Fan Pulse: Injury to Boller opens up Ravens QB options

By Neal Coolong  |   Thursday, August 28, 2008  |  Comments( 5 )

Baltimore Ravens
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Last season, the Ravens lost starting cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister for multiple games. This year, they've lost defensive lineman Dwan Edwards, and could possibly put veteran quarterback Kyle Boller on season-ending injured reserve thanks to a shoulder injury.

While the Ravens are still searching for an injury-bug vaccine, they traded with Tampa Bay for D-lineman Marques Douglas (and cut second-round flop Dan Cody).

The question being hotly debated on the the Extreme Ravens fan forum is: Who is going to join QBs Troy Smith and Joe Flacco on the roster if/when Boller is shelved for the season?

The guy likely to draw first consideration is Daunte Culpepper. As quickly as he's brought up, though, Ravens fans keep thinking of others.

"...Culpepper is UNEMPLOYED..Theres a reason for that."

One enterprising poster compiled a list of several options, and made Tim Rattay, a former Cardinal, Buccaneer and 49er, the choice for the Ravens.

"Let's look at our options: Daunte Culpepper, Tim Rattay, Tim Hasselbeck (Retired), Craig Nall, Jamie Martin, Lester Ricard, Kyle Wright, Jared Zabransky, David Greene, Trent Dilfer (Retired)...Hmmm... let's go with Tim Rattay. He's a solid backup."

That lead to the question: Who is the starter in Baltimore?

The smart money is on second-year man Smith, but a viral infection kept him out of the team's third preseason game against St. Louis, and it was reported he wasn't recovered as of Aug. 26. Rookie Flacco wasn't expected to win the starting job in Week 1, but with Boller out, it mostly eliminates the question of experience, because it's not as if Smith's two starts last season dwarf the rookie.

A poster brought up Tampa Bay's Chris Simms,who will likely be released by the Buccaneers before the start of the regular season, or possibly the Dolphins' John Beck, who played for Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron last year.

"Didn't someone bring up Chris Simms before? What about one of the QBs that the Phins are going to cut?"

Making it more intriguing, Pro Football Talk is reporting the Ravens will sign Casey Bramlet, a player who hasn't appeared in an NFL game since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He was released by San Diego this week. Signing Bramlet -- who lacks in-game experience -- would show the Ravens are comfortable enough with Smith and Flacco being the No. 1 and 2. Or, it could mean Boller won't be put on the IR.





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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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