Baltimore Ravens let the battle of the quarterbacks begin

Westminster (Map, News) - The Ravens have $30 million reasons to believe in their first-round draft pick.

“I want to go out there and prove to everybody, prove to the coaches, most importantly, and myself and my teammates that I can play,” quarterback Joe Flacco, who signed a $30 million, 5-year deal on Monday, said. “At the end of training camp we’re going to find out.”

But 18th overall draft pick must emerge from the shadow of another failed signal-caller the team selected in the first round five years ago.

Kyle Boller, who took the majority of the first-team reps on Tuesday morning, has failed to live up to his loft expectations since the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was selected 19th overall in the 2003 draft.

In five NFL seasons, Boller has thrown 45 touchdowns against 44 interceptions with 7,846 passing yards and a career 71.9 quarterback rating. Still, Boller enters training camp as the franchise’s leader in passing yards, attempts (1, 311) and completions (746). The Ravens have started 15 quarterbacks since arriving in 1996.

But the Ravens haven’t given up on Boller, but they are giving Flacco the chance to win the starting job. In his senior year at Delaware, the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder threw for 4,263 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

The Ravens, however, need a player to step up to lead the offense, whether it’s Boller, Flacco or backup Troy Smith, who threw three interceptions during Tuesday’s practice, including one to an assistant coach who was filling in at defensive. Last season, the team’s offensive output was meager, averaging just over 17 points and 300 yards per game.

But the team might not name a starter to just before its home opener on Sept. 7 at M&T Bank Stadium against the Bengals.

“Our plan is to put the best quarterback on the field at that time, whoever that guy is,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Our goal is for those guys to make that decision based on the way they play.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com