Ravens Are Interested in Chris Simms, Are Dark Horse Candidates to Win the Division

At least the Ravens didn't wait until the last minute. Kyle Boller's bum shoulder could put his season in jeopardy, and Troy Smith's Level 5 tummyache forced him to miss the final two preseason games. Which meant that rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco was the depth chart.

Baltimore signed backup Casey Bramlet long enough to cut him, but they're still in the market for a longer-term solution behind whoever ends up winning the starting job.

Ideally, Smith would be ready to go this week and Flacco would get comfortable holding a clipboard for the '08 season as the No. 3 option. One problem: with Boller's future in doubt, the team doesn't have a veteran backup. Luckily, plenty of semi-qualified names hit the open market yesterday, which is potentially good news for the Ravens.

The Ravens are expected to explore the quarterback market and are rumored to have interest in Chris Simms, who got his wish when he was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Simms, 28, had asked to be traded or released during the offseason. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 155 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in three preseason games. ...

Other quarterbacks cut Saturday: Joey Harrington, Brooks Bollinger, Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen.

Ah, yes, Joey Harrington, Hefty Lefty and Pick-Six are also options. Makes you think Baltimore shouldn't have been in such a hurry to run Steve McNair out of town. Okay, McBoller had nothing left, but it's mind-boggling that the organization didn't make more of an effort to get Brett Favre or Byron Leftwich, or, hell, Josh McCown.

But, hey, conventional wisdom says this team is rebuilding, so there's no need to stretch the salary cap if a five-win season is in the cards. Unless ... the Ravens win the division. No, really.