Amid rumors that the Ravens are attempting to acquire Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair, Ravens head coach Brian Billick said Kyle Boller remains the team?s No. 1 choice at the position for now.
Billick also addressed his own relationship with linebacker Ray Lewis and the re-signing of running back Jamal Lewis.
Billick was bombarded with questions about Titans quarterback McNair and what that meant for Boller.
“Right now Kyle?s focus has got to be just like mine,” Billick said. “Kyle Boller is our starting quarterback. That?s the only approach you can take. You prepare yourself for that because that?s the way it is right now.”
Boller did not show any signs of frustration and said that he is preparing as the team?s starting signal-caller.
“I?m a very competitive person,” Boller said. “I?m going about my business like I?m the starter and that?s the only way I can think of it.”
Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason, a former teammate of McNair?s in Tennessee, said he had not lobbied for the team to sign McNair.
“I want to just state something right now, that Kyle?s my quarterback right now and whatever happens in the future, I?m not in control of that,” Mason said. “Right now, Kyle?s my quarterback and I?ve got a lot of faith in Kyle that he can get the job done. ”
The team announced that Ray Lewis would speak to the Baltimore media today. It will mark the first time Lewis has talked to the media since he complained in television interviews more than a month ago about different aspects of the franchise.
On Tuesday, Billick said he had spoken with Lewis several times during the off-season.
“I have no question in my mind, none, not a doubt of Ray?s commitment to me, to this organization and his team. None whatsoever,” Billick said.
Billick said running back Jamal Lewis was upbeat during practice.
Despite the fact that Lewis re-signed with the team during the off-season, it was a far less hectic time than last year. Lewis was serving prison time for facilitating a drug deal, and also had an injured ankle that hampered his participation in much of the team?s preseason workouts.
His 2005 season ended with a career-low 906 yards. Lewis said he was not intimidated by the signing of Denver free agent Mike Anderson.
“This game is all about competition,” Lewis said. “I?m just going to do what I do every year and come in and practice as hard as I practice every year. That?s not my concern. My concern is just to come here and be the best running back I can be for this team and help this to go where it needs to go.”
