After creating a stir by working out former starting quarterback Kyle Boller on Thursday, the Ravens have instead signed free-agent quarterback Curtis Painter to a one-year deal.
Painter will reunite with Jim Caldwell, who became the Baltimore quarterbacks coach after being fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following a 2-14 season in 2011. Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon also worked out on Thursday before the Ravens decided on Painter.
Painter played in nine games and made eight starts in place of the injured Peyton Manning last season, throwing for 1,541 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. The former Purdue quarterback spent three seasons in Indianapolis.
He will have the opportunity to compete with second-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor for the primary backup job behind quarterback Joe Flacco, but this will not guarantee a roster spot for Painter. The Ravens only carried two quarterbacks on their 2011 roster, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would like to create more opportunities to utilize Taylor’s athleticism in the offense.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, the former sixth-round pick of the 2009 draft brings good size but went winless in his eight starts before being benched in favor of Dan Orlovsky, who led the Colts to their only two wins of 2011.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I guess all the armchair GM’s can rest easy now.
April 19th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
id rather have a half retired donovan mcnabb. drew could QB better than painter
April 19th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Noooooo! Boller gets bowled over again by the ravens. A real shame. Please tell me we still have TnT?
April 19th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Luke, is there any truth to the rumor that the Ravens did indeed offer the one-year contract to Boller but as he was walking across the room to sign the contract he tripped on a carpet seam and fumbled the pen, leading Ozzie to rather quickly reconsider his offer?
(L.J. – That’s pretty good, Ed. Well played.)
April 20th, 2012 at 6:09 am
I guess Billick doesn’t carry any weight with the club anymore ,:(
April 20th, 2012 at 8:20 am
ABB- Anyone but Boller,sorry Brian
April 20th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Good move! Painter can teach Flacco the system the colts used under manning. Now maybe he can learn draw the defense offsides or get us a free play like manning does.