Detroit quarterback Scott Mitchell could become the Ravens' new starter by next week, if a trade between the two teams comes to fruition. Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh is free to become the next starter in San Diego, once the Mitchell deal happens. Then, the Ravens' first franchise quarterback probably will surface during next month's NFL draft.
While the Ravens' coaching, scouting and personnel staffs are preoccupied with rating players in the April 17-18 draft, head coach Brian Billick has an eye trained on resolving his quarterback situation.
Billick, who made a name for himself in Minnesota by working successfully with quarterbacks ranging from Jim McMahon to Randall Cunningham, believes that by draft day, the team will have four quarterbacks lined up for his first training camp. He is optimistic that Mitchell will replace Harbaugh, with Harbaugh heading west to resurrect a career that stalled here in 1998. He also is resigned to waiting patiently while a three-way sequence plays out between Baltimore, Detroit and the Chargers.
"Someone is going to pull their finger out of the dike, and it will all kick into place," Billick said. "Right now, the pivotal thing is what Detroit wants to do. The potential for Scott Mitchell being here is substantial. We're moving toward that."
The Lions reportedly want the Ravens' second-round draft pick for Mitchell, while the Ravens appear unwilling to dig deeper than this year's third-round choice. As both sides continue to examine other ways to complete the deal -- possibly involving multiple picks and including next year's draft -- the Lions apparently are bent on trading Mitchell instead of releasing him on June 1, even though cutting him would save them $2.4 million in salary cap funds this year.
The anxiety is getting to Harbaugh, who had a productive visit with San Diego last week.
Harbaugh, under contract for $3.25 million with the Ravens in 1998, already has agreed to become a backup here, a move that would knock his salary down to the $900,000 range. But San Diego reportedly is interested in bringing in Harbaugh for around $2 million, then giving him the chance to beat out second-year man Ryan Leaf for the starting job.
Although a trade could send Harbaugh west, a league source said once the Ravens secure the services of Mitchell, they will release Harbaugh, freeing him to sign with the Chargers.
"That [moving to San Diego] is probably going to happen. It already seems like it's a done deal," Harbaugh said. "I would not have minded being a backup in Baltimore. I feel like I didn't live up to my end of the bargain, like I have some unfinished business here. I wish I could make that right. I also wish I knew what I was doing [in 1999]."
Billick also has not ruled out pursuing Moon, a free agent and future Hall of Famer at 43, as a possible backup. That could complicate matters for Ravens backup Eric Zeier. And third-stringer Wally Richardson's days also would be numbered if the Ravens decide to draft a quarterback, particularly a perceived blue-chipper like Syracuse's Donovan McNabb or Oregon's Akili Smith.
The Ravens, who hold the 10th overall choice, have talked with Indianapolis and St. Louis about trading up to the fourth or sixth slots, respectively. Billick said the organization is just beginning to debate the merits of paying such a price to take a risk on a passer like McNabb, Smith or Central Florida's Dante Culpepper.
"We haven't even determined yet whether one of those quarterbacks is worth that kind of price. If we think the guy is really something special, and there's no way he's going to be available at 10, we have to move up," said Billick, who watched tapes of McNabb and Culpepper earlier this week for the first time.
"It's hard to pass one up, but the decision we have to make is are we talking ourselves into seeing one of those guys as a franchise player?" he added. "Are we taking [first-round successes like] John Elway, Dan Marino and Troy Aikman? Or are we taking [first-round busts like] Heath Shuler or Rick Mirer?"
NOTES: Tight end Aaron Pierce, who formerly played for the Giants and did not play in 1998, is expected to visit the Ravens early next week. The Ravens, in need of a starting tight end, appear highly interested in signing Pierce. Running back Errict Rhett, who languished on the bench during a 1998 season in which he carried the ball only 44 times for 180 yards, met with Billick at the team's Owings Mills facility yesterday. Rhett, an unrestricted free agent, said he wants to return to Baltimore. "I don't even care about the money. I don't care if [the Ravens] pay me $5, just give me a chance to compete for a job," Rhett said. On Monday, the Ravens paid out $2.3 million in roster bonuses. Offensive lineman James Atkins and defensive end Rob Burnett each were due $1 million, while defensive tackle Tony Siragusa was scheduled to get $300,000.
Pub Date: 3/03/99