I don't really understand the double standard with that most writers use in regards to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. When Boller looks great overall but throws an INT he "gave it all back with the int". When Smith looked good (I won't get in to "had touchdown written all over it but Clayton could not bring it in" whatever happened to not delivering the balls well?) and had one int "his only only miscue was a well-played pump fake that ended up in the arms of cornerback Ronnie Prude" (ended up what he pulled it our of the receivers hands??)

"Boller avoided trouble" (as if had he thrown the ball regularly he would have had trouble- what happened to "played it safe..."? ) and he had a 40 yard TD which you feel the need to theorize what might have happened had Prude not had a football on him. Frankly I am sick of hearing excuses for Smith and every opportunity to bash Boller

Hope Troy Smith continues to do well. We need him to step up and win the starting job this Saturday, let Flacco sit this year. We already know what we get in Boller and the fact is, he won't be around next year.

Maybe I was at a different practice today but I kept seeing Troy Smith miss receivers and throwing the ball in the dirt... how odd that 2 people can see the same plays so differently.

As to Kyle Boller why must you take away from what was a very sweet looking play (the touchdown) by showing it as a negative against the DB? Boller may have been "opting to throw to receivers on quick slants or outs toward the sidelines" but the passes were both on time and TO the receivers. And again we may have been at different practices because I saw several nice throws down field by Boller as well. Heck, I even have the photos to prove it.

Czech continues to look like an absolute kicking machine, and finally Troy starts to break out of his funk. It was like he did better in practice not knowing if he'd start or not. Course, he also wasn't always the sharpest in practice at Ohio State either.

Pj Daniels and Dan Cody ae so mysterious I dont think they actually exsist.....amazing......how can you be hurt so much.

I agree with Bob. Boller has his inconsistency but you need to give credit where its due. Bash when he makes mistakes but when he makes great plays and he shows that at times...give him his props

First off, I am a Ravens fan, but too may of you guys are "drinking the purple Kool Aide" as Mr. Preston so often puts it. This team is old on one side of the ball- Ray, Trevor, C-Mac, Rolle, heck even Scott and Buddy Lee are spring chickens. The other side of the ball has nut case MacGahee, 3 poor quarterbacks, a patch work line with two guys who were moving cement last year- Slaughter and Weinrich, an injury prone TE, and a 37 year old fullback. Are the Ravens re-building or taking one last shot? I don't think they know?!?!

I think now people are FINALLY starting to realize that regardless of what the Sun may write, and despite how extremely mediocre Kyle Boller is, he's still our best chance at quarterback... In retrospect, it kinda sucks now, i have no Troy Smith nut warming posters to rip into.... where did you all go after Troy showed that he's every bit as bad, and even more so than Boller... Come back!! you're stupidity is a huge boost to my self-esteem ;(

Just got back from camp all day( after dinner) the special teams looked very good in the afternoon and I have to agree with the others here===Kyle looks much better than Smith , I don't get it ? Most of Smith's passes were very low and off target and the other day they were all high and off target , Kyle is by far the better Q-back in camp this year and Joe has a long way to go,,,,,and that's the truth !

Perhaps some unbiased reporting might be suggested? I agree with Bob, Josh, and Rev...

For today's practice, ravens24x7 says Kyle was the "sharpest overall of the three" while baltimoreravens.com says "The pass of the day goes to Kyle Boller", yet you choose to ignore Kyle's pretty good play and emphasize Smith's mediocre play...

Dear Bob and Rev,

You must be new to the Sun. Preston is a columnist and is not strictly a reporter. He will give you the facts, more or less but they will be filtered through his own personal bias. That is what columnists are paid to do.

Having covered the Ravens for as long as he has he is tired of Boller and in love with the possibility of what Smith might bring. So there is a double standard. Winning the Super Bowl is the only thing that would make Boller a popular guy in this town again. Favre could play crap and throw the interception that sends the Giants to the Super Bowl and he is still a hero. If Boller did that the fans would kill his dog and run him out of town.

The reality that is Smith, for all his swagger, leadership and having Ray Lewis lobby for him, is so bad he can't even beat out a man that most people in Baltimore think is the worst QB to ever play in the NFL. From what I've seen so far the offense runs better under Boller. Sure, if Smith starts this whole year he will be better but are you willing to give up the wins Boller might bring us with his experience? You bet we are! You guys have mistaken a popularity contest for a QB competition.

What happens next year ? Will Smith's learning curve year be better than Boller in a new offense year? I can't tell you. Smith needs reps but so does Flacco so the more you give Smith the less you give Flacco and what happens to your $30 million investment? The Raven managmenet REALLY wants Flacco to succeed and soon. I call it following the money.

Just do this. There are 26 teams in the NFL with established #1 starters. Tell me which one of those 26 guys Boller or Smith could realistically beat out. That is our QB situation.

What is it with the Sun, is Smith sliding money under the table to your guys....You are ready to crusifty Boller for every mistake on the other hand Smith goes 6-12 vs 5-12 and the Head LIne reads Smith bounses back. To say Smith's only miscue was a well-played pump fake that ended up in the arms of cornerback Ronnie Prude. IF Boller does the say thing, The headline reads "Boller still locking onto his reciever"

I guess since Billick is gone Boller will be your target all year.....

Mike, you continue to make the same same mistake you bashed Billick for... backing a quarterback that ruined his coaching credibility and eventually cost him his job. I'm starting to wonder about your credibility as well.

Rick and Rich,

You still don't get it do you? Preston has bashed Smith lots of times but at the end of the day, he still wants him to beat out Boller.

Even though Boller appears to be winning the job. by any objective standard, there is no objectivity in Baltimore when it comes to Boller. If they cut Boller and Smith starts and loses the first 5 games and throws three interceptions in every game, there are a large number of people in this town who will be happy because that will be viewed as progress. Preston is a columnist not a Ravens fan. he has a more informed opinion than you because he spends more time around the Ravens but that is the only difference between him and lots of bloggers.

Um, Mike Preston did not write this piece, not unless he changed his name to Edward Lee... It doesn’t matter though. As many have observed, it is fashionable to bash Kyle and praise Troy, no matter what their performance indicates... or who the writer for the Sun is on any given day.

It's not a matter of Boller Bashing, but the fact he is a 6 year pro who by all means is a first round bust. Troy Smith is young with raw talent. If his skills can develop he might become a quality starter in the NFL. Boller had raw talent but his skills never developed; and let's face it, they're not going to. He may still be the starter come the regular season opener, but I think it's fair to scrutinize every ball he throws because he is the veteren. Plain and simple, Smith is a player with lots of upside while Boller is a player with time tested dissapointing performances.

I love the swarm of Boller fans that always are quick to come to his defense. Your devotion is noted, albiet it misplaced.

It will be interesting to see what happens on Saturday. From what it sounds like, Smith could rush for 2 touchdowns, throw for 2 more, not turn the ball over, and everyone around here would rather talk about how Boller had a high completion ratio.

And by the way, you can't look "great" overall if you're turning the ball over.

though i have'nt seen any practices from out here in Oregon i do read the camp notes every day and i too have noticed different slants on the reporting viza-viz Kyle/Troy. i am convinced that Rick Neuhisel coached Boller up (which BB did NOT do). Last summer Troy had a qb rating of, what, 48%? It will be very interesting in B-more this Saturday.

There was an interview on sportscenter last night (go to www.sportscenter.com and check the 8/13 video). Listen to the difference on how they talk about team philosophy.

Q: What do you think you have to do to win the starting job?
Smith: Oh just be a leader and compete. The things that we practice and preach the most about are ball security and taking care of the ball. Aggressive ball security, that’s what it’s all about when you’re a Baltimore Raven and that's what I'm going to try to demonstrate anytime I get a chance to be out there on the field.

Bowel-er: I’m gunna do everything I can to go out there to try to protect the ball but at the same time still play, not worry about turning the ball over.

I don't care if Boweler is playing better right now, Troy Smith WILL be the starting quarterback for the team this season.