Jason Brown Breaks Bulger's Finger- Boller gets Start

[xmradiodave]

Rams' Bulger fractures pinkie; Boller to start next two preseason games
http://blogs.usatoday.com

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- St. Louis Rams two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger's impressive training camp in offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense suffered a freak setback when Bulger suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right pinkie during a routine morning snap exchange with center Jason Brown.

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo said that Kyle Boller, 20-22 as Baltimore Ravens starter the past six seasons, will likely start the next two preseason games with further determination on Bulger's status made prior to the Rams' Sept. 3 preseason finale against Kansas City. That finale occurs 10 days before St. Louis opens the regular season Sept. 13 at Seattle.

"Marc's (staying) positive about it," Spagnuolo said. "There's what I'm going to call a small fracture in the pinkie finger. It's not displaced, which is a good things. So it's the best of all worlds.

"You can't cast it. He'll tape it and we'll keep him immobilized for two weeks and we'll see where we are after that."

The minor injury was an ironic twist considering Brown, the former Ravens center, was signed this offseason to a five-year, $37.5-million free-agent deal to bolster Bulger's protection after the ninth-year quarterback suffered 228 sacks since 2003."He won't do very much for two weeks to be on the safe side,'' Spagnuolo said of Bulger.

Spagnuolo seemed unfazed, saying that Boller will now step in with the first team.

But Bulger is still learning a new offense after the Rams went 2-14 last season.

"It's an opportunity for me to get out there with the one's,'' Boller said. "That's what they brought me here for in case something like this happens. Hopefully, Mark will get healthy and get back out there."

-- Jim Corbett

So Brown, who criticized Boller publicly, is now responsible for Boller getting the starting nod in the next 2 pre-season games for the Rams?
Karma... ain't it a bitch?

[xmradiodave]

Forgot to label this Off Topic, as it is not directly Ravens related. My bad.

[Dade]

Karma IS a bitch. Good luck Kyle.

[ravenjoe]

Nah, your good - this brought a much needed chuckle to my a.m. Thanks for the info.

[RavinDonnie]

BFD Boller is starting two pre season games. It must break Ozzie's heart to see his little buddy Kyle in another uniform.

[James R(aven)]

I was just about to post this on here.

It was inevitable that Bulger would go down, but because of Brown?

Here's Kyles big chance (err again) - I hope he starts for them!

[Jeremiah W]

I always rooted for Kyle to be better than he was. Plenty of guys who were terrible for years got good when they turned 28-30. It would not shock me if Kyle looks great with a fresh start. The Rams do have some nice weapons when healthy. Maybe he can be the next Tommy Maddox or even Richass Gannon.

[psuasskicker]

It is pretty funny to read some of the Rams fans boards and see them talking about how much talent and ability Boller has, and how he never got a fair shot here...

- C -

[xmradiodave]

It is pretty funny to read some of the Rams fans boards and see them talking about how much talent and ability Boller has, and how he never got a fair shot here...

- C -

Never given a fair shot? I suppose it was the lack of receivers and porous line that made the guy trip over his own feet? I digress though. I hope he goes out there and lights it up. Probably won't happen but good luck to him all the same.

[StingerNLG]

It is pretty funny to read some of the Rams fans boards and see them talking about how much talent and ability Boller has, and how he never got a fair shot here...

- C -

Physical tools I don't think were ever really in question. It's always been his mental makeup.

This is really make or break for his career. I always thought with a team that could protect him behind the line that he would be a good QB. It's not the KC Chiefs OL from the Trent Green days, but we'll see if he's any better in St. Louis. I'll either be right or wrong.

[RavinDonnie]

Other than being 6'4" and looking the part Boller has no physical ability. He can't master the center/qb exchange, can't lead a receiver to save his life and has to reach back like he's throwing a javelin to get the ball down the field. Other than that he's a real Olympian .

[Marcel#52]

BFD Boller is starting two pre season games. It must break Ozzie's heart to see his little buddy Kyle in another uniform.

No not Ozzie.. Billick

[RavinDonnie]

No not Ozzie.. Billick

Wrong. Ozzie traded up for him and gave him an extension after Billick was gone...he was Ozzie's boy.

You think Ozzie is going to use up a first round pick and trade away another for a player he doesn't want? Yeah right.

[Jeremiah W]

Wrong. Ozzie traded up for him and gave him an extension after Billick was gone...he was Ozzie's boy.

You think Ozzie is going to use up a first round pick and trade away another for a player he doesn't want? Yeah right.

Oz traded for McNair and gave Kyle a 1 mil 1 year deal to be the backup. That was not the mistake that drafting him was, and even that was a worthy gamble they just lost.

Billick is to blame in part for the lack of development in Kyle. There was not a good gameplan in place or protection like Flacco enjoyed under Cam. Not that Kyle would have been that good anyway, but plenty of guys change coaches and learn the game.

[Dave Lap]

I wish him lots of luck. I predicted he would do reasonably well given a chance with a team with a better offensive line. I also said that I thought he looked better last year in training camp than I'd seen before.

So I'm looking forward to seeing if he is a late bloomer.

[Marcel#52]

Wrong. Ozzie traded up for him and gave him an extension after Billick was gone...he was Ozzie's boy.

You think Ozzie is going to use up a first round pick and trade away another for a player he doesn't want? Yeah right.

I could have swore Boller signed a 2 year deal before Billick's last year.(I maybe be wrong) Ozzie wanted a franchise QB which is why he traded up for Boller. He wasn't Ozzie guy, which is why Oz when out to get McNair.

[RavinDonnie]

Oz traded for McNair and gave Kyle a 1 mil 1 year deal to be the backup. That was not the mistake that drafting him was, and even that was a worthy gamble they just lost.

Billick is to blame in part for the lack of development in Kyle. There was not a good gameplan in place or protection like Flacco enjoyed under Cam. Not that Kyle would have been that good anyway, but plenty of guys change coaches and learn the game.

The game plan was no different for Flacco than it was for Boller even down to the unbalanced line. Remember the U formation? Didn't think so. Don't know what games you were watching the last 7 years.

The only difference is the line is a little better and Flacco is a much better qb.

[RavinDonnie]

I could have swore Boller signed a 2 year deal before Billick's last year.(I maybe be wrong) Ozzie wanted a franchise QB which is why he traded up for Boller. He wasn't Ozzie guy, which is why Oz when out to get McNair.

Not maybe, you are wrong. Boller signed a 1 year deal after Billick left.

[Marcel#52]

Not maybe, you are wrong. Boller signed a 1 year deal after Billick left.

Okay Okay.. but I still don't think he was Oz's guy,after he realized he sucked..

[Dade]

Oz traded up for Boller because Billick asked him too. Oz wasn't high on him but trusted Billick knew what he wanted.