Troy Smith

— Troy Smith's drama-filled run with the Ravens comes full circle at Edward Jones Dome on Thursday night. It was two years ago at this spot where an illness forced him out of the starting quarterback competition. Now, Smith is battling to remain on the team as the third string. In Thursday's preseason finale, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner has a prime opportunity to prove to the Ravens — and the rest of the NFL — that he is a viable quarterback at this level. Smith is expected to start and play the entire game against the St. Louis Rams, according to a league source.

Seth Wallace knew early on he wanted to race dirt bikes, just like he saw on YouTube. He's only 5, but the youngster from Nicholson, Pa., got his wish Sunday as one of 314 riders ages 4 and up to take part in amateur day at a weekend Arenacross event at the Baltimore Arena. In a series of races, up to 16 riders at a time bolted from the indoor dirt track's starting gate on motorized bikes, then fought for a clear path ahead. Kicking up dust, with engines roaring, they sped around hairpin turns, negotiated bumps and soared over hills.

The agent for Ravens backup quarterback Troy Smith is insisting that he made a trade request to the Ravens in late December. On Wednesday, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he never received a formal trade request from Ralph Cindrich, Smith's agent. "I am better than 90 percent sure that Ozzie was called and a message left with him before the season ended regarding Troy Smith's request for a trade after the season," Cindrich told The Baltimore Sun in an e-mail Friday.

It appears another Ravens-Steelers showdown will hinge on a banged-up joint on Ben Roethlisberger's body. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who has thrown 17 touchdown passes and just four interceptions, left Monday night's overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs after his right arm, his throwing arm, got jammed into the turf while he was sacked by two defenders. Roethlisberger reportedly went to the hospital for tests, which could confirm that he has a sprained or separated shoulder, but early signs are he won't play Sunday . And that would obviously be a big break for the Ravens, who have to match up against the talented Steelers receiving corps at Heinz Field.

The agent for Ravens backup quarterback Troy Smith is insisting that he made a trade request to the Ravens in late December. On Wednesday, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he never received a formal trade request from Ralph Cindrich, Smith's agent. "I am better than 90 percent sure that Ozzie was called and a message left with him before the season ended regarding Troy Smith's request for a trade after the season," Cindrich told The Baltimore Sun in an e-mail Friday.

When Troy Smith stepped in front of the microphones after the Ravens' first practice at their recent minicamp, the mike stand had to be adjusted - down. That confirmed everybody's worst fears: Smith, the Ravens' fifth-round draft pick, was not as tall as Peyton Manning. Any other similarities to any other quarterbacks, past and present, will have to be determined on the field. How he plays, that is, not what vitals are next to his name in the program. Smith is listed at 6 feet even by the Ravens and 6-1 by the NFL, the shortest of the 11 quarterbacks chosen two weekends ago. When an observer, who claims to be 5-11, noticed in the locker room that he was looking up to a barefoot Smith, the rookie couldn't help but laugh.

Troy Smith has silenced the skeptics before. As a high school senior in Cleveland, Smith was one of the last players added to a celebrated recruiting class at Ohio State that featured Maurice Clarett, A.J. Hawk and Santonio Holmes. Patriots@Ravens Monday, 8:30 p.m., Ch. 13, ESPN, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Patriots by 20

Former Ravens quarterback Troy Smith has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner and a fifth-round pick by the Ravens in 2007, spent three seasons with the team before losing the primary backup job to Marc Bulger during the 2010 training camp. Smith bounced around with the San Francisco 49ers and the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks before agreeing to a deal with the Ravens' nemesis. Smith could be competing with Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon for the right to back up starter Ben Roethlisberger.

Considering what you have endured, how have you resisted the temptation to become frustrated with what has happened? I don't think about it like that. I don't think about football in a frustrating way at all. I just don't. I won't allow myself to let anything take away from what we've got going on here. Do you believe that contracting tonsillitis was part of a bigger plan? Everything definitely happens for a reason. Obviously, my plan will come somewhere later on down the line. The things that I have gone through and go through now are definitely part of what I have to do to become the quarterback that I want to become.

A year ago, quarterback Troy Smith found himself in a bind. The Ravens ended training camp with some rookie hazing, tying the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner to a goal post. This year, Smith breaks camp in a different predicament. When the Ravens host the Minnesota Vikings in a preseason game tonight, Smith could be starting the most pivotal game of his young NFL career. If Smith can deliver an offensive spark, he could take the lead in the Ravens' tight quarterback race. If he struggles, he could fall behind Kyle Boller and never get another crack to be the team's season-opening starter, especially with first-round pick Joe Flacco primed to take over when ready.

Former Ravens quarterback Troy Smith has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner and a fifth-round pick by the Ravens in 2007, spent three seasons with the team before losing the primary backup job to Marc Bulger during the 2010 training camp. Smith bounced around with the San Francisco 49ers and the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks before agreeing to a deal with the Ravens' nemesis. Smith could be competing with Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon for the right to back up starter Ben Roethlisberger.

Several NFL teams have their lost starting quarterbacks to injury this season -- including playoff hopefuls in Chicago (Jay Cutler) and Houston (Matt Schaub) who have cast their lots to unproven backups. Winless Indianapolis hasn't had theirs (Peyton Manning) at all in 2011. Durabilility has been one of the biggest reasons why Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has piled up a 41 wins in his four seasons in the league. Flacco -- knock on wood -- has never missed a start. On Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked hypothetically about injured quarterbacks, and whether he feels that Tyrod Taylor is prepared should Flacco go down, too. “We would like to think the guy we have is capable of winning games for us, no doubt about it,” Harbaugh said of Taylor, a sixth-round pick in April's NFL draft.

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor, drafted by Baltimore in the sixth round this year, has a few things in common with Ravens fans right now. He doesn't know when training camp is going to begin, but he is anxious for it to get here. "I'm ready to play some football," said Taylor, who threw out a ceremonial first pitch for the Bowie Baysox last Thursday, then signed autographs for fans for nearly an hour in the 100-degree heat. "I've been working real hard. I know whenever it's time to go to camp, I'll be prepared.

In the weeks leading up to April's NFL draft, I will highlight four players whom the Ravens could target at different stages in the draft -- from their top pick to their Mr. Irrelevant. In this post, I will focus on quarterbacks. Please note that I am not saying the Ravens will take a quarterback with their first round pick, for example. I'm just giving you a player whom they might consider if they decided to go that route. Got it? Good. Let's do this. Round 1: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas.

It was all the way back in Week 2 when Joe Flacco looked befuddled, when he threw four passes to the Cincinnati Bengals in a five-point Ravens' loss and looked like he was ready to implode. In the life of an NFL quarterback, it was an eternity ago. Fifteen weeks later, the Bengals are on the horizon again and there is no befuddlement in Flacco. There was no implosion, either. He is, as expected, leading the Ravens into the postseason for the third straight year. He has, as was hoped, shown signs of blossoming into one of the league's elite quarterbacks.

Once a question mark, the Ravens' pass defense currently ranks as the stingiest in the NFL. The accolades have begun pouring in, but at least one member of the secondary said he didn't mind the doubts. "I'm happy for all of the criticism we got this offseason because I feel like guys stepped up and felt like we had to silence some people," cornerback Fabian Washington said Wedensday. "But we want people to just keep talking because it's motivation. Some people go in the tank off of stuff like that, and others rise up and use it as motivation.

ST. LOUIS – The Ravens' 27-21 ugly preseason loss to the St. Louis Rams burst many bubbles and caused coach John Harbaugh to explode in anger. The score didn't reflect the most haphazard showing in the Harbaugh three-year era. The preseason finale at an empty Edward Jones Dome was filled with head-shaking blunders and disgraceful acts. There was Dannell Ellerbe taunting the Rams after the linebacker returned an interception for a touchdown. There was undrafted rookie Prince Miller dropping a punt inside his 10-yard line.

Billy Cundiff's stay in Baltimore will last a little longer. The 30-year-old journeyman who ended last season as the Ravens' kicker will begin this season in the same role as Cundiff beat out 32-year-old Shayne Graham, who was cut by the team Saturday. Cundiff converted 15-of-20 field goals in 14 regular-season and playoff games last year, but the incumbent was thought to be the underdog against Graham, the fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history who had been unceremoniously released by the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason.

ST. LOUIS – The Ravens' 27-21 ugly preseason loss to the St. Louis Rams burst many bubbles and caused coach John Harbaugh to explode in anger. The score didn't reflect the most haphazard showing in the Harbaugh three-year era. The preseason finale at an empty Edward Jones Dome was filled with head-shaking blunders and disgraceful acts. There was Dannell Ellerbe taunting the Rams after the linebacker returned an interception for a touchdown. There was undrafted rookie Prince Miller dropping a punt inside his 10-yard line.