Former St. Louis Rams executive Tony Softli was dismissive of Baltimore Ravens backup Marc Bulger, essentially writing off the former Rams Pro Bowl quarterback as too gunshy to be a starter anymore.
Bulger is a pending unrestricted free agent who has said he’s interested in returning to the Ravens but will keep his options open if there’s an opportunity to become a starter again.
"Arizona is in the hunt for Kolb and Kyle Orton, who is presently on Denver’s roster," Softli wrote for ESPN 101 Sports in St. Louis. "Marc Bulger was rumored to be headed there last season, but ownership rejected the transaction. A backup to Joe Flacco with the Baltimore Ravens, he is in the right spot as a No. 2. Shell-shocked quarterbacks really struggle with happy feet and give up on a play rather than stand in there and throw under pressure."
Bulger was signed by the Ravens last year to a one-year, $3.8 million contract and never appeared in a game.
There were some questions raised by ESPN analysts Ron Jaworski and Mike Tirico about whether Bulger is into the game anymore last August, saying he seemed deflated.
At the time, Ravens team spokesman Kevin Byrne said that he believes Jaworski was referencing a conversation with Bulger from last season when he played for the 1-15 St. Louis Rams.
"I think Ron Jaworski was referring to a meeting when Marc was at St. Louis," Byrne said. "He was not referring to the production meeting here. I think that’s what got misinterpreted because Jon Gruden gave a preface about Bulger getting beat up in St. Louis, and then he came back and said, ‘Yeah, in the production meeting.’ He didn’t clarify, but I did check with Ron."
A two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Rams, Bulger had started for the past seven years.
With the Rams, Bulger passed for 122 touchdowns and 93 interceptions.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he hadn’t noticed any signs of Bulger not being into the game.
"I haven’t seen that, I don’t know how you know if you can read a guy’s mind," Harbaugh said last year. "Marc has never said that. He didn’t say that in that meeting from what Marc told me and I’ve seen nothing but an energetic, competitive guy who loves football out here.
"He’s competitive, he’s into everything we do. He was excited about the good throws in the game, he was disappointed with the bad plays. He’s done a great job."
