Kyle Boller is comfortable as a backup for Rams
Veteran still feels capable of being starting NFL QB
BY STEVE KORTE - News-Democrat
ST. LOUIS -- When center Jason Brown was signed by the St. Louis Rams, he matter-of-factly accused his former teammate, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller, of becoming gun shy.
Now that Boller also has joined the Rams, how are the two players getting along?
For a few seconds, Boller tried to act like a rift existed between himself and Brown.
Boller jokingly told reporters that Brown refused to snap him the ball during practice, but then quickly fessed up.
"No, I'm just kidding," Boller said. "I'm good with Jason. Jason was trying to make a point, and I've talked with Jason about that. It took us maybe five seconds to get over.
"I've been with him at Baltimore for four years. We have a great relationship. He's a great player, a great person and that's not going to be an issue at all."
Brown seemed apologetic as he talked about his relationship with Boller.
"Kyle and I are great friends," Brown said. "Of course, everybody, they might have tendencies or some type of flaws in their game. I have flaws in my game. I live in a glass house. I cannot cast any stones. I really can't.
"Kyle, (we're) best of friends. We still go out together, went out just the other night."
Back in March, Brown was using Boller as an example of what happens when an offensive line consistently fails to protect the quarterback.
Brown said, "Kyle Boller with the Ravens, I love him to death. But you see what getting hit one too many times early in your career can do to you. He became gun shy. Instead of getting the ball and standing back there with poise and then being able to step up, if there was a flash of anything, something, it might have been far on the edge, he started to scramble.
"You have to have the faith in your offensive line."
Even Boller, a first-round pick by the Ravens in the 2003 NFL Draft, admitted that he was thrown into the fire too quickly.
"I got thrown in pretty early," said Boller, who started nine games as a rookie in 2003. "It is tough learning a playbook, learning defenses, then you are starting in Pittsburgh this week.
"You want to think that you are ready but I took some valuable lessons from that."
Injuries also have been a major factor in Boller's career. He missed the entire 2008 season because of a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason.
Boller's injury cleared the way for rookie Joe Flacco to lead the Ravens to the AFC Championship game.
"Injuries have prohibited me a little bit," Boller said. "Actually my rookie year playing...
-05-04-2009, 10:40 AM