Bill , who could have predicted or forseen a scenario where Boller gets injured and Troy gets infected and emaciated ?
I am excited about Flacco BUT arent we kinda early to toss Flacco to the lions ?
Could you ask Mr Hemsley to ask Coach Harbaugh to consider Todd Bouman as starter ? Bill , do you really buy that line from Coach Harbaugh that Flacco is the ONLY option? I dont .
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Allan,
The state of QB in the NFL overall is a disaster. I think Flacco is the only option at the moment but I'm hoping they can get him out of harm's way as soon as possible.
-- Bill O.

I dont understand the notion of why a quarterback should sit and watch the first year. You dont gain experience from watching all you do is digest a playbook. Even if you wanted to make the argument look at who you have. Especially on a team like the Ravens where there is no veteran mentor at the QB position to teach you the ropes. Think about it, Brady had Bledsoe, Palmer had Kitna, Young had Montana. Joe has Kyle Boller and a guy who played all of two games last year. I dont believe in it messing up his psyche for being in the NFL. These are the cream of the crop who played on national showcases on espn, publicity shows in front of millions of fans, and in most cases (not Joe's) stadiums that have more of an auidence then the NFL level. You dont learn to be good at something by watching, you learn to be good by experiencing it. You can only learn so much by being a spectator.

What is the worst case scenario this year minus injury? He plays horrible throws 20 ints and fumbles 100 times? At least now he has game tape to learn where he made the errors instead of watching some Journeyman in the NFL make them.

Just my 2 cents, I am looking forward to what the kid can do.
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Nate,
There are many folks who believe as you do on this. We can agree to disagree. I saw what happened to Plunkett and it took years for that guy to recover. My own belief is that these players are not robots and I believe a good young QB can get damaged if he is overwhelmed and that is a possibility here. Again, hopefully the kid weathers the storm and comes out the other end of all this better for the experience. It's just not my preference for how it should happen.
-- Bill O.

Hi Bill: It's apparent that the Ravens really don't have a lot of options other than starting Flacco, but don't you think they are truly hoping that Troy will be healthy enough to start the second game, regardless of whether the Ravens beat Cincinnati and/or Flacco play well in a loss?
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Chuck,
In a word, yes. I will say this, though. Even if Flacco plays so-so but well enough to beat the Bengals, Harbaugh has a real dilemma on his hands. Even if he wants to protect Flacco, how do you say we're going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win and then bench the guy who just won. I certainly think they'd like to Flacco on the sidelines because I really believe they have to condense the playbook with him in there. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes.
-- Bill O.

Why be so pessimistic? Frankly, I'm just glad to be watching someone other than Kyle Boller this Sunday. Why can't the coaching devise a smash-mouth, run first, ball control game plan with Flacco throwing 15-20 times? The Ravens are at home and have a non hostile environment to play in. Cincy is a defense which is vulnerable to the run and short passing game. Don't give up on this scenario so quickly............remember Rothlisberger being thrown into the Ravens game after Tommy Maddox went down.
I was there when it seemed the Ravens were on top of the world, crushing the Steelers and knocking out their QB. Steelers fans were wringing their hands. Since that moment the fortunes of both teams have completely reversed. That's what makes this game great.
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John,
Sorry if my tone sounds pessimistic. I like to think of it as being realistic. What happened with Ben was an anomaly. Let's hope for the Ravens' sake and the fans it works out nearly as well.
-- Bill O.

Bill: Why do think the ravens are holding off putting Boller on IR and I would have traded Suggs for Pennington in an effort to prevent the situation they now find themselves. Suggs for Boldin, Suggs for Pennington, Suggs for draft picks, you get it for value !
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Cornell,
I'm going to believe the coach for the moment and assume that Boller is taking some medication that will make his medical condition more clear regarding possible surgery. That's supposed to happen by Friday. As far as a Suggs trade is concerned, of the ones you suggest, I prefer Boldin but who's to say that the other team would be interested. I am a lot less enthusiastic about Pennington. And don't underestimate the value of a pass rusher.
-- Bill O.

I guess im the only one in Baltimore not to crazy about Flacco. I just don't see him as a GREAT or pro bowl type QB. There was a reason why Matt Ryan was picked ahead of this guy, and maybe if it was not for the ravens Flacco might have been a 2nd round pick. There is alot of people outside of Baltimore not to crazy about Flacco like Baltimore fans are. And i really think given the chance Troy Smith will be a better QB or on the same stage as Flacco. I think people forget Troy was still only in his 2nd year it was not like he had a full season under his belt.

after three preseason games flacco looks better than smith, and further along in the playbook, what good would it do to scramble for 2 or 3 first downs when you can only pass for 2 or 3, what sense does sitting on a bench digesting a playbook make when the defense dictates where the ball goes. Joe either has it or he doesn't, the best way to find out is to let him have at it.

It really varies with the individual. Lots of times people are thrown into situations that were not planned. Some do well and some don't. I think most reasonable people realize that the Ravens are not a playoff team so it won't hurt much.
Plus look at the UCLA game. Their 3rd string QB had to start against Tennessee with the top 2 guys getting hurt. After a rough half he played well in the second half and they won.
We've seen Boller for years and he keeps making the same stupid mistakes. Time to forget about potential and realize he isn't a starter. Personally I don't see Smith as a starter and the point of him starting is moot now that he isn't 100%.

Rich

Hi Bill,

One other way to look at it is this. If we make it too easy for this kid what happens when we have that bad "Team"

Its not gonna be easy no matter what way you look at it. And it seems to be a 50/50 on success vs failure.

I actually think these guys get paid money to play football. Not sit around and hold a clipboard and "Learn"

Flacco wants it. That should be all that matters. I think this Kid can handle it. He is use to proving detractors and naysayer's wrong.
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Frannie,
Thanks for writing. Most Ravens followers are optimistic about Flacco. The only issue is timing. Let's hope for the sake of the fans and him that this isn't too much too soon.
-- Bill O.

Bill

I agree with YOU AND MIKE PRESTON! Allowing Flacco to observe Boller or Smith from the sideline for even half of a season would have been much more ideal than the scenario with which we currently find ourselves confronted.

I remember all too well how Boller struggled during his rookie season and a quarterback who could have benefited greatly from observing Chris Redman (who we drafted in 2000 and is now playing decently for Atlanta) or Anthony Wright hand the ball to Jamal Lewis 40 times a game (It WAS 2003) would have developed much better than Kyle has. He has become a competent NFL quaterback with a pretty decent arm who has difficulty maintaining any real consistency.

I want a great deal more for Joe Flacco. I do not want him to be yet another name added to the list of failed QB projects which has lengthened ever since Billick pitched Super Bowl winning starting signal caller Trent Dilfer over the side of the ship!

We can only hope that whatever happens to Flacco this season does not result in lasting physical or mental trauma. It would be nice if we can merely avoid going 0-16 in 2008.

I certainly have a good deal of confidence in Joey F. If I was not a believer before I saw him light up a Navy team in Annapolis which beat Notre Dame and Pitt on the road, won its fifth Commander and Chief's Trophy and go to its fifth consecutive bowl game, I absolutely saw his upside at that point and for the remainder of his final season with the Blue Hens.

Flacco is the goods. We just have to hope that he doesn't get too screwed up this year and adjusts to the speed of the game at this level.
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Drew,
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
-- Bill O.

This theory of keeping Flacco out for fear of injury just makes no sense! Can't he get injured next year if we start him? Can't he get injured in game 9 if we hold him out for half of this season? Can't he get injured 3 years from now? What's the difference? This team isn't gonna sniff the playoffs this year, it's the perfect time to let him learn, gain experience, and not HURT the team if he plays poorly at first.

How good would old number 4 currently playing for the Jets look right now in purple? Don't understand why they didn't even consider Favre. Could of released Boller, and let Joe play behind a legend for a year or two. Still have a servicable D and if you remember nobody thought Favre had any weapons in Green Bay going into last year. Funny what happens when you have a QB that can get the ball where it should be when it should be there.
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CC,
Boy, it is appealing right now, isn't it.
-- Bill O.

Bill dont crush my groove, Flacco is the only flicker of hope I see in the pile of old vets and draft busts on the Ravens roster. For all Ozzies good deeds many forget he has more failures in the last 5 years than successes. (Cody, Pittman, Boller, Clayton, Edwards) to name a few

Bill,

I think an NFL quarterback is like a boxer. When you are bringing up a new fighter, no matter what his promise may be, you do not start their first year with Tyson or Ali, or even Bowe. A fighter learns his chops slowly, incrementally and rationally.

I would like to be a great golfer, and I can drive the ball 300 yards on occasion, but I would quit if I had to play Tiger, Ernie or Phil every week in a skins match.

Slow and steady wins the race, just look at the Free Agent based Redskins.

Bill,

I think an NFL quarterback is like a boxer. When you are bringing up a new fighter, no matter what his promise may be, you do not start their first year with Tyson or Ali, or even Bowe. A fighter learns his chops slowly, incrementally and rationally.

I would like to be a great golfer, and I can drive the ball 300 yards on occasion, but I would quit if I had to play Tiger, Ernie or Phil every week in a skins match.

Slow and steady wins the race, just look at the Free Agent based Redskins.

This it not what we wanted, but what most of you forget, is that we have one of the best and most experienced QB teachers in the league. I bet Cam and Hue will do the right things, so Flacco might not succeed first hand, that is not the end. If Flacco can do something this year, nice.. If not well then it will be the years to come.

I like Jason's comment about boxers; and Geo's comment about Cam and Hue.

I personally think Flacco will start going to Pro Bowls in year 2 or 3, and will consistently be one of the best QBs in the league. I'm completely on the Flacco bandwagon.

But I still think Bill is right, that *THIS* year, and this year only, Kyle Boller was probably the best QB on the Ravens roster; the best chance for the Ravens to be competitive this year. I think we would have seen a career year out of Boller; Cam's offense is better suited to Boller strengths than Billick's West Coast Offense ever was. Boller actually looked accurate in the preseason!

Hopefully Flacco will not be ruined by the Bengals and Texans. And by then maybe Troy Smith will be back to take the bulk of the punishment, and we'll see Joe again in November or Decemeber.

Don't forget , both Carr and Couch were on expansion teams. The O-lines were disasters.
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True enough.
-- Bill O.