Post by John on Jun 6, 2006 20:56:13 GMT -4
Boller still Ravens QB, at least until McNair moves
June 6, 2006
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Until he hears otherwise, Kyle Boller will consider himself the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback.
Boller knows all about the team's pursuit of Steve McNair, who has already worked out a prospective five-year deal with the Ravens. But McNair is still property of the Tennessee Titans, so Boller worked with Baltimore's first-team offense Tuesday during the first day of a three-day minicamp.
"If Steve gets here, or when he gets here, we'll handle it then. But as far as now, I'm just out here competing and trying to get this offense where it needs to be," Boller said. "I'm going about my business right now like I'm the starter. That's the only way I can think of it."
The Ravens have gone after McNair in an effort to improve an offense that ranked 24th in the NFL last season in total yardage.
For now, however, Ravens coach Brian Billick is doing the best he can to make the unit work under Boller, a former No. 1 draft pick who has been terribly inconsistent since taking the job as a rookie in 2003.
"Right now, Kyle Boller is our starting quarterback. That's the only approach you can take. You prepare yourself for that because that's the way it is right now," Billick said. "Kyle is carrying himself, conducting himself and preparing himself to be the No. 1 quarterback. There's no reason to take any other approach for him or the team."
It seems only a matter of time before McNair wriggles free of the Titans and joins the Ravens. During the NFL draft in April, the 33-year-old quarterback worked out a deal that includes a signing bonus of approximately $11 million and a $1 million salary for 2006.
The Titans' last offer was a $3 million signing bonus and a $2.5 million salary for 2006, creating $6.5 million of salary cap space.
But, until the Titans trade McNair or release him, the Ravens will go with Boller at No. 1.
"Kyle is my quarterback right now. Whatever happens in the future, I'm not in control of that," said wide receiver Derrick Mason, who teamed with McNair for eight years in Tennessee before joining the Ravens as a free agent in 2005. "Right now, Kyle is my quarterback and I have a lot of faith in Kyle that he can get the job done."
Boller knows his hold on the No. 1 job will last only as long as McNair remains with the Titans. Until that time, he will prepare for the 2006 season as if he will be the starter in the Sept. 10 season opener against Tampa Bay.
"If Steve comes, then things are probably going to change. I'll handle it then," Boller said. "He's a proven veteran, he's a guy I can learn from, which I have never been able to do. Since I was a rookie, I had to learn things to do on my own."
Boller was thrust into the starter's role during the first game of his first season in 2003 after beating out Chris Redman. He lost the job to injury that season and last year, but has never been the backup to an established veteran quarterback.
Boller has never taken Baltimore to the playoffs, and he hasn't put up the numbers to justify his stature as the 19th overall pick in the 2003 draft. His career quarterback rating is 69.2, and he's got more interceptions (32) than touchdown passes (31).
"I think Kyle has handled it like a professional. Stuff like this is going to happen," tight end Todd Heap said. "Every year, there's guys coming in trying to take my job and everybody else's job. You got to handle it like a professional. You still got to compete and stay sharp mentally, and that's what I've seen Kyle do."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
June 6, 2006
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Until he hears otherwise, Kyle Boller will consider himself the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback.
Boller knows all about the team's pursuit of Steve McNair, who has already worked out a prospective five-year deal with the Ravens. But McNair is still property of the Tennessee Titans, so Boller worked with Baltimore's first-team offense Tuesday during the first day of a three-day minicamp.
"If Steve gets here, or when he gets here, we'll handle it then. But as far as now, I'm just out here competing and trying to get this offense where it needs to be," Boller said. "I'm going about my business right now like I'm the starter. That's the only way I can think of it."
The Ravens have gone after McNair in an effort to improve an offense that ranked 24th in the NFL last season in total yardage.
For now, however, Ravens coach Brian Billick is doing the best he can to make the unit work under Boller, a former No. 1 draft pick who has been terribly inconsistent since taking the job as a rookie in 2003.
"Right now, Kyle Boller is our starting quarterback. That's the only approach you can take. You prepare yourself for that because that's the way it is right now," Billick said. "Kyle is carrying himself, conducting himself and preparing himself to be the No. 1 quarterback. There's no reason to take any other approach for him or the team."
It seems only a matter of time before McNair wriggles free of the Titans and joins the Ravens. During the NFL draft in April, the 33-year-old quarterback worked out a deal that includes a signing bonus of approximately $11 million and a $1 million salary for 2006.
The Titans' last offer was a $3 million signing bonus and a $2.5 million salary for 2006, creating $6.5 million of salary cap space.
But, until the Titans trade McNair or release him, the Ravens will go with Boller at No. 1.
"Kyle is my quarterback right now. Whatever happens in the future, I'm not in control of that," said wide receiver Derrick Mason, who teamed with McNair for eight years in Tennessee before joining the Ravens as a free agent in 2005. "Right now, Kyle is my quarterback and I have a lot of faith in Kyle that he can get the job done."
Boller knows his hold on the No. 1 job will last only as long as McNair remains with the Titans. Until that time, he will prepare for the 2006 season as if he will be the starter in the Sept. 10 season opener against Tampa Bay.
"If Steve comes, then things are probably going to change. I'll handle it then," Boller said. "He's a proven veteran, he's a guy I can learn from, which I have never been able to do. Since I was a rookie, I had to learn things to do on my own."
Boller was thrust into the starter's role during the first game of his first season in 2003 after beating out Chris Redman. He lost the job to injury that season and last year, but has never been the backup to an established veteran quarterback.
Boller has never taken Baltimore to the playoffs, and he hasn't put up the numbers to justify his stature as the 19th overall pick in the 2003 draft. His career quarterback rating is 69.2, and he's got more interceptions (32) than touchdown passes (31).
"I think Kyle has handled it like a professional. Stuff like this is going to happen," tight end Todd Heap said. "Every year, there's guys coming in trying to take my job and everybody else's job. You got to handle it like a professional. You still got to compete and stay sharp mentally, and that's what I've seen Kyle do."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service