Just when you thought the Baltimore Ravens had things figured out with their quarterback situation, they go and do something to throw everybody through a loop. With Troy Smith and John Beck set to battle it out for the 2nd and 3rd spots behind Joe Flacco, there was no question as to who would make up the depth chart at quarterback for the Ravens. But, because crazy things happen, the Ravens have decided to make things even more interesting. And what is there not to love about it?

According to several sources, Baltimore has come to terms, pending a physical, with former Rams QB, Marc Bulger. This is good news for several reasons. For one, Bulger is a good quarterback, In NFL history, he is the quickest to reach 1,000 completions, beating out competition that includes names like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. He has been named to two Pro Bowls.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Bulger took over for Jamie Martin, who, at the time, was filling in for an injured Kurt Warner. The transition was made in 2002, and the Rams have had their franchise quarterback under center ever since. In 2006, Bulger had his best season, posting over 4,000 yards and threw for twenty-four touchdowns. Since then, however, it seems to have been down hill; A combination of injuries and lackluster play led to his ultimate release in early April.

What does this mean for the Ravens? Well, for one, Troy Smith and John Beck better be on their toes. With four quarterbacks in camp, all with starting experience, somebody’s head is on the chopping  block. While it seems pretty obvious at this point that Smith is the odd man out, Beck doesn’t have an easy road either when it comes to proving his worth on the roster.

Regardless of your opinion on the matter, get this straight; Marc Bulger will make this team. There is no reason why the Ravens would sign him to a one year, $3.8 million dollar deal without any plan on keeping him around. As far as the outlook on this move looks right now, Smith may want to start packing his bags. With no role, and his want to get out of town, it makes perfect sense for Ozzie Newsome to avoid a problem before it arises.

In other news, the Ravens have also signed safety Ken Hamlin. Most recently with the Dallas Cowboys, Hamlin brings an insurance policy to Baltimore in case Ed Reed doesn’t make it back on the field in time for the beginning of the season. As a former Pro Bowler, Baltimore seems to have found another diamond-in-the-rough-type free agent signing. Hamlin brings baggage with him, mainly due to his history with injuries, but has proven himself time and time again. While he is not the liberal type of safety that Reed plays as, Hamlin will bring a sense of security to the field in case the Ravens’ cornerbacks give up the big plays that people are almost expecting from them. My opinion is that fans will not be disappointed with his play on the field, and that Baltimore has made a great move in signing him to a one-year deal.

In just a month and a few days, pre-season football will begin, and the atmosphere will change. The NFL is almost upon us- can you feel it?