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Ravens release McAlister
Former Pro Bowl cornerback cut, saving team $8M in salary cap room
By Jamison Hensley | [email="jamison.hensley@baltsun.com"]jamison.hensley@baltsun.com[/email]
3:56 PM EST, February 16, 2009
The Ravens cut former Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister today, a move that will save the team $8 million in salary cap room.
The release of McAlister was long expected because he never seemed to click with coach John Harbaugh and rehabilitated his knee away from the team after getting placed on injured reserve at the end of October.
But McAlister said he was surprised when told of the team's decision in a face-to-face meeting with general manager Ozzie Newsome.
"I'm still dealing with the shock of the whole thing," McAlister told 105.7 FM today. "I can't imagine this happened. I never thought it would happen."
Considered the prototypical cornerback, McAlister was a first-round pick by the Ravens in 1999.
McAlister, 31, was a three-time Pro Bowl defender (2003, 2004 and 2006). He was one of three remaining players from the Ravens' 2000 Super Bowl team (linebacker Ray Lewis and kicker Matt Stover were the others).
"First, we want to thank Chris for all he did for the Ravens in the past 10 years," Newsome said in a statement. "He was a major contributor to many big wins, including the Super Bowl. To play the type of defense we have used here, you have to have corners who can cover one-on-one. He was one of the best at that for us. He was physical, and he could run with the best."
McAlister, though, struggled with a knee injury the past two seasons. He missed a total of 18 games in 2007 and 2008.
"All of us who had the opportunity to coach Chris for the first time this season have an appreciation for all the good things he did for this team through the years," Harbaugh said. "He'll be remembered by us and the fans as one of the best to ever play for the Ravens. He's a tough guy and loves football. He'll play again, and he'll play well."
Former Pro Bowl cornerback cut, saving team $8M in salary cap room
By Jamison Hensley | [email="jamison.hensley@baltsun.com"]jamison.hensley@baltsun.com[/email]
3:56 PM EST, February 16, 2009
The Ravens cut former Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister today, a move that will save the team $8 million in salary cap room.
The release of McAlister was long expected because he never seemed to click with coach John Harbaugh and rehabilitated his knee away from the team after getting placed on injured reserve at the end of October.
But McAlister said he was surprised when told of the team's decision in a face-to-face meeting with general manager Ozzie Newsome.
"I'm still dealing with the shock of the whole thing," McAlister told 105.7 FM today. "I can't imagine this happened. I never thought it would happen."
Considered the prototypical cornerback, McAlister was a first-round pick by the Ravens in 1999.
McAlister, 31, was a three-time Pro Bowl defender (2003, 2004 and 2006). He was one of three remaining players from the Ravens' 2000 Super Bowl team (linebacker Ray Lewis and kicker Matt Stover were the others).
"First, we want to thank Chris for all he did for the Ravens in the past 10 years," Newsome said in a statement. "He was a major contributor to many big wins, including the Super Bowl. To play the type of defense we have used here, you have to have corners who can cover one-on-one. He was one of the best at that for us. He was physical, and he could run with the best."
McAlister, though, struggled with a knee injury the past two seasons. He missed a total of 18 games in 2007 and 2008.
"All of us who had the opportunity to coach Chris for the first time this season have an appreciation for all the good things he did for this team through the years," Harbaugh said. "He'll be remembered by us and the fans as one of the best to ever play for the Ravens. He's a tough guy and loves football. He'll play again, and he'll play well."
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