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In an article published early Thursday, Baltimore Sun staff writer Jamison Hensley advised readers that about 10 minutes after officially adding Jim Fassel to his coaching staff, head coach Brian Billick dropped an unexpected announcement at Wednesday's news conference:

Kyle Boller is Baltimore's starting quarterback next season.

The second of two first-round picks last year, Boller will enter training camp atop the depth chart while the Ravens intend to re-sign unrestricted free agent-to-be Anthony Wright to be his backup.

"Barring injury, I can't conceive of a situation that [Boller] wouldn't be our starter going into the season," Billick said.

Billick had remained noncommittal on his starting quarterback since the Ravens lost to the Tennessee Titans last month in the first round of the NFL playoffs, saying the team needed to go through an extensive decision-making process.

Boller started the first nine games of his rookie season, compiling a 5-4 record before a leg injury forced him out of the lineup and opened a spot for Wright.

A third-string quarterback for the first half of the season, Wright helped the franchise win its first division title, finishing 5-3 as a starter (including playoffs).

"By any objective evaluation, you had to be pleased with the progress that Kyle made," Billick said. "You were beginning to see that development, and with every game, it seemed to be a little bit better. We really felt like that light was really going to come on for him.

"Anthony performed brilliantly, too. But there is a business side to this, and we've committed resources to Kyle. Certainly, Kyle didn't do anything not to be named the starter. In fairness, neither did Anthony. As we went forward and evaluated it, the next natural step was to continue with Kyle as the starter."

Brilliantly? I'm not so sure about that. ...

The truth is neither Boller, who went down with an injured quad on Nov. 10, nor Wright set the world on fire.

Boller completed 51 percent of his passes for 1,260 yards, with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passer rating was 62.4. Wright connected on 52 percent of his passes for 1,199 yards, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. His rating was 72.3 and the Ravens finished 2003 ranked last in the league in passing yards (141.3/yards per game) and yards per pass attempt (6.07).

Nonetheless, the 22-year old Boller, who recently built a house in the Baltimore area and intends to live there year round beginning in March, can't wait to get after it.

"It's huge to know I'm the guy, and that everything's on me and they're believing in me to be the starting quarterback," Boller told Hensley when reached by phone in San Francisco. "At the same time, there is still competition. I'm going to go out there and try to do my best. It's not like I can slack off. I'm going to be working that much harder to show that I am the starter."

Last year, Boller beat out Chris Redman for the starting job in training camp. Billick, who has never favored quarterback competitions, wanted to stay away from staging a similar battle this time.

"You can't prepare two quarterbacks that way," Billick said. "It wouldn't be fair to Kyle or Anthony in that regard."

Wright, who turns 28 this month, will be an unrestricted free agent in March.

"If Anthony Wright has a chance of going some place as a starter, he should and we'll encourage and help him in all that we can," Billick said. "Short of someone totally committing to Anthony under those terms, we very much want Anthony back. He understands that.

"I'm really optimistic that Anthony will come back here. I can't think of a better situation for us than to go into the season with Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright in the stable. As every team has to have, we'll have an excellent one-two punch."

For what it's worth, the addition Fassel should speed Boller's development.

The former New York Giants head coach built a reputation on quarterback quick fixes, needing less than one season to turn a struggling John Elway into a Most Valuable Player and transform a troubled Kerry Collins into a legitimate starter.

His next project is Boller and the NFL's worst passing attack.

"With the caveat of maybe a Bill Walsh, I think Jim Fassel has been the preeminent quarterback coach in the National Football League over the last number of years," Billick said as he turned to his good friend sitting next to him at the news conference. "His resume of quarterbacks he has worked with and their productivity is unmatched around the league.

"As we go forward with a young quarterback, his development is pivotal in terms of the success we're going to have. I can't think of a better person to bring in and help in that development than Jim Fassel."

According to Hensley, Fassel, 54, who plans to pursue a head coaching job next year, will basically serve as the Ravens' assistant head coach. He will offer his opinions during the offseason evaluation process, lend another set of eyes every day at training camp and have a voice in the offensive scheme during the regular season.

In Fassel's past five seasons, the Giants ranked in the top half of the league in offense three times. Over that span, they finished 11th or higher in passing in all but one season.

In five seasons under Billick and offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, the Ravens' offense has finished in the bottom half of NFL four times. Over that span, the Ravens were ranked 22nd or lower in passing in all but one season.

With Fassel joining the Ravens, it marks the first time in NFL history that two Super Bowl head coaches are on the same staff. If Fassel does not land a job elsewhere next year, the Ravens plan to ask him to return in the same capacity.

One other item of interest here. ...

In an article published Monday, Sun staffer Mike Preston reported that Jamal Lewis has already ballooned to at least 20 pounds over his playing weight, but the team isn't concerned. Lewis, who led the league in rushing last season, says he will take a month off before starting to train again.

Preston added that team officials will monitor him closely before various mini-camps, and they might bring up the weight issue if Lewis, as expected, demands his contract be restructured to make him the league's highest-paid back.