Randy Hymes

Randy Hymes Position: Wide receiver College: Grambling Who he is: The rookie free agent was Grambling's Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. He played quarterback and wide receiver. He was also a member of the men's basketball team and competed in the long jump. He led the Tigers to a second straight Division I Black College and Southwestern Athletic Conference title, going 8-0 as a starting QB. Favorite football moment: "Right now, it's just being here. It's every little guy's dream."

A week after coach Brian Billick suggested his quarterback might need to see a sports psychologist, the Ravens' Kyle Boller did what many considered unthinkable. Boller threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns in the Ravens' 48-3 win over the Green Bay Packers last night, out-dueling Brett Favre in what might be the final Monday Night Football appearance of a storied career. On a numbingly cold night at M&T Bank Stadium - the wind chill was 19 degrees - the largest pro football crowd in the city's history (70,604)

Rating the QBs How the Ravens' quarterbacks stacked up in yesterday's drills: 1. Kyle Boller Started off team drills by throwing a bad interception to cornerback Corey Fuller, who had receiver Randy Hymes covered. Rebounded to finish 5-for-9 with a touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap in the right corner of the end zone and a 36-yard pass to receiver Marcus Robinson down the left sideline. 2. Chris Redman Worked with the starters and logged an average day, going 5-for-10. His best pass was hitting Hymes on a 7-yard out pattern to convert a third down.

Paul, Ontario, Canada: Who's our leader, Mike? And don't tell me it's Billick, Ozzie, Boller, Ray, Steve or Jim. They don't have one and you know it. Print the truth. Yeah, it hurts, all right. Mike Preston: Well, if it ain't Billick, Ozzie, Boller, Ray, Steve or Jim, maybe it's Manny, Moe or Jack, or Moe, Larry and Curley. How about Jesse Jackson? If the national media can make him my leader, which I despise, then maybe I can make him yours. The Ravens certainly have enough leaders on defense with Ray, not to be confused with Sugar or Charles, as the main leader.

Do three part-time jobs equal a Prime Time gig? Deion Sanders continued to expand his role with the Ravens yesterday, practicing at receiver for the first time with the team. In a matter of two weeks, Sanders could go from ending a three-year retirement to reliving his glory days as a triple threat, playing nickel back, punt returner and receiver. "I know he [coach Brian Billick] wants to take it slow because this is a marathon and not a sprint, but I really want to get in there and do something," Sanders said.

The often-criticized career of Ravens receiver Travis Taylor bottomed out Sunday. While Taylor has been ripped for not living up to his status as a first-round pick when he is on the field, the fifth-year player never got a chance to get that far against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he watched the game from the sidelines as a healthy inactive. It was the first time an uninjured Taylor was not on the 45-man roster for a game, and it could spell the end of his time with the Ravens, one in which he never lived up to the dynamic play he showcased at Florida.

Paul, Ontario, Canada: Who's our leader, Mike? And don't tell me it's Billick, Ozzie, Boller, Ray, Steve or Jim. They don't have one and you know it. Print the truth. Yeah, it hurts, all right. Mike Preston: Well, if it ain't Billick, Ozzie, Boller, Ray, Steve or Jim, maybe it's Manny, Moe or Jack, or Moe, Larry and Curley. How about Jesse Jackson? If the national media can make him my leader, which I despise, then maybe I can make him yours. The Ravens certainly have enough leaders on defense with Ray, not to be confused with Sugar or Charles, as the main leader.

Quarterback: The Boy Quarterback, Kyle Boller, almost turned into Boy Blunder with two fumbles. He was sufficient for most of the game and gained some yards with runs out of the pocket. He needs to work on securing the football and learning how to slide at appropriate times. -- GRADE: C Running backs: Fullback Alan Ricard doesn't get a lot of notice, but he helped open some huge holes on the left side on the Ravens' stretch plays. Halfback Jamal Lewis has played well and hard all season.

A week after coach Brian Billick suggested his quarterback might need to see a sports psychologist, the Ravens' Kyle Boller did what many considered unthinkable. Boller threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns in the Ravens' 48-3 win over the Green Bay Packers last night, out-dueling Brett Favre in what might be the final Monday Night Football appearance of a storied career. On a numbingly cold night at M&T Bank Stadium - the wind chill was 19 degrees - the largest pro football crowd in the city's history (70,604)

After Ravens rookie Clarence Moore had 82 yards on three catches in his team's 15-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the gangly receiver revealed something that must have made his coach proud. "I came in labeled as a starter, so I was ready to take over that role," Moore said. Moore seemed to be buying right into coach Brian Billick's philosophy: Consider yourself part of the first team, because if you are a receiver, at some point you will be. Travis Taylor is a starter. So, apparently are Kevin Johnson and Randy Hymes (and Deion Sanders, who officially did start against the Eagles)

As the NFL free-agent market continues to take shape, the Ravens' offseason focus couldn't be clearer: They desperately need a veteran wide receiver. How the Ravens acquire a playmaker in the passing game is still up in the air. Coach Brian Billick indicated yesterday that the Ravens are keeping their options open as far as signing a free-agent receiver or trading for one. He said the team completed its most detailed analysis of free agency in his seven years here but acknowledged later that a trade is a "real" option.

The often-criticized career of Ravens receiver Travis Taylor bottomed out Sunday. While Taylor has been ripped for not living up to his status as a first-round pick when he is on the field, the fifth-year player never got a chance to get that far against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he watched the game from the sidelines as a healthy inactive. It was the first time an uninjured Taylor was not on the 45-man roster for a game, and it could spell the end of his time with the Ravens, one in which he never lived up to the dynamic play he showcased at Florida.

After Ravens rookie Clarence Moore had 82 yards on three catches in his team's 15-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the gangly receiver revealed something that must have made his coach proud. "I came in labeled as a starter, so I was ready to take over that role," Moore said. Moore seemed to be buying right into coach Brian Billick's philosophy: Consider yourself part of the first team, because if you are a receiver, at some point you will be. Travis Taylor is a starter. So, apparently are Kevin Johnson and Randy Hymes (and Deion Sanders, who officially did start against the Eagles)

PRIME TIME for the Ravens boiled down to a lot less than ABC slotted for Monday Night Football. We're talking 10 seconds. That's how much time the Ravens allotted last night to their most impressive bit of offensive work. That's not prime time. That's not even a 30-second ad. Even taking into consideration Jamal Lewis' capability for bursts of speed, 10 seconds still isn't enough time for the Ravens' battering ram to blow his way downfield. No, this was about trickery. That's what the Ravens had to rely on to score their first touchdown last night - one the Ravens needed to keep up with the suddenly sound again Kansas City Chiefs.

THE WORD came down 90 minutes before the Ravens lined up for last night's opening kickoff. No Deion. They might as well have told me to go home and watch Everybody Loves Raymond. I would have gotten a better parking space and my wife only charges me $3 for nachos, so it would have been a win-win, but I was already at M&T Bank Stadium and it was only the third Monday Night Football game the Ravens have played in Baltimore. Monday night is supposed to be special. Ex-Raven Tony Siragusa was telling me that before the game, right before the Ravens announced Deion Sanders had been declared inactive.

Quarterback: The Boy Quarterback, Kyle Boller, almost turned into Boy Blunder with two fumbles. He was sufficient for most of the game and gained some yards with runs out of the pocket. He needs to work on securing the football and learning how to slide at appropriate times. -- GRADE: C Running backs: Fullback Alan Ricard doesn't get a lot of notice, but he helped open some huge holes on the left side on the Ravens' stretch plays. Halfback Jamal Lewis has played well and hard all season.