Battle of Baltimore

Redman, Boller will vie for Ravens' starter's job

Chris Redman played just six games last season before going down with a back injury. Ron Hoskins/Getty Images

By Dave Clark, SI.com

Chris Redman is winning the race, but only because he got a head start. And don't think he's not looking over his shoulder.

Redman got his shot as an NFL starter last season, and he enjoyed a decent six weeks. A 53.3 completion percentage, 1,034 yards passing, and seven touchdown passes with three interceptions -- not too shabby. But he went over 200 yards in only two starts, and he finished the season with about as many rushing yards as Mike Vick gets in one carry. A back injury cut his stint short. He says he's 100 percent after January surgery.

While many coaches say players shouldn't lose starting jobs because of injury, that's hardly the song Brian Billick is singing. Billick isn't just encouraging Kyle Boller, drafted by the Ravens with the 19th pick, to push Redman for the starting job. He'd love to see Boller win it right off the bat.

Redman must know he's not getting a fair shake. In Weeks 4-7, he threw six TD passes and only one pick, lifting the Ravens to 3-3 after an 0-2 start. And they're ready to pull the plug? They clearly sent a message to Redman by drafting someone who's mobile in the pocket, has good scrambling ability and put up huge numbers at Cal his senior year. But here's the thing, coach. Redman put up some pretty amazing stats of his own in college. In fact, his numbers his senior year at Louisville were bigger than Boller's AND, unlike Boller, his previous three years were also impressive.

You're ready to sit a guy who had the six-game stretch of Akili Smith's wildest dreams? Seems a bit rash.

 

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