Ravens Go With Rookie

It may not have been their plan going into camp, but the Baltimore Ravens named 2008 first round draft pick Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback on Tuesday. Flacco will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens were left with little choice but to go with the Delaware University graduate following pre-season injuries to other starting candidates Alex Smith (tonsils) and Kyle Boller (shoulder).

Rookie quarterbacks typically sit on the sidelines for part to a a full season learning the NFL game before being brought into the mix. The Ravens have no choice now but to throw Flacco into the fire right from the start.

This move makes Flacco the second rookie quarterback to be named a starter this season. Last week the Atlanta Falcons named first round pick Matt Ryan as their week one starter. Ryan and Flacco were the first two quarterback selected in the 2008 NFL draft.