It wasn’t that long ago that QB Kyle Boller was still in the Ravens mix…here he’s pictured in his final training camp with the Ravens in 2008…
A news item appeared briefly on my NFL Network screen today— “Kyle Boller signs 1-year, $1.25 million deal as backup to Jason Campbell with the Oakland Raiders…”
Well, at least Boller is still playing in the NFL, but his fate is a far cry from what we had envisioned on that exciting Draft Day in 2003…
Looking back at the 2003 draft, only one quarterback — Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer — would eventually become a long-term starter. Boller, Byron Leftwich and Rex Grossman are all currently backups.
In 2003, Boller was seen as The Answer by Brian Billick and Ozzie Newsome at quarterback. Usually Billick is the one who’s “blamed” for picking Boller in the first round, but the Wizard of Oz would never have signed off on the pick if he himself didn’t believe in Boller’s potential greatness.
Boller, 6-3 and 220, became the Ravens’ first round draft pick in 2003 NFL Draft (19th overall pick). From California, He was the second quarterback selected from the PAC-10 Conference after the Cincinnati Bengals selected Carson Palmer from USC with the first overall pick. He started the first 9 games of the season, going 5–3, before being injured (thigh) in a game against the St. Louis Rams.
There were enough good things to see from Boller’s rookie year to give us hope that he would blossom into a very good quarterback. There were also omens, however, of a different nature— just weirdly-timed moments of hesitation or occasional fluster, sometimes resulting in a bone-crushing hit in the pocket or a forced throw into double or triple coverage…but we wrote these omens off to rookie jitters.
Boller rushed 30 times for 62 yards that year, and completed 116 of 224 passes for 1,260 yards with 7 TDs and 9 INTs. The numbers seemed acceptable for a rookie QB for half a season. We had hope for Boller.
Sure enough, 2004 was better by the numbers. He set career highs, completing 258-of-464 (55.6%) for 2,559 yards with 13 TDs and 11 INTs. He also rushed 53 times for 189 yards and his 1st-career rushing TD. He had 4 games with QB ratings over 100, including a career-high 112.3 rating while going 18-of-34 for 219 yards, with a career-high 4 TDs and 0 INTs against the Giants.
Boller started all 16 games the only time in his career in 2004. It was also the only year where he had more touchdowns than interceptions, but ultimately turned the ball over more frequently than scoring when taking into account those darn fumbles. Oh, those fumbles were mostly the result of Boller getting crushed by defensive ends and blitzing linebackers… he was still plagued by some of those hesitation/fluster problems that appeared in his rookie year…and those momentary failures to get rid of the ball or control the happy feet cost him big-time. I still cringe at the memory of watching some of the hits Kyle Boller took in 2004…and the resultant fumbles that dogged his overall excellent efforts.
I’ll bet you’d forgotten how good Kyle Boller really was at times…look at his numbers in 2004, and revisit that superb game he had against the Giants. Sometimes Ravens fans don’t give Boller enough credit…they just remember the rag doll crushings he took and the fumbles—and the happy feet.
In fact, in 2005, Boller was perceived nationally as “coming into his own”…the Ravens were poised to start what would be a great season by taking on the Indianapolis Colts on the first prime-time Sunday Night game of the season. The Ravens held their own in the first half, limiting the Colts to only 3 points, and Boller looked solid in the pocket, leading the offense down the field to the red zone several times. But it did not last, as Boller was injured in the third quarter, suffering a bad case of “turf toe”, that would wind up keeping him out of action for 7 games. The Ravens season went downhill after that.
Steve McNair, former Tennessee Titans QB, was traded to Baltimore in 2006. Coach Brian Billick declared McNair the starter instead of having the two compete for the job, citing McNair’s credentials, including 2003 NFL Co-MVP, and Boller’s propensity to turn over the ball. No problem, said Boller, he would be proud to be McNair’s backup. Boller’s demeanor in accepting an understudy role to McNair is further proof of Kyle’s good character…I always sensed he was a really good person and tough as nails to boot.
After McNair’s throwing hand was stepped on against Cleveland on Dec. 17, Boller led the Ravens to victory with a 13-of-21, 238-yard and two-touchdown performance (112.3 passer rating), one touchdown being the game highlight, when he connected with explosive rookie receiver Demetrius Williams for a 77-yard score. That victory clinched a playoff berth for the Ravens, who had already all but locked up their division. With Steve McNair back as the starting quarterback, the Ravens improved to a franchise-best mark of 13-3 on the season, despite only going 6-10 the previous year with Boller at the helm. But that playoff-clinching performance by Boller in a backup role was, to me, Kyle Boller’s greatest game as a Raven.
Boller split time as a starter with McNair in 2007, as both quarterbacks were in and out of the lineup constantly with various injuries. In what might be viewed as the 2007 Ravens’ finest moment they faced the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. Boller finished the game with 2 TDs and 1 INT. It was arguably the best game of his career, but the Ravens ultimately still lost 27–24. Of all of the Patriots’ opponents during their undefeated season that year, the Ravens came closest to upsetting their undefeated season.
But 2007 ended in a whimper. The 2007 Ravens ended their season with a record of 5–11, which led to the firing of head coach Brian Billick and the drafting of future quarterback Joe Flacco.
Boller was given the starting job against the New England Patriots in the 2008 pre-season opener, but following another injury suffered in a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, his season ended when the Ravens placed him on Injured Reserve on September 3. Joe Flacco earned the starting position and took the Ravens to the AFC Championship game in his first season. Flacco also managed to break Boller’s single season touchdown record in just his first year.
And that was the end of Kyle Boller as a Raven, who was released in March. Boller signed with the St. Louis Rams on April 4, 2009, as the backup to starting quarterback Marc Bulger. Boller saw action on September 27 against the Green Bay Packers after Bulger sustained a bruised rotator cuff. He passed for 164 yards, two touchdowns and an interception along with 31 rushing yards in the 36–17 loss. In Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, he threw an interception and fumbled, both returned for touchdowns.
On April 15, 2010, Boller signed with the Raiders, but only saw limited action throughout the season, completing 2 of 4 passes on the year. Going with Jason Campbell at QB this upcoming season, the Raiders think enough of Boller to keep him on the roster as a backup. It’s not the glory and the big money we thought might be the ultimate destiny of that rifle-armed kid from Califonia the Ravens drafted in the first round in 2003…but when you look at his 8
-year career, and when you remember the great moments and great plays he did make for the Ravens in spite of the massive fan criticism he faced weekly— I think we owe Boller a notice of congratulations today…and thanks for all those hits you took for us.
Here’s the quick portrait of Kyle Boller, Ravens quarterback:
- Second all-time Baltimore Ravens record for most career passing yards (7,846). (passed by Joe Flacco on October 17, 2010)
- Most games played as Baltimore Ravens quarterback (55).
- Most games started as Baltimore Ravens quarterback (42).
- Most seasons as Baltimore Ravens quarterback (6).
- Holds the all-time Baltimore Ravens record for most interceptions thrown (44).
- Holds the all-time Baltimore Ravens record for most fumbles (36).
Yes, it’s a mixed bag. But give the man his due…he’s an undeniable part of the Ravens history and winning tradition, and an indelible presence in the collective psyche of Ravens fans.
Nice to know he’s still around the league…
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