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McGahee hit hard: Tackle leaves Raven in pain

PITTSBURGH — Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee had movement in his arms and legs but was suffering from “significant” neck pain, according to team officials, after suffering a hurricane-force hit from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.

McGahee caught a pass over the middle and, as he turned upfield, took a full-force shot from Clark, whose helmet collided with McGahee’s and bent his body back so far that he dropped the ball and collapsed with both arms motionless on the field.

Trainers rushed to McGahee and administered care to him for a considerable amount of time as they stabilized his neck and moved him to a stretcher. Clark grabbed his head with both hands after the hit and lay on the field for several moments before walking off the field.

The hit was indicative of a lot of the tackling in the game, but Clark’s hit could garner him a huge fine for initiating helmet-to-helmet contact with another player. Though Clark might have thought he was leading with his shoulder, he was guilty of “launching” himself into a player, which should result in a fine.

McGahee had been a rock for the Ravens, gaining tough yards all game long. He rushed 20 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns—both from inside the 5—and also caught two passes for 13 yards.

Leonhard shows up

It has never been too big for Jim Leonhard.

Not at Flambeau High School, not at the University of Wisconsin, not in the AFC Championship Game.

Leonhard single-handedly turned the tide of a game that was about to engulf his Ravens in the first half against the Steelers on Sunday at Heinz Field.

Fielding a punt at Baltimore’s 38, the 5-foot-8, 186-pound Leonhard hit a seam full-blast and was suddenly running free in Steelers territory. Only punter Mitch Berger’s sprawling tackle at the Steelers’ 17 saved a touchdown.

Nevertheless, Leonhard jump-started a team whose offense punted three times, gave the ball to the Steelers on an interception and turned the ball over on downs after a failed fourth-and-1 play. Two plays and one penalty later, McGahee crossed the goal line to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 13-7.

Leonhard left Wisconsin as the team’s all-time leader in punt return yardage with 1,347 yards.

There’s the beef

On McGahee’s first-half touchdown run, the Ravens went with a seven-man offensive line that utilized both 6-8, 330-pound tackle Adam Terry and 6-4, 345-pound nose tackle Haloti Ngata at tight end.

The two lined up on different ends of the line, but Ngata came in motion and lined up next to Terry. The two helped the Ravens cave in the Steelers’ line, allowing McGahee to stroll into the end zone.

Later, in the fourth quarter, they were utilized again, this time one on each side on McGahee’s 1-yard touchdown that made the score 16-14 with 9:29.

Last hurrah

Bill Carollo, a Milwaukee native and former UW-Milwaukee quarterback, was the referee for the last time in his long NFL career.

Carollo announced last year that he would retire after this season, his 21st as an official in the NFL and 14th as a referee. Carollo will move from the field to film room as the Big Ten director of officiating, a position he will assume this year.