Boller is a very gutsy q.b., but he has been his own worst enemy, he lacks the intangible that seperates good and great q.b.'s from the very ordinary, it is not something that can be taught. I admire Boller for having to go through the q.b. graveyard of Brain Billick's Ravens, maybe being brought along the right way he may have been better, but I believe he would still lack that intangible the makes the great ones great! He is a very classy guy and you have to admire him for that , but it is time to try to find a solution to the never ending q. b. problem with the Ravens. Tha sad part is , Troy Smith is probably not the answer either, but I do believe his q.b. instinct are a little better Than Kyle Boller's!

I don't care how he react he's had five years what did he show us ! How to throw Ints and how to fumble the ball and the best one trip over his own FEETS.

Boller had all the chances he needed to take the starting job. Year after year, he has had every oportunity to step up and show he can move this team and score, and year after year he has failed. All he needed to do this pre-season is show that all those starts and experience had come together and made him a reliable if not spectacular QB. Instead it was the same old Kyle, looking good one series, getting your hopes up that he had finally got over the hump, then he fumbles, or throws an INT.
As for Flacco, well it's clear that Boller and Smith are place keeping for someone down the line, whether it's Flacco or not we'll just have to wait and see.

I have to like Kyle Boller and wish him well. He has remained a team player no matter the adversity. He may never be a starting qb but I'll bet he has a long back up career in the mold of Steve Deberg and Gus Ferotte.

I agree. Some time. After Troy does nothing in this next game would be about how much time.

Bad decision. Assuming that Smith doesn't play himself out of the starter's role in preseason, I foresee a 4-12 type season now. He is not NFL calibre material, and too short to compensate for his inaccuracy. Why waste a season training a backup? I'd rather see taking a shot at .500, flirt with playoffs. I spend way too much money and time supporting this team to desrve this type of bad decision.

Mike, you are on a roll!!! I like the new style. Your low expectations of the quarterback play this season must have a little to do with this. Let's all hope one of the QBs exceed all of our expectations.

What are you talking about? Redman had a bum shoulder, played one half of one game that season, and looked so bad, Anthony Wright started for the rest of the year. Redman didn't play another NFL game until 2007 -- is that because every NFL general manager and coach was also in Boller's corner? When are you going to realize that Boller started his rookie season out of necessity, not because Billick had some personal infatuation with him?

why are you backing boller all of a sudden? as soon as he throws an INT during the regular season you will bash him again and then call for smith/flacco. and as soon those guys make a mistake you will back boller again..zzzzzzz

Jesus in Cleats (Boller) is awesome!!

He can throw a ball through the uprights from the 50 yard line... on his knees.

Kyle has had the time to take this job for years, and his time has now passed. Every year before the past 2, when McNair started, we were hoping he would break out and be this "awesome" quarterback that we thought he was. Well, he didn't and he isn't, and I believe it's time to move on. Sorry Kyle, you had your shot. Let's see what Troy can do.

Now that Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Ed Reed & Newsome are calling the shots for the Ravens on the who plays on offense, it certainly doesn't bode well for John Harbaugh. I'm hoping this is not the first sign of a one year coach for the Ravens. Anyone who has played or knows anything about football can see the politics of this move. Ugh, back to the Anthony Wright era. I have spent about twenty-five thousand dollars on Ravens tickets over the last twelve years, however if this is what it seems to be, I won't be spending any more of my hard earned money on Ravens football. I was also a PSL holder until "the warrior" McNair ripped off the owner for thirty-two million bucks. Another Newsome/Lewis bonehead move. Come on Coach, make your own descisions.

As a long time Kyle lover and supporter, have to say that this is the only logical decision. Call it the elusive IT factor that very few quarterbacks find. The IT factor transcends everything else, arm strength, accuracy, size, or speed. Kyle has come a long way since that painful rookie year, but still hasn't found IT.

If Drew Brees can do it, why not Troy Smith? Easily forgotten is how Troy led the injury ravaged R's to victory over the Steelers. In a cold, nasty game that nobody really wanted to play, he showed up and showed IT.

It's a long road that never turns, but for now, the Ravens are going in the right direction.

God I hate Kyle Boller, he's had his chance and he's not a rookie anymore. the rookie mistakes he keeps making need to either end or his career needs to end.

What happens if Boller is named starter for the 4th game? Does that make this blog worthless?

Frankly this decision means nothing other than Troy Smith gets to start on Saturday. Everyone agrees that both QBs have been terrible, perhaps Boller a little bit less. I actually believe Harbaugh when he said he needed to find out more about Troy Smith. The thing is though that preseason is a terrible indicator of talent. Smith might light it up against 3rd string defences, but lets see how he does against a real defence in Week 1, or Week 2 at the Steelers.

Harbaugh has dithered on the decision for too long, a better coach would have made Boller the starter from the outset but put him on a short leash in the regular season. Look what Drew Brees and Derek Anderson, and to some extent Jon Kitna did when a young hot shot was sitting behind them. They all had pro-bowl seasons. I think the same can happen for Boller if he ever gets a fair chance.

Harbaugh's ( Mr Praise) inexperience is really starting to show. It will not be long before this QB derby rips the team apart and Mr Praise loses control of the lockeroom.

I agree, this could be down to favouritisim. Ozzie likes Troy, so even if Troy is the worst QB, he gets the start.

He's probably thinking, "why did I delay free agency for a year to be a backup?"

My guess is, a year from now, he's wearing a 49ers uniform.

kyle boller bounces back, but the very next game he falls to the pit where he started from.

This will probably be what kyle needs something like what Drew Brees needed where he didn't really play consistently well until Phillip rivers showed up and he knew any week he could lose his job if he gets any gametime this saturday he will probably play with fire and lite it up like he occasionally does

This is out there I know but I see Boller spending his entire carreer here. He will be behind Flacco, and about his 10th or 11th season plays brilliantly without error as he replaces Flacco who is injured. He finally shakes the bugs from his head and we win a superbowl and the theme is what boller is-never quit.

Boller gets paid to play football, not be emotional. He'll get over it.

I think Kyle will be a very good #2 QB in this league for a long time. Gus Frerrotte has hung on for years and I'd take Kyle over Gus for the #2 job any day. He just didn't live up to #1 pick status. Change of scenery may do him some good.

Who cares if Boller bounces back? It is his last year in Baltimore anyway. He can make himself feel better with the millions of dollars that we spent on him.

I don't wish Boller any ill will, but after 6 years he has failed to deliver. I am sure that Boller will land with another team next year. Hopefully, with a new system and a fresh start, Boller will find some success.

Kyle always took the blame,when it was or wasn't all his fault.He will be a professional about this.Maybe make himself a little tougher.Because the RAVEN will need and use him this season..TPman

I do not care which of the "insider/media" genius that has the fortitude to volunteer to take the position of QB on the field, just step up and do it. Let the fans see how good your are and how much REAL talent you do have. The answer will, in all probablity, NO TALENT AND LESS KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAMES.

if any of you out there actually beleive for a damn second that Flacco is gonna amount to a popcorn fart of a querterback than i have some prime waterfront property to sell you in arizona. Kyle Boller is the starting quterback, get him a front line and leave the kid the hell alone. baltimore is such a fickle sports town that i am often embarrest to even say that i am from the city the reads! hahahha

Kyle has always been classy. No one may challenge that fact. He is simply not a starting QB in the NFL. He doesn't make good decisions and doesn't protect the football. He has lost the team (a long time ago actually) and would have been released by any coach other than the "guru" Billick. I wish him well, but he should have been released and a veteran picked up to mentor Flacco. How did we not even look at Pennington or Trent Green? Newsome is clueless with regard to the QB position.

I think Smith will surprize everyone. He is the QB of the future! See what happened in Cleveland

I hope Boller can go to another team where he should play better. The Baltimore fans and sportswriters have been unmerciful on a guy that has taken his beatings and never cried or complained even though the skill players surrounding him were horrible. Unitas, Young, Montana or any other quarterback probably would not have been much better. Poor Flacco won't stand a chance either if Ozzie doesn't find some offensive linemen and skilled receivers. Next year everyone will want to run him out of town also.

Troy Smith was 3 for 5 for 35 yards and an interception in a half against the Vikings and he's better than Boller? Come on! Maybe Harbaugh can run a single wing for him.

What's the over on the Ravens, 5 wins?

Boller has no one to blame but himself... If he had come out and blew away the competition he would have the job, or if Ray would be a true team player that he claims he is he would back his starting QB for the past few years... That said, Boller needs to be released so he can go to another team and get a fresh start...

If Troy Smith has a real solid game, he will probably win this competition. However, if he performs poorly, and still gets the starting spot, then this never was a competition to begin with. Boller, as this article points out, has outperformed Smith to this point.
I do think that it is fair to start Smith against the Rams. He didn't get much opportunity to show what he can do in the last start, since the running game was featured.

With the tackles we have it makes no difference who plays QB. Smith is no Tarkington.

I feel sorry for Boller. He made a terrible mistake when he signed here for another year. He should have moved on and maybe find a team with an offensive line that will give him the time to throw.

I fear that they will get desperate after a few games and put Flacco into the game. That is what happened to Boller and he never recovered. But Boller is the toughest QB we have had since Unitas. And no one can deny that.

If Troy actually passes the ball instead of running at the first sign of a defender, he will play himself out of the job. Nothing makes sense other than starting Boller and maybe having a few trick plays to bring in Smith. Flacco won't be ready this year.

Ben Dover wrote he would take Boller as a number two over Gus Frerotte any day. I don't know what he was watching but in the Vikings game Gus looked like an All-pro compared to Boller who still looks like a lost rookie out there. The Vikings have three QBs way better than Boller on their roster.

I don't care if you had a genetic make up of Johnny U , Bradshaw , Montanna until this line gels which it will in time NO QB will do much. Boller is shell shot and will be forever. Smith is our best chance right now like it or not.

Your right on point with this one Mikey!

Kyle Boller will be the Ravens QB at the start of the season. Mark my words.

Troy Smith is a "proximity" passer. He had a receiver open last week by 30 yards and never looked his way. After the second game, when Clayton and Mason haven't had their touches yet, the mood will run south real quick. If some of you think we will be an 8-8 team, then let's be 7-9 with Flacco. Smith can scamble, but the receivers aren't going to touch the ball.

"Boller has outplayed Smith." With that statement, if people didn't know any better, they would actually think that Boller has played well.

If it's not common knowledge it should be by now. Back on draft day '04 Ozzie wanted B. Leftwich (in the first round) to be the QB of the future but the trade got screwed up with the "call that wouldn't go through". Later in the first round Billick got Boller. Ozzie told Billick Boller is your pick, not mine. Billick tied his future to Boller and is now working in the TV studio.

smith is at best a backup q-back
boller is boller...flacco is a minor
leaguer trying to play with the big-boys
he never be able to deal with the speed of the pros and the talent of
the defensive teams that will sack the
hell out of him. a poor choice, the nfl is not towson...if lucky the ravens will
win 5 games this year and maybe
6 next year. is angelos involved with
this team???

I have to laugh when people write that Boller will make a good backup, or end up with the 49ers next year. Anyone who thinks Boller even belongs in the NFL should stop blogging and go tryout for the cheerleading squad. Your knowledge of football is zilch.

Who cares? He is a professional football player. We don't have to ask how he feels. If he can’t do the job, why pay him? If he is what he thinks then don't worry. He wasn't asking how Redman felt did he (?), when h4 got the shot in 03. Why are you making those waves anyway? Get over it ones and for ever. HE IS NOT THE FUTURE SO WHO CARES?

I'm really glad to hear the Defensive players are making the QB decisions now.
After the way they hung Boller out to dry last year in the Pats game, seems the only thing left to do.

Gonna be a long season.

Neither QB is the answer Kyle or Troy and flacco you just can not tell how good he will be yet he still needs a little time. I will say this, Kyle has played better then Troy in the preseason. If you have watched the preseason. Get off of it we understand Kyle isn't the best but we need some one who can pass at least a little bit,Troy doesn't pass at all. We got a running game so Troy should let them do that. We need some one who can pass a little to keep defenses from stacking the box. I will give Troy a chance but if he can not start making some passes in the preseason you have to go back to Kyle. Think with your head fans and not with your hatred for Kyle Boller he is completing 70 percent of his passes in the preseason. Maybe if you all started charing for the boy instead for boeing him he might be a little more comfortable! Show support for your team and show people why this is a great city to play in!

I watched Boller kill Greenbay with his passing. I came to watch Farve but Boller stole the show. Quarterback ratings don't apply when it comes to Troy Smith he has never had a good one as a Raven. To Quote Jaworski Monday night" Running and scrambling are not the answer NFL Quarterbacks PASS". 3 quarterbacks on the roster. With our line the way the tackles block we are 3 plays away from no quarterbak. How can you blame a fumble on the quarterback when he is blindsided by the defensive end evry third pass play.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Boller did not have 5 years to prove himself. He started as a rookie, which was a mistake. In year 2 he was hurt in the first game agaisnt the Colts, season was a wash. Started in season 3. Thenthe braintrust decided to spend an enormous amont of money on an over the hill, injury prone, over weight, McNair. He started season 4 of Kyle's young career. Started season 5 until he was embarressed to the point of no return. During this 5 year span, the Ravens had no receivers, only half of a offensive line, and a drug deealing, cry baby RB, aka, Jamal Lewis. If anyone really believes Smith is the best answer this year at QB, well, I hope you like salty beer, because you will be crying in your beer all season long!

Unfortunately the fat lady hasn't even finished breakfast in this competition.

Troy Smith has the potential to be a great QB in the pros as he was in college...but i think that he just needs time...He can rush[Kyle Boller is rather slow] and he can put some force behind that ball. I don't know if you remember but the first game troy played his first pass was a 35 yard pass in the end zone and it was perfect. The reciever dropped it. So I guess we will all see if he is able to take over the job on Saturday

"Kyle completed 70% of his passes in preseason." Watch the tape. Boller has a field vision of about 10 yards. In the Viking game his completions were within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage (TE and RB/FB.) He never looked down the field once.
Smith moves the ball by hook or by crook. Give Smith 5 or 6 weeks under center to get a rhythm and he will easily separate himself from the incompetent Boller.
And by the way, Boller was replaced by McNair because the team realized that they NEEDED to be in the FA market. That would not have been the case if we already had a QB to do the job.

Troy Smith is out of the league in two years. Boller will still be around. Boller gives this team the best chance to win until Flacco takes over. Troy Smith, just another short running back. Okay to start him in game three and see what he has got, legs and not much else. He gets a knee blown out relatively quickly running in the NFL. Not scrambling, but running around. Boller at best 8-8, Smith, 6-10

ESPN Quote Analyst Trent Dilfer :
"Kyle Boller must be the starter he has the experience necessary to win, Baltimore can not afford the losses that Troy Smith will bring"

AMEN!!!! Henry Gardner is right on target. Knowing John Unitas as I did, I think he would be appalled at the way the team is handling the QB situation. Ray Lewis on the NFL Network with Rod Woodson & saying Smith should start was totally out of line. Someone please tell Lewis that the people in Ohio are not going to like him because he is backing "Anthony" Smith. I know Scott says he gets excited watching Smith run around during screwed-up plays, but I'll bet the offensive linemen don't. How can the offensive line possibly know who to block unless they like playing playground football. Last years nightmare record was a result of injuries to our best players on offense and defense. McNair was a disaster from his first "dirt"pass against the Bengals until faking injuries & getting the season off (with the owners money). Then with all the injuries Kyle Boller came in & did more than an acceptable job until he was hurt. We saw what he can do against New England. Bringing McNair here only hurt Bollers progress mentally & separated players from Boller with his self-centeredness & undermining attitude. Boller will succeed in this league & I hope it continues with a winning season this year for the Ravens.

How can people say with a straight face that Boller has outperformed Troy Smith at this point? He has 3 turnovers in less than 1 games worth of time, Smith has 1 which was deflected. Boller's been sacked more too. Who has lead more scoring drives? Smith. Yes Boller has completed more passes, but they are almost all ultra checkdowns that go for 4 yards. Smith is clearly the better QB, think more athletic, less experienced David Garrard.

On a follow up note, did anyone watch Boller play last season? How did that go?

I think that it's about time Troy gets to play. Boller has done nothing since coming to the Ravens and now everyone is feeling sorry for him. How you all think Troy felt when he was not given the chance to start in two years? I wish Troy the best in his start. Boller can sit on the bench for a while and watch.

Who cares how Boller reacts? There, I said it and it feels good.

For years I have been taunted by my friends as I watched Boller get us close and then stumble, bumble the game away. Does anone else remember Buffalo, Miami or Monday Night in Pittsburgh. I can still hear Shannon Sharpe when he was asked, "You don't think Kyle Boller can play?" His response, "Play what?"

Kyle is a quarterback in the NFL. For whatever reasons he has enjoyed unmerited tenure on the roster. God bless him! As fans, we know what he is and more importantly what he is not.

The truth is, we have 2 unproven QBs on the roster in Smith and Flacco. During his first preason, it is almost comical how Flacco is taughted as the QB of the future. Hear me, as a Ravens fan, I hope that Flacco becomes all that we dream he can be, but as a fan of the game, I know that there are no guarantees. In 2004, Mike Nolan dreamed that #1 overall draft pick Alex Smith would be the quarterback of the future and now he is backing up journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan.

No question, Flacco was the best QB in his draft class, and if he continues to make quantum leap progressions like he did from the Patriots game to the Minnesota game, he may be the QB of the future. I am just saying that it is way too early to proclaim that Smith or Boller are merely keeping the position warm for Flacco. Truth be told, they may be keeping the position warm, but it may NOT be for Flacco.
Its too early to make those conclusions.

The "Jesus in cleats" comment is offensive. Webmaster, please screen these religious expletives.

Mike you make great points about Boller, the intelligence of the Baltimore sports gene pool is beginning to erode..Boller is capable more than capable...The points that Trent Dilfer brings up about the maturation of the quarterbacks today is more than valid, and Kyle is the poster man of Dilfers case....Billick did a great disservice to Kyle....the comment about MaNair hurting Boller totally unfounded....The Ravens QB of the future is not in the qb competition...maybe not even on the team yet....Only Flacco can reach that lofty goal...Kyle will be with another team next year and they will be a better team for that....as for what ray lewis said, I did not hear it but this is rays team, this team is all about defense and until we have another qb like Dilfer, McNair almost did it by the way Kyle won a few games for the Ravens that year, or you think offense when you hear Baltimore Ravens, then the face of this franchise can say whatever he wishes.

I think that having Boller and two young back-ups is a big mistake.They should decide which of the two (Troy or Kyle) that they can go with and just release the other one.They should have at least one Veteran QB on this roster, you know a Trent Dilfer type guy who can tutor the young starter and help Mentor Joe Flacco. It would be a better insurance policy than the 3 they have now

Boller has had his shots ???? He's only had 42 total starts....And that was off and on due to injuries....You get Boller in a offense like Cleveland (ala Anderson) I guarantee you he'd flourish. I'm telling you everyone always say the backup QB is the towns best friend if the team is struggling. It appears Boller has given his all to this team and people haven't appreciated it. He's never complained about being in a conservative offense, horrible line, top target (heap) injured all the time, and fans trashing him.
I'm willing to make anyone a bet if they stuck him in a SF Martz offense, Carolina with steve smith, STL, or even Minnesota offense he'd have those teams competing for a title. It sucks cause we'll know it when he's off to the next team and realize not even Tom Brady could have succeeded in the Baltimore system.

i really hate to watch boller throw the ball. it's like he's playing darts or somthing. he throws the ball like my 4 year old cousin

To all the Boller Bashers

Wow all this time the problem was Kyle Boller. Everything else was perfect. Pass blocking and Receiving were flawless the only problem was the QB.

It amazes me how much NFL fans praise QB's or trash them when %80 of their play is dependent on 11 other guys. Ravens fans need to except the fact that for 5yrs of Bollers career the O-line has been very poor at pass protection. Todd Heap has been the only reliable target other than Mason.
As for Boller's breakout year that would have been 2 yrs ago but of course we went with McNair who got the Benefit of one of the better seasons of pass protection although run blocking was worse than in previous years. In the later games that year McNair's tank was running low and it became evident during the playoff game against the Colts. The best thing for Troy Smith is to fail miserably against the Rams and hope he gets cut or traded. His future here is bleak and at best he can only become the next Boller. The problems that Plague this Offense will take a few seasons to fix. Putting Smith in as the starter Sept 7 will probably be as big a mistake as starting Boller as rookie.

As for Boller this will be his last year in a Ravens Uniform unless he makes the pro bowl. Of couse he would need a few Pro Bowl players on Offense and since the Ravens lost one in the off season and there were none in camp other than Heap and Mcgahee who are both hurt, his chances of having a Pro Bowl are just south of John Edwards being Obama's running mate. In all probability he will end up taking this Yugo of an offense for another spin around the NFL and hope he doesn't end up riding out on a stretcher when a RB or TE doesn't pick up the blitz.

Somewhere Billick must be chuckling

THE WATCHER is right on. He does what 99% of you all don't do and watch everything that happens on the field. Kyle is not perfect and does make mistakes. I have watched Kyle start to get better in his first three years to only get hurt because our line can't pass block. This guy has taken some hard shots that 90% of the qb in the league would not get up from and never once have I heard him bash any of his players. Did any of you all watch the Super bowl and see how bad the Giants defense made Tom Brady look. That just goes to prove that your qb is only as good as the o-line in front of you and how much time you have to scan the field. I just hope Kyle goes somewhere the fans treat him better then he got here.