Professor

Ravens give Leftwich a look -- baltimoresun.com

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome told The Sun today that the team has had "a couple of small conversations" with Byron Leftwich's agent.

The Ravens are believed to be one of seven teams to have preliminary talks with Leftwich, a four-year starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars who was cut Saturday after the team decided to go with David Garrard.

Like the other teams that have had conversations with Leftwich, the Ravens aren't expected to make a hard push for him, and they have to decide whether adding Leftwich would be a distraction for a team that has enjoyed a smooth preseason.

Even if the Ravens picked up Leftwich, he likely would come in as the No. 3 quarterback this season. He could have better opportunities of playing this season elsewhere.

It was only four years ago when the Ravens thought they had Leftwich. The Ravens completed a last-minute trade with the Minnesota Vikings to jump three spots up to No. 7, but they got a busy signal when trying to inform league headquarters as time expired and couldn't complete the deal in time to draft Leftwich.

Instead, the Jaguars took Leftwich with the seventh pick and the Ravens selected linebacker Terrell Suggs with the 10th. The Ravens later traded back into the first round to draft quarterback Kyle Boller.

In the past, the Ravens have resisted showing interest in other available quarterbacks because they seemed set with Steve McNair as the starter and Boller as the backup.

But the Ravens could be thinking about whether Leftwich is a fit for the future. McNair will turn 35 after the season, and Boller is in the final year of his contract (although the Ravens haven't ruled out re-signing him). The other quarterback on the roster is Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

Leftwich, 27, is looking for a fresh start after four rocky and injury-filled seasons with the Jaguars.

Because of ankle and knee problems, he hasn't played a full season in the NFL and missed 15 games the past two years.

He publicly clashed with Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, questioning his decisions to the media. Del Rio said Leftwich lied to him several times about his health.

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Professor

I know it says that he would come in as the #3, but Mcnair is old and frail and Boller has never shown anything, He could be starting by midseason given the right circumstances

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BeastJacobs

They've got Troy Smith in there too, I know he's short, but that's never stopped him before.

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RoyWilliams

Might as well. Like others have said, McNair is old and Boeller is still not starter material yet.

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POE

There is no way Leftwich comes into Baltimore this year and has any playing time unless McNair and Boller went out with injuries regardless of how much better he is then both. One, he doesn't know the system and two he doesn't have any connection with any of the recievers. Not to say that it wouldn't be a good move for us for the future but he would have to have an open mind because this is Steve's team until he is either broken or done with the game.

Professor

Boller is garbage, when Anthony Wright came in, they weren't hesitant to put him in over Boller, they would put in whoever would sign with them, LOL. Leftwich would be an upgrade over Boller. The guy has lost his job to a fossil.

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Lego

steve will retire a raven. boller...well...honestly, he sucks, but he at least knows the system, which is better than leftwich for this season. but we should sign him. there is talk of extending boller long-term, which i think is a crock of ****. not with the guys out there who are out there...leftwich first and foremost.

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