Baltimore Ravens late arrival OT Bryant McKinnie faces competition to retain his place – NFL News
Baltimore Ravens’ offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie faces a competition from the teammate OT Michael Oher to retain his left tackle position after he returns to the squad about three days late since start of training camp.
Michael had taken control of the left tackle in absence of Bryant and according to coach John Harbaugh’s indication, there is no guarantee they are going to put him back on the right side. It is now down to Bryant to decide which side he would like to be placed
at permanently, and win the position through a competition.
The coach said:
"My first thought right now is it's going to be a competition. We'll put the best five guys out there. It's not ideal in the sense I'd love for Mike to be settled on one side or the other, but by the same token, that's what it is."
Earlier, the coach said that the OT missed initial three days of the camp with a strained back problem. The player, who passed the physical on Monday a week ago, showed up at training camp on past Sunday.
He appears to have avoided the possibility of $30,000 fine hung over him for each day he skipped the camp but as indicated by the coach the cause of his absence – the back problem – has been accepted.
John said of the player’s injury:
(I have) "a very good conversation" with him. The official said the OT had told him the back strain muscle was the main reason for his absence from the camp.
"I didn't ask him how he did it. I think he said he fell."
He added:
"Like I've said many times, I think the world of B-Mac. I do believe he's a hard worker. I do believe he's been working hard. But he's not ready to practice yet."
It nevertheless settles the controversy around the absence of the player from the camp, as a number of theories had hit the air while he was out of the side. He is expected to be a regular part of the side throughout the season now.
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