Troy

Ravens offensive tackle Adam Terry will undergo an arthroscopic procedure today to clean out his ailing right knee and is likely to miss at least the next two weeks. While making the announcement yesterday during his weekly news conference at the team's training facility in Owings Mills, coach John Harbaugh estimated that Terry - who has missed the past two games - could return in time for the game against the Houston Texans on Nov. 9. "It's a little bit of an opportunity to go in there and just see what the deal is," Harbaugh said.

The news last week that John Harbaugh was going to stick with rookie Joe Flacco at quarterback for the remainder of the season was buried among the typical blizzard of Ravens-Colts pre-game story lines. Only one problem: There was another kind of blizzard, and another kind of burial, Sunday in Indianapolis. Here's this week's story line: Harbaugh should admit to being a little premature in mapping out Flacco's rookie season and start Troy Smith as soon as he is physically ready. Flacco is quickly turning into the reincarnation of Kyle Boller.

From Steve McNair's abrupt retirement to Troy Smith's sudden illness, the Ravens' quarterback situation has been filled with unexpected twists. After Saturday night's 24-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams, John Harbaugh provided another one. The Ravens coach left open the possibility that rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco could jump back into contention for a starting job that had seemed to be between Smith and Kyle Boller. Rushed into his first start Saturday, Flacco completed 18 of 37 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.

ST. LOUIS - Is the Ravens' quarterback race finally reaching the finishing line? Tonight against the St. Louis Rams, Troy Smith should bring some clarity to the quarterback quandary in his most extended audition of the preseason. If the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner can put together scoring drives and improve his accuracy, he could claim the season-opening starting job. If Smith struggles in his expected three quarters of action, the Ravens might have to consider going back to Kyle Boller in the preseason finale.

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.

Based on his confidence and mobility, Troy Smith might be the Ravens' best option to open the season as the starting quarterback. Now, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner will have a chance to prove it. Smith was named the starter for the next preseason game, coach John Harbaugh said after Thursday night's 16-15 win over the New England Patriots. In a move that could clear up the Ravens' clouded quarterback picture, Smith will likely work the first half of next Saturday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium.

Matt Willis was a long shot to make the Ravens as a free agent last year but did. The second-year wide receiver from UCLA is still fighting the odds, but he is also finding a way to get noticed. Among the team's offensive highlights so far in training camp was a diving catch Willis made this week on a slightly off-target pass from quarterback Troy Smith. Making those kinds of catches has become something of a Willis specialty. "It's just staying focused and working hard and opening everybody else's eyes so they see what I see," Willis said.

A man who was wounded two weeks ago in a quadruple shooting in East Baltimore has died of his injuries, city police said yesterday. Omar Spriggs, 27, whose last known address was in the 1600 block of Vincent Court, is the second person to die of injuries suffered in the May 15 shooting. He and three other men were shot about 6 p.m. outside AFA Family Appliances in the 2300 block of E. North Ave. Tony Allen, 53, died on the day of the shooting. Officer Troy Harris, a police spokesman, said Spriggs died Tuesday morning at a hospital.

Troy Smith has neither the first-round pedigree of Kyle Boller nor the "quarterback of the future" label of Joe Flacco. But Smith has put himself in the thick of the Ravens' starting quarterback race -- and some would say at the front of it -- because he's confident he can win the job. With a big arm and even bigger chip on his shoulder, Smith has outplayed the other quarterbacks during this spring's minicamps, backing up his claim there is "no doubt"...

On April 3, 2008, TROY L.W. GRAVES, SR.; beloved husband of Gwendolyn Graves. Friends may call at THE CHATMAN-HARRIS FUNERAL HOME EAST, 4210 Belair Road, Friday, 3 to 8 P.M. The family will receive friends at the above chapel., Saturday 12 P.M. Funeral service will begin 12:30 P.M. Interment Private. Inquiries (410) 488-5947.