Flacco to start Ravens opener

Chase · #1 09-02-2008, 01:23 PM

Associated Press • September 2, 2008

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco will start in the season opener Sunday for the Baltimore Ravens, who awarded the job to their top draft pick because he's the healthiest player at the position.

The former University of Delaware standout, the 18th pick overall, will launch his NFL career against the Cincinnati Bengals. There is a chance both of the other quarterbacks competing for the job, Troy Smith and Kyle Boller, will not be available as backups.

"It wouldn't be realistic to have one of those two guys as a starter, for sure. If they can back up, I think that would be an upset," coach John Harbaugh said Monday.

Smith is still feeling the effects of infected tonsils, while Boller has a sore shoulder that could require surgery. The Ravens worked out quarterbacks Chris Simms, Joey Harrington and Todd Bouman on Monday.

"We need a backup quarterback for the game," Harbaugh said.

But for now, the focus is on Flacco, who was labeled the team's "quarterback of the future" by general manager Ozzie Newsome on draft day shortly after the Ravens traded up to get him.

The quarterback of the future is now the quarterback of the present.
"This is what I wanted all along," Flacco said. "Things happen funny. I've gotten my opportunity, and now it's up to me to go out there and play."

After two preseason games, Harbaugh essentially eliminated Flacco in what began as a three-way competition to be Baltimore's starting quarterback. The plan was to start Smith in the third game, against the St. Louis Rams, then take a look at Boller.

But neither Smith nor Boller was available to play against the Rams or the preseason finale against Atlanta. Flacco started both games and played well enough to maintain the role in the regular season opener.

"If one of you guys wrote this in a movie script, no one would believe it," Harbaugh said.

Flacco completed 35-for-67 passes for 284 yards and no interceptions during the preseason. His quarterback rating was better than that of Boller or Smith, and he threw Baltimore's lone touchdown pass.