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Source: McGahee asks to be traded if he's not starting

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
August 20, 2004

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Running back Willis McGahee has asked the Buffalo Bills to trade him if he is not their starter on opening day, a source told The Associated Press on Friday.

McGahee's request was not issued as an ultimatum, but the player made clear he won't be happy playing backup to incumbent Travis Henry, said the source, who is close to McGahee, and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said, ``There is no truth to that whatsoever.''

McGahee was not available for comment, as the Bills were off Friday in preparation for Saturday's preseason game against Tennessee. McGahee's agent Drew Rosenhaus declined comment.

After hosting Tennessee, the Bills close their preseason with two road games in preparation for their season-opener against Jacksonville on Sept. 12.

Questions about how the two running backs can work together have been raised since the Bills selected McGahee 23rd overall in the 2003 draft.

Henry is now coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard season while McGahee missed his entire rookie season recovering from reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

The former Miami star was considered a top-three pick before he was hurt in his final college game, the Hurricanes' loss to Ohio State in the national championship, the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Rookie coach Mike Mularkey has said that both players can work together this season, but has maintained that Henry is his starter.

That's been evident through camp, where Henry has worked exclusively with the starting unit, while McGahee has worked mostly with the second string.

McGahee has looked good so far.

In his preseason debut, he had 13 carries for 58 yards, a 9-yard reception, and scored the go-ahead touchdown from the 1, in Buffalo's 16-6 win over Denver last Sunday. McGahee also shone, scoring four touchdowns from within 2 yards, during a controlled scrimmage against Cleveland earlier this month.

While Henry and McGahee refer to themselves friends, theirs has been an uneasy relationship.

Henry initially called the Bills decision to draft McGahee as a slap in the face.

He's since backed off that claim, saying the two can work together.

Henry, however, has previously said that he's not prepared to be a backup to McGahee. Henry has also said that he expects one of them to be traded after the end of this season.

Henry is signed through the 2005 season. McGahee has four years left on a contract that could potentially be worth $15.53 million if he meets all the incentives.


Updated on Friday, Aug 20, 2004 2:07 pm EDT

The reality is that neither Henry nor McGahee wants to be the No. 2 guy on the depth chart, per the source. So whoever loses out on the starting job will want out of town.

Our guess is that, even if McGahee wins the starting running back gig from Henry, neither man will be happy until one of them is traded. The real question is whether the Bills plan to make a move.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:McGahee to miami?

DEHog wrote:Is it me or are guys from Miami trouble

Willis McGahee Asks For Trade If Not Named Starter Report Is False

The Buffalo Bills have told WGR Sports Radio 550 (a local radio channel in Buffalo) that there is no truth what so ever to the AP story that Willis McGahee wants to be traded if he's not the Bills number one running back. The Bills say they have spoken to McGahee and he told them he has never said that and he doesn't know anything about it.McGahee's agent, Drew Rosenhaus is not commenting leading to speculation that the report may be coming out of South Florida that was misleading.

http://www.profootballcentral.com/

DEHog wrote:I'd trade both their butts!!!!!

tcwest10 wrote:'Course, his timing sucks.
Henry got himself injured. McGhee is the starter, by default. It's too late now to go, "Oh, well-I'm-just gonna-go-out-there-and-try-to-do-the-best-I-can-take-it-game-by-game-and-prepare-myself-every-week-like-I'm-the-starter-for-good-you know-until-Henry-comes-back-I-have-learned-a-lot-from-him-and-it's-unfortunate-that-these things-happen-but-hey-this-is-the-NFL-and these-things-do-happen-and-opportunities-are created-I-just-hope-I-can-reperesent-the-City-and-fans-of-Buffalo-like-he-did-He's-a-rock-he's-a-warrior-he'll-be-back-hopefully-soon..." blah blah blah.