Joe Theismann, the legendary Redskins quarterback, was on the Tirico and Van Pelt Show on Aug. 22, stating "No rookie QB should start."
I think I agree with Theismann for the most part.
Below are the four teams in the AFC North: the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. I'll take a look at each of their starters and see if Joe is correct.
Kyle Boller, Baltimore Ravens
This is a prime example of what Theismann was talking about. Drafted in the 2003 draft, No. 19 overall, Boller was named the starting QB almost immediately. Boller was Brian Billick's choice, pushing to draft the Cal quarterback. During his senior year, in 2002, Boller passed for 2,815 yards, 28 TDs, and 10 INTs.
Boller was named the starting QB based on his senior year and the fact that the Ravens didn't have a better option.
In his rookie season, he started the first nine games. He posted a 5-3 record, had a 51.8 percent completion rate, 1,260 yards, seven TDs, and nine INTs. In his ninth game against the Saint Louis Rams, he injured his thigh and was basically sidelined the rest of the season.
During his second season, he showed some improvement. Starting all 16 games, he set career highs of 2,559 yards, with 13 TDs, 11 INTs, and completed 55.6 percent of his passes. He also had his first rushing TD.
His third season, 2005, was injury plagued. He went down in the first game of the season, against the Indianapolis Colts, and then missed the next seven games. In just eight games, Boller posted some of his best numbers: 58.4% completion rate, 1,799 yards, 11 TDs, and 12 INTs. He became the first Ravens quarterback to have a 110+ rating in consecutive games.
The Ravens brought in Steve McNair and demoted Boller to backup. Boller accepted the demotion with dignity and class, never complaining. He finally had someone in front of him on the depth chart that he could learn from.
During a game versus the Carolina Panthers in Week Six, McNair was injured. Boller came in at the end of the first quarter. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 226 yards, three TDs and one INT.
Late in the game, the Ravens were down by nine. Boller led the team to two TDs, but the Panthers ran the clock out and won 23-21.
The Ravens would finish the season 13-3 and make the playoffs, led by both McNair and Boller.
In 2007, McNair was injured in the opener against division rival Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals won the game on a bad offensive-interference call on Todd Heap, which reversed a touchdown.
Boller then started game two and played quite a bit in the third game to give McNair some rest. After sitting for the next two games, Boller was again named the starter for Weeks Six and Seven.
In Week 11, Boller was finally given the starting job. Boller played well but the Cleveland Browns won on what seemed to be a missed field goal. After review, the field goal was called good, and the game went to overtime. The Browns won 33-30.
The next game was against the New England Patriots, who were running through the league on their way to a 16-0 regular season. The Ravens, led by Kyle Boller, played extremely well and almost pulled off the upset.
The final game of the season for Boller would be the following weekend against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were looking for their first win of the season. Boller was injured, and Troy Smith came in and played well. The Dolphins went on to their only victory in 2007, winning 22-16 in OT.
Boller is currently competing for the starting job with Troy Smith. Smith has shown promise and looks to be the favorite to win the job. Rookie Joe Flacco looked good against the St. Louis Rams, when he was given an emergency start due to Smith being sick.
Boller's problem has always been inconsistency. He will make strides that show his potential one week and then take two steps back the next. I don't think he should have started his rookie year, but there really wasn't a better choice.
Injuries cost him a lot of games early in his career, when he would have been developing his skills. After McNair was brought in, Boller made great strides but just couldn't get over the hump.
Hopefully the Ravens will learn from the mistake of rushing Boller out there and let Joe Flacco absorb the game before he is named the starter.
Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer was selected in the same draft as Boller, 2003, as the No. 1 overall pick.
Though he was picked first overall, Palmer didn't take a single snap during the 2003 NFL
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