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Ravens Tap Boller As Starter Vs. Patriots

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The Associated Press

Published: August 6, 2008

WESTMINSTER, Md. - Kyle Boller's 42 career starts won't necessarily land him the job as Baltimore Ravens quarterback. His experience, however, did earn him the start in the preseason opener at New England.

At his first NFL training camp, Coach John Harbaugh is staging an open competition to determine his first-string quarterback. Boller, second-year pro Troy Smith and rookie Joe Flacco will be judged on how they fare this month in training camp and in preseason games.

Harbaugh waited until Tuesday to announce his starter against the AFC champion Patriots on Thursday night.

"I think it's more of a nod to experience and seniority," Harbaugh said.

Boller has been a starter since his rookie season in 2003 and has 40 more career starts than Smith and Flacco combined. But because Boller has yet to play for an extended period with any measure of consistency, he must win the job all over again.

He has no complaints about the procedure, but appreciates getting the first stab at impressing the coaching staff in a game situation.

"The ultimate goal is to be able to go there with the first team, and I'm going to have the opportunity to do that, be out there with my guys," Boller said. "I just want to have fun and execute. Move the ball down the field."

Boller will play most of the first half before Smith and Flacco split time the rest of the way. Harbaugh expected the pattern to change for each preseason game.

NFL Announces New Code Of Fan Conduct

NEW YORK - The NFL implemented a new code of fan conduct Tuesday, warning that spectators who misbehave will be ejected from stadiums and barred from coming back.

The policy, first recommended by Commissioner Roger Goodell at league meetings in April, is aimed at conduct that the league said "detracts from the game-day experience."

It includes bans on:

• Behavior that is unruly, disruptive or illegal.

• Drunkenness and signs of alcohol impairment that result in irresponsible behavior.

• Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.

• Interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field.

• Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.

• Verbal or physical harassment of fans from the opposing team.

"The in-stadium experience is critically important to the NFL, our clubs and our fans and it will be a major focus this season," Goodell said in a statement. "We are committed to improving the fan experience in every way we can."

BEARS: Kyle Orton will start at quarterback in Thursday's preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

BRONCOS: Wide receiver Brandon Marshall was suspended by the NFL for three games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Marshall was summoned to the commissioner's New York offices on July 18 to explain a series of off-the-field misdeeds during the past year, most notably his March 6 arrest on a domestic violence warrant filed by his former girlfriend in Atlanta.

BROWNS: Safety Gary Baxter, attempting a comeback from two knee injuries, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

LEGAL: The lawyer for the man accused of shooting three people after a strip club melee involving NFL player Adam Jones alleged that Jones "completely fabricated" the story that led to the man's arrest.

"This entire case rests upon the statement of Adam 'Pacman' Jones," lawyer Jeffrey Segal told the judge who heard Arvin Kenti Edwards plead not guilty to charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life.

"Pacman Jones' story is completely fabricated," Segal said outside court.

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