Gaither Has Cramps; McGahee Doesn't Lose Tooth
BUMPS AND BRUISES PILE UP
By Joe Platania
WESTMINSTER -- Maybe there was serendipity in veteran referee Ron Winter working the Ravens' practices July 30.
As frustrated fans remember, Winter was the referee that allegedly "protected" New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the Ravens' regular-season loss in Foxborough last October.
But what also took place in that game was tackle Jared Gaither's back injury, suffered when he got involved in a collison while protecting quarterback Joe Flacco. Gaither got carted off in that game, and he was also hauled off the McDaniel College practice field July 30 with ice on his lower back.
The injury was diagnosed as mere cramps, certainly not nearly as serious as the one last October, but after a successful morning practice in which Gaither and Michael Oher both looked comfortable playing both left and right sides, it was definitely another downer in a day full of them.
Running back Willis McGahee had no trouble eating lunch in the team cafeteria, because contrary to earlier reports, he did not lose a tooth courtesy of a big hit from strong safety Dawan Landry, whose job it is to stop the run.
A small bit of good news: cornerback Fabian Washington, already stricken from the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list July 29, donned a red no-contact jersey for July 30's workout. The Ravens will return to the practice field July 31 for another double set of workouts at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
In the run-up to the first preseason game against Carolina, the Ravens are now in a stretch where they are practicing for 12 consecutive days. Two of the days (August 7 and 8) are single-practice sessions.
Posted July 30, 2010
