Goodbye Boller

[EdReedUnstoppable]

That would be one of the dumbest moves this franchise has ever made if we threw Kyle away now. You have an extremely injury prone QB in McNair so you get rid of an experienced backup so then when McNair comes out you can throw a 5th rd rookie to the wolves or an undrafted never seen the field before QB in Olson. You keep praying for Kyle to be cut, but when McNair goes down Kyle will come in and play great again, like he did last year.

[berad]

That would be one of the dumbest moves this franchise has ever made if we threw Kyle away now. You have an extremely injury prone QB in McNair so you get rid of an experienced backup so then when McNair comes out you can throw a 5th rd rookie to the wolves or an undrafted never seen the field before QB in Olson. You keep praying for Kyle to be cut, but when McNair goes down Kyle will come in and play great again, like he did last year.

If you protect McNair, he won't get hurt.

The two times this year he was hurt:

-The Panthers Game : got sandwiched between 2 Panthers from poor pass-blocking

-The Browns Game : a freak accident, his hand got stepped on, could have happened to anyone

But I do agree, we can't just throw Boller away after a few turbulent years

[DRayRaven]

That would be one of the dumbest moves this franchise has ever made if we threw Kyle away now. You have an extremely injury prone QB in McNair so you get rid of an experienced backup so then when McNair comes out you can throw a 5th rd rookie to the wolves or an undrafted never seen the field before QB in Olson. You keep praying for Kyle to be cut, but when McNair goes down Kyle will come in and play great again, like he did last year.

"Extremely injury prone?"

How do you figure that? He missed one start last year, and played in 14 games the year before that.

How many other QBs can say the same? Outside of Manning and Favre, McNair is one of the least injury prone QBs in the league. He had a major injury three years ago that caused him to miss significant time, but that hardly qualifies him for the "injury prone" category. If it did, you would have to say Boller is injury prone, too!

Most likely, the Ravens will keep Boller this year, but he's gone after that...and don't give me any of that guff about what a good backup he is. To be a good backup, you have to be a good QB. Boller has never even been an adequate QB, let alone a good one. If McNair does go down for a significant amount of time, there are a lot of people who will share my wish that the Ravens had signed someone besides Boller to back him up, especially when the Ravens are on the road.

[TSizzles]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that 6'0" QBs do not make it in the NFL. He didn't help himself by looking bad in the NCAA Championship game.

Yeah? Tell that to Johnny U. Or more recent, Drew Brees. Or Mike Vick. All 6'0''-6'1''. And try to tell me one inch makes a difference, please, I really do want to hear that. Smith may or may not be a success in the NFL, but his height won't be a reason for it.

Boller won't and shouldn't be cut this year, because Smith isn't ready to be a backup and he shouldn't be yet, he needs a year or two just watching and being the 3rd stringer will allow him to do that. However, Boller will be gone after the season. Very doubtful they bring him back and even if they wanted to, I'm not sure HE would want to come back here.

Ravens can't make the same mistakes they have in the past with Smith. If they truly believe he has a shot at being our future QB, they need to groom him the right way and not throw too much on him too soon like alot of people seem to want them to.

[theFRANCHISE]

To me, height is just a cop-out excuse for why guys are hesitant to take a chance on a Heisman Trophy winner given the past "success" of Heisman Trophy winners in the NFL...

Gino Torretta, anyone?

[Khaine]

As much as I wince every time Boller throws a long pass he does have his moments. If he could learn to keep his cool he could still be a good QB. I think learning under Steve

[Bleed_Purple14]

It's all about where you get picked. Boller was a first-rounder (Pick 19), so that is why he was under tremendous pressure to succeed. If he had been picked where Smith had been picked, that would be a different story.

[Berk from Ellicott City]

Now that we got quite a steal that all the other 31 NFL teams were dumb enough to not select Troy Smith lets hope they release Boller and McNair helps Smith grow as a QB in the NFL and is our 2nd String QB I see an awesome future with this kid down the road for the Ravens, for once we might actually have picked a fresh QB outta college that will make history and have other teams drooling over him and were lucky enough to have him as a Raven, time to go out asap when the Jersey is released and pickup my Troy Smith Jersey and when I get money get my McGahee.

[VERNON]

I am not sure if QB Troy Smith is a steal. 31 other teams pass in drafting Troy. It would be great if he turned out to the QB of the next

generation. I really do not share in the same view as you do. I believe KB would be a good QB if he had been given the up start as other good QB,S. When KB came in and replace Steve, He did a very good job. Do not let the Baltimore Sun writer shape your thinking. To let KB would be a big mistake in my view.

Kyle was never given the offencive line to give him the chance to be a good QB. Troy Smith is to short to be a great QB in the NFL. 31 other teams felt the same way. So, I would not get my hopes up to high on this draft pick. If he was so great, "then why did the Ravens wait so long to pick him?

I have said enough. I hope you are right.

[DRayRaven]

31 other teams pass in drafting Troy.

No, they didn't.

When Brady Quinn fell down the board, were the teams that passed on him dissing his talent? No, they weren't. They simply had other needs that were more pressing. They weren't reall "passing" on him at all. The same goes for Troy Smith. The most you can HONESTLY say is that the teams who took QBs earlier in the draft passed on Smith...and that's nowhere near 31.

[charliebrown]

No, they didn't.

When Brady Quinn fell down the board, were the teams that passed on him dissing his talent? No, they weren't. They simply had other needs that were more pressing. They weren't reall "passing" on him at all. The same goes for Troy Smith. The most you can HONESTLY say is that the teams who took QBs earlier in the draft passed on Smith...and that's nowhere near 31.

He was chosen in the 5th round, LATE. I would say yes, the other teams judged him talent wise and decided he was not worthy. Does that mean he will suck? No, but neither does his Heisman Trophy point to him suceeding. His height could be a factor or it could that OSU played good teams yes, but how many times has Troy gotten his % of completions up and yards, on wide open plays. In other words, what was his degree of difficulty for accuracy? Was he able to read the defense, fool the safety and find the wide open man? Or was it that his teammates were able to beat their man handidly and thus being so open?

Was it the serisou threat of the running game that made his passing easier? What is he like when he gets hammered from a pourus line for three quarters and is asked to win the game in the late fourth? His numbers are impressive, the talent he faced was difficult, but only contained the best player at a majority of the positions on each team to be 1 or 2. In the Pros, that number will be closer to six of 11 defenders being the best or among the best at their respective positions, that is a big difference.

I hope he suceeds, he has no one to blame if he doesn't with the coaching staff and players on this team to work with him. He will be battling two other quarterbacks for the third quarterback position. One has already been on this team, gone through training camp and is now getting experience in NFLE. The other played against poor talent and even played with poor talent. He has to do more than just show up to make this team and do so with limited reps than he is use to getting in practices.

[DRayRaven]

He was chosen in the 5th round, LATE. I would say yes, the other teams judged him talent wise and decided he was not worthy.

...and you would be wrong.

Not every team in the league drafts BPA. Most of them draft according to NEED, and they take the BPA at that position.

Why would a team that has an established QB (or who just acquired a new one) who also has a reliable backup spend a pick on Troy Smith? Answer: they wouldn't, especially if they have needs elsewhere.

[charliebrown]

...and you would be wrong.

Not every team in the league drafts BPA. Most of them draft according to NEED, and they take the BPA at that position.

Why would a team that has an established QB (or who just acquired a new one) with a reliable backup draft Troy Smith?

Answer: they wouldn't, especially if they have needs elsewhere.

I would be wrong? According to who, you? Was he not drafted in the late 5th round? Did I sleep through the draft? Not read the articles on the Ravens draft properly?

Let me think, the Ravens have an established quarterback in McNair, long in the tooth, but with two years likely remaining. They have a good back up, certainly better than; Atlanta, Carolina, Detroit, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincy, Indi, NE, need I go on?

Almost every team (note ALMOST) has a need for a good back up, a 3rd string quarterback this year and MAYBE a 2nd string quarterback next year. No need to argue Boller, who don't like him, most don't, fine. But Smith has no guarentee he will make this team or any team and most every team had a chance to test him out during camp, preseason and on their practice squads for a season.

For five rounds they decided to not try him out. Look over most every NFL roster, how many 5th round players make the final 53? The practice squad? Now compare that number to quarterbacks, the % is even lower.

[DRayRaven]

So you think all 31 teams would have taken Troy Smith if they thought he was any good.

Does the same thing apply to Brady Quinn? You're right that every team needs a good backup. Most of them have backups they are already comfortable with, especially when you weigh their OTHER needs, which may be more pressing.

I'm arguing with the notion that 31 teams passed on Troy Smith because they thought he wasn't worth a pick. That's a nice little talking point that sounds good, but it's not true. Fact is, every team that picked before us had a more pressing need they trying to fill. Others didn't need a QB at all. Still others had taken QBs earlier in the draft who they ranked higher. A few may have indeed "passed" on Troy Smith despite need...but nowhere near all 31, and I doubt there were more than 1 or 2.

My point has nothing to do with Boller...and you won't find many inside OR outside the organization who think Smith will wind up on our practice squad. On the contrary - they think the Ravens drafted him to supplant Boller next year and learn from McNair. He's not guaranteed to do so, of course. He has to earn it. Nevertheless, I think Smith will earn his roster spot and be our #2 next year at the very latest. We'll see.

[charliebrown]

So you think all 31 teams would have taken Troy Smith if they thought he was any good.

Does the same thing apply to Brady Quinn? You're right that every team needs a good backup. Most of them have backups they are already comfortable with, especially when you weigh their OTHER needs, which may be more pressing.

I'm arguing with the notion that 31 teams passed on Troy Smith because they thought he wasn't worth a pick. That's a nice little talking point that sounds good, but it's not true. Fact is, every team that picked before us had a more pressing need they trying to fill. Others didn't need a QB at all. Still others had taken QBs earlier in the draft who they ranked higher. A few may have indeed "passed" on Troy Smith despite need...but nowhere near all 31, and I doubt there were more than 1 or 2.

My point has nothing to do with Boller...and you won't find many inside OR outside the organization who think Smith will wind up on our practice squad. On the contrary - they think the Ravens drafted him to supplant Boller next year and learn from McNair. He's not guaranteed to do so, of course. He has to earn it. Nevertheless, I think Smith will earn his roster spot and be our #2 next year at the very latest. We'll see.

So the team will carry three quarterbacks on the roster? Who gets cut then?

If a team chose another quarterback before Smith, yes, they "dissed his talent". Should we recount how many teams took a quarterback before the 5th round? In the 5th round, those "needs" are now down graded to depth and best player available picks for most every team. Yet even the teams that had not taken a quarterback yet, passed on the "great value" of Smith before the Ravens chose him.

Spin it any way you want, yes, all 31 teams passed on him, either because they thought another quarterback was better than he was (eight of them including Jeff Rowe from Nevada! in the 5th round before Smith) or by way of taking some one other than Smith at any point before he was chosen.

If the Ravens were so sold on Smith, with four quarterbacks already on the roster or drafted, why bring on another quarterback via undrafted free agency? To cover all bases and maybe strike it rich in case Smith doesn't work out.

Yes, we all know the plan, hope that either Boller or Smith or one of the other two work out for next year. Boller is a long shot; the fans hate him, some coaches & front office people lost faith in him, he needs a new start. Smith, no matter what people inside or outside the org think, may very well end up on the practice squad, either because he hasn't developed as they hoped or because an injury in camp at another position forces them to.

You can think all you want, that does not make it fact, nor does it make me wrong. My point was simply correcting you; yes, all 31 teams passed on him because they thought he was not more valuable than the person they chose before he was drafted.

[52StingRay]

"TELL THAT TO UNITAS"

I have an old huge photo hanging on my wall of Unitas throwing the ball behind his line and they weren't nearly as big, wide or as tall as today's players. They had some tall rushers like Gino but I have a pic of him also on my wall with a pic of Goose next him and he looks down right skinny to guys like Goose and Adams and most of today's rushers, including AD who looks huge next to Gino. Not sure if he could, but just by looking at them, Goose could break Gino in half. Even Fatso's pic, taken in the 50s looks skinny to Adams and Goose. I think he played @ 290 lbs. And none of those old Colts were as big as Ngata or had his muscles.

Since the word midget is too sensitive for some in here, Unitas' line was comprised of a bunch of shorties albeit they were some really great lines and Unitas was always protected, unlike Ravens QBs of the recent past. Players were just smaller back then.

[DRayRaven]

If a team chose another quarterback before Smith, yes, they "dissed his talent". Should we recount how many teams took a quarterback before the 5th round? In the 5th round, those "needs" are now down graded to depth and best player available picks for most every team. Yet even the teams that had not taken a quarterback yet, passed on the "great value" of Smith before the Ravens chose him.

That's because they did not need a quarterback. If teams are looking for depth, someone who can fill a void and add additional value by playing on special teams is premium over a backup QB.

So the team will carry three quarterbacks on the roster? Who gets cut then?

Most likely scenario: no one gets cut. Olsen will most likely be on the practice squad, and the Ravens will carry McNair, Boller, and Smith on the 53 man roster. Next year, Boller's contract expires, and he's gone. Bank on it. Teams don't re-sign a QB to be a backup after they spent a first-round pick on him. If you think Ozzie drafted Smith as camp fodder, you're mistaken. He's there to take Boller's place next year, and McNair's after that. I don't know if he'll work out or not, but that is what he's here for.

If the Ravens were so sold on Smith, with four quarterbacks already on the roster or drafted, why bring on another quarterback via undrafted free agency? To cover all bases and maybe strike it rich in case Smith doesn't work out.

That argument makes absolutely no sense.

Why have the Ravens brought in unrestricted free agents who play DE?

Why have they signed two punters? Is Sam Koch's job in jeopardy?

I suppose Ozzie has no confidence at all that Antwan Barnes will work out...look at those UDFA OLBs the Ravens are bringing in!

Teams bring in a lot of UDFAs for camp. The vast majority of them are there as camp fodder. Most of them go home. A few, like Will Demps, shine and make the 53 man roster...but I'll tell you one thing: far more 5th round picks make final rosters than UDFAs. In fact, almost every 5th round Ravens pick from the past five drafts has made the final roster the year they were drafted...and one was placed on IR and brought back the following year.

all 31 teams passed on him because they thought he was not more valuable than the person they chose before he was drafted.

Team needs factor into a team's draft decisions. You act as if all teams blindly draft the best player available, and they don't. They pick the best player available for positions they need. Why is that so difficult for you to understand? If I'm sitting there with Jake Delhomme and David Carr, I'm not spending a pick on a QB when I have other needs, and that's the bottom line. I shore up depth at other positions and fill out my special teams long before I spend a pick on a guy destined for my practice squad. Thus 31 teams did not pass on him...they weren't even looking his way.

[Reed_4_President]

Let's all just PREY every night before bed that Mr. Prettyboy is cut this year nuff sed thanks

[DeathOnWings]

Drew Brees...

F HEIGHT

[charliebrown]

That's because they did not need a quarterback. If teams are looking for depth, someone who can fill a void and add additional value by playing on special teams is premium over a backup QB.

Most likely scenario: no one gets cut. Olsen will most likely be on the practice squad, and the Ravens will carry McNair, Boller, and Smith on the 53 man roster. Next year, Boller's contract expires, and he's gone. Bank on it. Teams don't re-sign a QB to be a backup after they spent a first-round pick on him. If you think Ozzie drafted Smith as camp fodder, you're mistaken. He's there to take Boller's place next year, and McNair's after that. I don't know if he'll work out or not, but that is what he's here for.

That argument makes absolutely no sense.

Why have the Ravens brought in unrestricted free agents who play DE?

Why have they signed two punters? Is Sam Koch's job in jeopardy?

I suppose Ozzie has no confidence at all that Antwan Barnes will work out...look at those UDFA OLBs the Ravens are bringing in!

Teams bring in a lot of UDFAs for camp. The vast majority of them are there as camp fodder. Most of them go home. A few, like Will Demps, shine and make the 53 man roster...but I'll tell you one thing: far more 5th round picks make final rosters than UDFAs. In fact, almost every 5th round Ravens pick from the past five drafts has made the final roster the year they were drafted...and one was placed on IR and brought back the following year.

Team needs factor into a team's draft decisions. You act as if all teams blindly draft the best player available, and they don't. They pick the best player available for positions they need. Why is that so difficult for you to understand? If I'm sitting there with Jake Delhomme and David Carr, I'm not spending a pick on a QB when I have other needs, and that's the bottom line. I shore up depth at other positions and fill out my special teams long before I spend a pick on a guy destined for my practice squad. Thus 31 teams did not pass on him...they weren't even looking his way.

Nothing is difficult for me to understand, perhaps you think you are discussing this topic with one of the children from the crayon forum?

What you appear to be missing is the fact that eight teams chose another quarterback over Smith in this draft, one of them in the very round Smith was taken and from a far less credible school than OSU. Twenty three other teams like to have a valuable back up quarterback, all 32 teams have a quarterback to develop in their systems.

Yes, every team draft by best player at positions of need, that goes without saying. However, in later rounds, just about every team fills their roster with litterally the best player avaible on thier board; who they think can help the organization. That includes the quarterback position. Baltimore took him not just because of need, but because he was the, according to them, the best value on the board. Ozzie, Eric, Brian, all said it flat out.

In camps, you need arms to keep the key arms fresh. However, having five quarterbacks in camp does not leave many reps, outside of just tossing passing to receivers, tight ends & backs, in warm ups or after practice. So your fresh arm theory is valid, but moot. They will have four in camp, which would be plenty of reps & fresh arms for the aforementioned, but they brought in number five.

Two punters is a ludicrous comparison, punters need fresh legs as much if not more than quarterbacks need arms. That is where your coparison ends. Having two punters compete, happens every year in this camp and every camp. Is Sam's job in jeopardy? Not truly, but yes if this new punter can out dual him and maybe out kick him on kick offs.

Again, I am not judging Smith's talent or looking into my 20 cent crystal ball to say he will make this team or not. Nor will I bank on your word Boller is gone, is he likely to be next year? Yes, any one can see that as I said in my previous post.

You can deny all you want, spin all you want, the team HOPES Smith will work out, THOUGHT he was great value in the late 5th round, even though they needed linebacker depth and a kicker at that point. Taking Smith there just says they thought he was more value than the players left at any other position. JUst as with the other 31 teams who felt he was NOT worth the value before the last pick in round five.

I remember many, both inside & outside the organization thinking highly of Boller, Derick Anderson, Josh Harris, never thinking the later two would end up on the practice squad, not even thinking someone would take them from the practice squad.

Are they good at what they do? They being the front office & coaches? Yes, but they are fallible. Will they put him on the practice squad? They will think hard on that because of what has happened the past few years, but that will be determined by his play and the play of others at various positions + injuries. Not even they can forecast that part of the scenario.

[DRayRaven]

Nothing is difficult for me to understand, perhaps you think you are discussing this topic with one of the children from the crayon forum?

It certainly feels that way.

What you appear to be missing is the fact that eight teams chose another quarterback over Smith in this draft, one of them in the very round Smith was taken and from a far less credible school than OSU. Twenty three other teams like to have a valuable back up quarterback, all 32 teams have a quarterback to develop in their systems.

What you appear to be missing is that not every team was looking for a backup quarterback...and while every team is likely to pick up a QB or two for practices in camp, they aren't likely to spend a fourth or fifth round pick to get one. Why should they when they can get a UDFA?

in later rounds, just about every team fills their roster with litterally the best player avaible on thier board; who they think can help the organization. That includes the quarterback position. Baltimore took him not just because of need, but because he was the, according to them, the best value on the board. Ozzie, Eric, Brian, all said it flat out.

According to most draft analysts, Smith was the best player on the board from the third round until the Ravens picked him. Most of the comments from personnel around the league (in addition to the sports columnists) say the Ravens got a steal. Ozzie played the board and picked Smith at the last possible moment because he knew which players other teams were likely to pick based on who needed what. He does it every year.

Was he Ozzie's first choice? Obviously not, because he tried to trade up for Brady Quinn (who was passed on by 20+ teams, according to you)...but the visits Smith had with the Ravens show he was a target all along.

Once again, if I'm a GM - and I already have my starting QB and a backup - who am I more likely to pick in the fifth round? A QB for camp fodder, or someone who can play backup at another position and contribute to special teams? If you think the QB is the likely answer, it's a good thing you don't work in our FO. Add to that the fact that Ozzie said he was going into this offseason looking for McNair's future replacement, and you have the likely reason Smith was chosen in the first place.

Two punters is a ludicrous comparison, punters need fresh legs as much if not more than quarterbacks need arms. That is where your coparison ends. Having two punters compete, happens every year in this camp and every camp. Is Sam's job in jeopardy? Not truly, but yes if this new punter can out dual him and maybe out kick him on kick offs.

You're the one who made the ridiculous insinuation that Ozzie has little or no confidence in Smith because he's bringing UDFA quarterbacks to camp. If that's the case, he doesn't have much confidence in many of his other picks, either.

[bmoreravengirl]

I see it doesn't matter what forum you go to, Boller hate is everywhere.

No matter how much some of you want Boller off the roster this year, it's not happening. Smith is nowhere near ready to be #2.

[charliebrown]

It certainly feels that way.

What you appear to be missing is that not every team was looking for a backup quarterback...and while every team is likely to pick up a QB or two for practices in camp, they aren't likely to spend a fourth or fifth round pick to get one. Why should they when they can get a UDFA?

What part don't you see, can't you comprehend? The Ravens were not "looking for a backup quarterback", they have one. Next year, they will likely need one, thus taking a flyer on Smith in the 5th. Why the 5th? Because he was considered great value there as I have said for three posts now and now you finally admitt it below.

According to most draft analysts, Smith was the best player on the board from the third round until the Ravens picked him. Most of the comments from personnel around the league (in addition to the sports columnists) say the Ravens got a steal. Ozzie played the board and picked Smith at the last possible moment because he knew which players other teams were likely to pick based on who needed what. He does it every year.

Was he Ozzie's first choice? Obviously not, because he tried to trade up for Brady Quinn (who was passed on by 20+ teams, according to you)...but the visits Smith had with the Ravens show he was a target all along.

He wasn't Ozzie's second choice either according to your line of thinking. They had numerous visitswith Bech & Stanton too. You can almost bet, if either one were still on the board at the last pick in the 5th round along with Smith, you can BANK on them taking one of them over Smith. Did they try for Quinn? Yes, why? Because of the value they thought he was at 22. Thankfully they didn't have a third round pick. This proves my point even further. They had a serious need on the offensive line. That was their target value, yet almost made a deal to get Quinn even though he plays quarterback & not offensive line.

As I have been saying and your need to be right about everything interferes with comprehending this; teams decided their need or value at other positions outweighed Smith's. Thus, they "dissed his value". It is very obvious, the Ravens thought his value in the 5th outweighed every other position, so they picked him.

Once again, if I'm a GM - and I already have my starting QB and a backup - who am I more likely to pick in the fifth round? A QB for camp fodder, or someone who can play backup at another position and contribute to special teams? If you think the QB is the likely answer, it's a good thing you don't work in our FO. Add to that the fact that Ozzie said he was going into this offseason looking for McNair's future replacement, and you have the likely reason Smith was chosen in the first place.

You're the one who made the ridiculous insinuation that Ozzie has little or no confidence in Smith because he's bringing UDFA quarterbacks to camp. If that's the case, he doesn't have much confidence in many of his other picks, either.

If you are a GM of a team, that team would be in trouble. In the 5th round you stick to your board; best value. Why chose a linebacker just because you need one, when your board tells you the value pick is with a receiver or quarterback? Back up, or not. One can think camp fodder, but until you get into camp, through preseason, you never know; they are called busts & surprises for a reason. You may think, the team may THINK Smith is going to make it, until the pads go on, NO ONE KNOWS.

Teams end up like Cleveland, DC, Arizona etc, because they do what you suggest in the later rounds and even in the early rounds. They take what they need instead of value. That is what seperates the good drafting teams like the Ravens, the Pats, Eagles etc from the rest of the teams.

We can agree to disagree if you insist on spinning, but you are wrong when you say teams did not pass on Smith because of talent/value. They did but it does not mean Smith will stink and no, he is not gaurenteed a roster spot. People may think he is, but no one, not even the team knows for certain if he will make it. History is on my side.

[DRayRaven]

What part don't you see, can't you comprehend? The Ravens were not "looking for a backup quarterback", they have one. Next year, they will likely need one, thus taking a flyer on Smith in the 5th. Why the 5th? Because he was considered great value there as I have said for three posts now and now you finally admitt it below.

Didn't I just tell you (in two separate posts) what the Ravens were looking for? Didn't Ozzie?

They were looking for someone to groom as McNair's replacement.

He wasn't Ozzie's second choice either according to your line of thinking. They had numerous visitswith Bech & Stanton too. You can almost bet, if either one were still on the board at the last pick in the 5th round along with Smith, you can BANK on them taking one of them over Smith.

You can also bet that if Beck or Stanton had impressed them sufficiently, Ozzie would have taken one of them PRIOR to the end of the fifth round while they were still available. Instead, he waited for Smith, where he could pick him up at good value.

This proves my point even further. They had a serious need on the offensive line. That was their target value, yet almost made a deal to get Quinn even though he plays quarterback & not offensive line.

So the Ravens have target values, but other teams don't?

Doesn't that damage your prior insistence that 31 teams passed on Smith? Teams that need QBs bump QBs up on their list. Teams that don't move them down and most likely don't take one.

As I have been saying and your need to be right about everything interferes with comprehending this; teams decided their need or value at other positions outweighed Smith's. Thus, they "dissed his value". It is very obvious, the Ravens thought his value in the 5th outweighed every other position, so they picked him.

Your need to be argumentative is forcing you to modify your argument. I said all along that teams draft for need, but you started this argument saying that 31 teams passed on him. In the literal sense they did...but if you're trying to use that argument to belittle his value, that's very misleading. Other teams had needs that outweighed their need for a QB...and that does NOT reflect negatively on Smith, anymore than Quinn or Aaron Rogers falling down the board reflect on them.

If you are a GM of a team, that team would be in trouble. In the 5th round you stick to your board; best value. Why chose a linebacker just because you need one, when your board tells you the value pick is with a receiver or quarterback? Back up, or not.

No, a good GM picks the player that provides the most value according to need. Spending a pick on a QB who will never see the field is a waste when you can get someone who provides value at more than one level.

We can agree to disagree if you insist on spinning, but you are wrong when you say teams did not pass on Smith because of talent/value.

Value is dependent upon need, and that's what I've said all along.

I'm glad to see you're finally owning up to it.

[theFRANCHISE]

Just to interject here (semi-off-topic), I'm loving the intelligent debate that's going on here.

This shows the quality of fans that the Ravens fanbase has, and makes me proud to support the purple-and-black.

Hoping to see more of this in the future, as well...

[berad]

Reed 4 President needs to learn how to spell PRAY!!!!!

[DeathOnWings]

Smith is nowhere near ready to be #2.

and you know this how??? just because he's a freshman, probably? what about Jay Cutler, what about Vince Young, what about Matt Leinart? and Troy wouldn't even have to start like those did, just be a backup...

[bmoreravengirl]

So I guess you think it's a given that McNair won't get injured at any point and time during the season and the #2 won't be called upon? You'd rather have a rookie in that spot instead of someone who's been in the system for going on 4 years? I swear some people let their Boller hate blind them to the big picture.

[DeathOnWings]

well we've had losing seasons with Boller, that's not working, why not try something different? what's the worst that could happen? he could get some real NFL game experience? oh no! not that!!!

[berad]

well we've had losing seasons with Boller, that's not working, why not try something different? what's the worst that could happen? he could get some real NFL game experience? oh no! not that!!!

Boller was only the full-time starter for one season, and we went 9-7 then.

in his rookie season, we were 10-6 and AFC North champs; but of course he was gone half of the season, and Jamal was amazing