As the curtains open on the 2008 season, we've already had a major cast change. No one had even found their seats yet, and already we saw Kyle Boller exit stage left and Joe Flacco enter stage right.
The symbolism of the quarterback change glows in neon colors. The Flacco Era begins just as the Boller Error concludes. Boller's season - likely his career in Baltimore - was mercifully cut short because of injury just a few days before Flacco makes his NFL debut. There would be no overlap for the two, save a few weeks of meaningless preseason games, some locker-room chats and maybe breaking bread a few times in the cafeteria.
Until Flacco gives us reason to think otherwise, he and Boller will be indefinitely linked. The Ravens have used just two first-round picks on quarterbacks. They traded up in 2003, taking Boller with 19th overall pick and traded down, and then back up, in April to select Flacco with the 18th pick.
Today is as much about fear as it is promise. While Ravens fans were excited about adding Flacco to the roster, many were hopeful the team would learn from past mistakes, that they would take their time, nurture the 23-year-old quarterback and allow him to serve as understudy before taking the stage.
This is why Boller will loom over Flacco's rookie season. The comparisons are inevitable because the memories are so fresh and the concerns so real: No one wants to see history repeat itself; no one can bear the thought of burning another young arm and singeing another young psyche in a needless trial by fire.
This is where we should acknowledge a tiny bit of good news: Joe Flacco isn't Kyle Boller. Their fates are not tied together. They shared a logo on the helmet and space in the locker room, but it's possible that the similarities might end there.
Boller might very well have suffered irreparable damage by assuming so much responsibility at such a young age. He was 22 when he started nine games in 2003. But that doesn't mean every rookie starter who struggles coming out of the gate is doomed to inevitable failure.
There is no formula for grooming a rookie quarterback. Different players are ready at different times. For every Ryan Leaf, there's a Peyton Manning.
From the modern era, there are 23 quarterbacks in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Twelve of them started at least half his team's games as a rookie. Make of that what you will, but it looks to me like a tossup: Half the quarterbacks might benefit from a year on the sideline, and half might be ready to go right away.
