Billick backs Grbac for long haul

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Elvis Grbac will remain the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback now and well into the future, coach Brian Billick said with emphasis Wednesday.

The Ravens have an escape clause in Grbac's five-year, $30 million contract that would allow the team to terminate the deal after this season. But Billick said Grbac, the 12th-rated quarterback in the AFC, would be around for the long haul.

"He's my quarterback now, he's going to be quarterback next year and hopefully the year after that and the year after that," Billick said. "The only thing that will change that is if he chooses to A, retire -- which I doubt -- or B, he gets a career-ending injury."

Billick acknowledged that the Ravens have the ability to sever ties with Grbac after this season at a cost of only $5.5 million -- the price of his signing bonus and this year's salary. But Billick said the contract was drawn up in that fashion because of the salary cap, and insisted the Ravens have no intention of releasing the quarterback after this season.

"We can get out of anybody's contract if we're willing to take the appro priate hit," Billick said. "Those who have chosen to isolate on Elvis Grbac's contract, with the intent to convey an idea that we have the latitude, that we're contemplating exercising that latitude, you're wrong."

Replacing Dilfer

Grbac was signed by the Ravens in March to replace Trent Dilfer, who led Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory last January by playing conservatively within a run-oriented attack. Grbac was supposed to spice up the passing game, but he's thrown 16 interceptions compared to 14 touchdowns, has been sacked 16 times and owns a meager 73.2 quarterback rating -- well below his career mark of 81.7.

"What's hard to do is separate his play from that of the entire team," Billick said. "Everybody can play a little bit better, but up to this point I'm pleased with Elvis' play. I have a great deal of faith in Elvis and believe he can indeed win for us, take us to the playoffs and win a Super Bowl."

Grbac is satisfied with his performance and pleased that Billick evidently feels that way, too.

"I never really doubted the coach's confidence in me," Grbac said.

His teammates are also behind Grbac, even though he's only 6-5 as a starter with Baltimore (he missed two games with a rib injury).

"I'm sure Elvis would have liked to have played better. We'd have all liked to have played better, or we wouldn't be 8-5," tight end Shannon Sharpe said. "I cannot put all the blame on Elvis. This is not all Elvis' fault. There are things we could have done to help Elvis, things we could have done to make Elvis feel he doesn't have to win this thing on his own.

"Brian says we're going to war with Elvis, so we're going to war with Elvis. I welcome that."