The Ravens' search for a quarterback remedy promises to take a new turn early next week when nine-time Pro Bowl selection and future Hall of Famer Warren Moon is expected to visit the team.
Moon, a 15-year veteran who was released by Seattle last month and has set single-season passing records with three different teams while throwing for nearly 50,000 yards, already has talked with San Diego, Detroit and Cleveland.
Moon, 42, will meet with coach Brian Billick and other team officials as early as Monday. Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens' vice president of player personnel, said he views Moon as a starter. Moon, who was scheduled to make $2.5 million this year with the Seahawks, figures to command a salary in the $3 million range.
Billick and Moon have an established relationship. When Billick was the offensive coordinator with Minnesota, he watched Moon put up back-to-back, 4,000-yard passing seasons with the Vikings in 1994-95. Moon set team records for yardage in 1994 and for touchdown passes the following year.
Billick has talked about Moon in terms of being a backup and a starter, and even though Moon has told his other pursuers he unequivocally wants to start, Billick said he would discuss various scenarios with the quarterback.
"We'll talk about Warren as a starter. We'll also talk about the probability of him being a backup and the situation of having a good veteran like him in that role. We'll cover the gamut," Billick said. "Warren is very analytical. He's not rash. The fact that I can sit and talk to him and [his wife] Felicia directly is a plus."
Moon's entry into the quarterback picture points to growing frustration with the Detroit Lions, who are deadlocked in a waiting game with the Ravens over Detroit's soon-to-be-gone passer, Scott Mitchell.
The Ravens have been trying to trade for Mitchell for several weeks. The Lions want a second-round draft pick for Mitchell, while the Ravens are not interested in giving away anything higher than a third-round choice. Another scenario has Detroit releasing Mitchell on June 1, thus splitting a $4.8 million salary cap hit in half over the next two years.
New Orleans and Seattle also are rumored to have an interest in acquiring Mitchell.
In the meantime, Billick is allowing current Ravens starter Jim Harbaugh to look for other employers. San Diego has shown strong interest in Harbaugh, whom Billick has not ruled out as his starter in 1999. In addition, Billick is considering Harbaugh as a possible backup this season, a position switch that Harbaugh finds appealing.
The thought of waiting for nearly three more months to get Mitchell clearly makes Billick uncomfortable.
"There's a point where we could conceivably say [to Detroit] we're not going to wait, because that's too much of a risk," Billick said. "This is a contingency plan [regarding Moon]. We're not going to be caught in a position where we have to react in a knee-jerk way and spend in a way that's not prudent.
"If Detroit should decide to do something funky, we're not going to be caught flat-footed. We have to have our ducks in a row."
Said Newsome: "We're just keeping all of our options open, and Warren Moon is an option. If we bring him in, we're talking about him being the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. He can still play."
Moon, who originally made a name for himself in the Canadian Football League with Edmonton, has played starring NFL roles in Houston, Minnesota and Seattle. In 15 NFL seasons, he has thrown for 49,097 yards, completing 58.5 percent of his 6,786 career attempts. He has thrown 290 touchdown passes and 232 interceptions.
Moon's durability has come under question in recent years. Ankle injuries limited him to eight games with Minnesota in 1996. Last year in Seattle, he suffered two cracked ribs in week five and started just 10 games, eventually giving way to Jon Kitna. Moon completed 145 of 258 passes for 1,632 yards, the second-lowest total of his career. He had 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
"Can [Moon] still play at this level? Absolutely," Billick said. "Does he still throw one of the sweetest balls? Absolutely. Will he be comfortable with our system. Sure. Can he play 16 games? That's the $64 question. But he's a supremely conditioned athlete. Warren has been breaking conventional wisdom for some time."
Leigh Steinberg, Moon's agent, did not return phone calls yesterday.
In other developments, the Ravens are expected to begin negotiations next week with Eugene Parker, the agent for running back Errict Rhett, who met with Billick earlier this week. Also, free-agent tight end Aaron Pierce could visit the team by Tuesday.
And while the Ravens remain interested in signing free-agent strong safety Marty Carter, they have yet to schedule a visit or begin negotiating with Carter's agent, Frank J. Murtha Jr.
Pub Date: 3/05/99