Flacco was here
Joe Flacco wasn't in Owings Mills today for the passing camp at the Ravens' complex, but the rookie quarterback from Delaware was here in a way.
Put it this way: nobody asked Ravens coach John Harbaugh about Ray Lewis and the rest of the players who didn't show for the latest OTA.
Flacco had no choice, since NFL rules prevent him and other rookies from participating in more than one workout until after their respective school's graduation. (It didn't matter that Flacco had already withdrawn from classes.)
But Flacco, whose next appearance will come at the team's rookie and free agent camp next month (which was pushed back from this month to accommodate the No. 1 draft pick), was certainly there in spirit.
Asked what Flacco missed, Harbaugh said, "Well the biggest thing is all the offensive stuff he can catch up on. The reps, it's hard to get those back. We're going to get as many reps as we can for him.''
Flacco will certainly be caught up by training camp, when the competition for the starting quarterback's job begins in earnest with Troy Smith and Kyle Boller.
Harbaugh was a bit cautious when somebody brought up the rotation.
"That's going to be up to [Ravens offensive coordinator] Cam [Cameron]. I don't think the rotation changes at all,'' Harbaugh said. "He's going to get plenty of reps. I think all three of those guys are going to be competing for a spot. They deserve an opportunity.''
Comments
OK - how about a few tidbits about the two QBs that WERE at today's passing camp? You know, I appreciate that we are going to be inundated with news about the new rookie and I understand that "The Flacco Era" has unofficially begun, but we do have a Heisman Trophy winner and a QB with quite a few NFL starts under his belt on the roster. One of those two QBs is going to be under center come Week 1, not Flacco. Is it too much to ask to get some news on the guys who were here last season? I'm not even a Boller fan by any means but I'd still like to hear how he's looking so far, give me something, please!?! A whole update on a guy that isn't even here - come on.
Posted by: David21009 | May 28, 2008 2:31 PM
Why does everyone forget that we have Troy Smith (a proven winner in college) sitting on the bench?
Posted by: TheRewind.Net | May 28, 2008 3:14 PM
Why does everyone forget that we have Troy Smith, because there is NOTHING to remember about him. A small, running QB means NOTHING in the NFL, so give it up. Slow, arching passes just get picked off. We have Flacco and the Raven's should have taken a second QB in the 2nd or 3rd rounds of the draft so they could rid themselves of Boller and Smith once and for all.
Posted by: Chuckx999 | May 29, 2008 9:36 AM
Here we go with all the love for Troy Smith. Nevermind he looked terrible last year and word was he was even worse in practice. When will people realize that what you did in college stays in college. None of that matters in the NFL. 2006 was 2006 for Troy Smith, but now its 2008 in a new league.
I look for Boller to have a big year. His contract is up, he has two young guys trying to take his job and Compu Coach's infamous "Billick Ball" system is long gone. I think Boller will excel in Cammeron's offense and revitalize this team.
Posted by: Patrick | May 30, 2008 11:55 AM
#1 IT SHOULD NOT JUST BE THAT A PLAYER CANT PRACTICE UNTIL AFTER THE SCHEDULED GRADUATION. THEY SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO PLAY AT ALL IF THEY WITHDRAW FROM CLASSES FOR NO OTHER REASON BUT TO PLAY WITH THE NFL. THIS ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL WHEN THEY SHOULD GRADUATE FIRST. IF THEY GET INJURED THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FALL BACK ON. SCHOOL SHOULD BE THE MAIN SECOND THE NFL.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 3, 2008 12:05 AM
No wonder you sign with "Anonymous." What a dumb statement. Fall back on?! What about the millions of dollars he will receive from the Ravens?
Posted by: Joe | June 4, 2008 10:35 AM