The Ravens ended Kyle Boller's season by placing the embattled quarterback on injured reserve yesterday with a shoulder injury.
Now, after five seasons of uneven play and unfulfilled expectations, is Boller's career with the Ravens over, too?
It's not a question general manager Ozzie Newsome wanted to address.
"If you're asking me what is going to happen next year, I can see no further than the Cincinnati Bengals," Newsome said, referring to the Ravens' season opener Sunday.
Boller, the first quarterback selected in the first round by the Ravens, becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Based on the team's quarterback situation, it's unknown whether the Ravens want Boller to return or whether Boller would want to come back.
The Ravens appear committed to rookie Joe Flacco as their quarterback of the future after drafting him with the 18th overall pick this year. The team also has Troy Smith, who can be retained through 2010, as its long-term backup.
Boller, who was unavailable for comment yesterday, likely could find an opportunity elsewhere.
A first-round pick in 2003, Boller failed to establish himself as the Ravens' starting quarterback because of inconsistency and untimely turnovers.
Rushed into the starting job as a rookie, he quickly became a lightning rod for criticism from the media and fans. The worst moment came in the 2005 season opener, when some fans among the hometown crowd cheered while Boller was on the ground writhing in pain with a toe injury.
Despite watching Boller's up-and-down career, Newsome said the quarterback, 27, has a shot to be successful in the NFL.
"If he was to continue to progress the way he was doing, then yes, I think he can still be a productive quarterback in this league," Newsome said.
The most experienced quarterback in training camp, Boller was thrown into a competition against Flacco and Smith, who had a combined two NFL starts.
But Boller was out by the second preseason game after taking a vicious shot against the Minnesota Vikings. Even though he hadn't thrown a pass since Aug. 16, the Ravens waited as long as they could before putting him on injured reserve.
"He has got either one of two injuries, either the torn labrum or he's got, I don't know the medical term, but there's a connection in the biceps to the shoulder that might be a problem," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
