WHY ELVIS Grbac?
What makes him any different from the previous four quarterbacks used by Ravens coach Brian Billick in the past two years?
The Ravens and Grbac, the former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, yesterday agreed to a five-year deal worth $30 million, including an $11 million signing bonus. The contract will pay Grbac $13 million ($5 million to sign initially) over the next two seasons, and the Ravens have an option at that time to pick up the last three years, which would earn Grbac an additional $6 million.
But don't get the impression that this is a two-year agreement so the Ravens can insert rookie Chris Redman. The Ravens worked this deal because it is salary cap friendly and has low base salaries.
And don't mistake Grbac as a savior. Brett Favre, he ain't.
He became the team's No. 1 choice by fate as well as design. But he has already made one good decision. He chose the defending Super Bowl champions over money and pro football's version of hell, the Cincinnati Bengals, where a lot of careers have ended.
Barring injury, this is the Ravens' best marriage to a quarterback in the last three years. Better than Jim Harbaugh. And Scott "Water Buffalo" Mitchell, and Stoney "The Phony" Case and Tony Banks. Even better than Trent Dilfer, who took the Ravens to the Super Bowl nearly six weeks ago.
In a quarterback-starved league, the Ravens got one of the top 12. Grbac has arrived at a time when the Ravens' offense should start to have a coming-out party.
A number of young players should mature, such as receivers Travis Taylor and Brandon Stokley, running back Jamal Lewis, fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo, guards Mike Flynn and Edwin Mulitalo and possibly center Jeff Mitchell, an unrestricted free agent.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Let's start with the matchup: Dilfer vs. Grbac.
Dilfer is younger, more mobile, tougher and hasn't been injured as much. Grbac is an inch taller, a year older and has a much stronger and consistent arm. Dilfer led his team to the Super Bowl last season, while Grbac put up Pro Bowl numbers.
But here's a key difference, and pardon me for spitting out numbers like the Compu Coach. Dilfer has a career completion percentage of 55.2, and Grbac is at 59.7. It doesn't sound like a big difference, but almost any quarterback in the NFL can complete 55 percent.
