualms about my career,” McGinest told the Web site. “I’ve done everything a football player can do and I’ve done it more than once. This will be it. I’ve worked hard; I think I’ve done everything I set out to accomplish.”
McGinest played 12 seasons and won three Super Bowls with the Patriots before signing a three-year, $12 million contract with the Browns in 2006, reuniting with Crennel, his former defensive coordinator.
Now he’ll try to go out in a blaze of glory.
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By The Big G
May 12, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
It’s hard to say what Ted Washington and Wiilie McGinest brought to the locker room, but neither has done a thing on the field. The team has improved, obviously, but you’d think any impact McGinest had would be seen in the play of Wimbley, and he is getting worse, not better.