After creating a stir by working out former starting quarterback Kyle Boller on Thursday, the Ravens have instead signed free-agent quarterback Curtis Painter to a one-year deal.
Painter will reunite with Jim Caldwell, who became the Baltimore quarterbacks coach after being fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following a 2-14 season in 2011. Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon also worked out on Thursday before the Ravens decided on Painter.
Painter played in nine games and made eight starts in place of the injured Peyton Manning last season, throwing for 1,541 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. The former Purdue quarterback spent three seasons in Indianapolis.
He will have the opportunity to compete with second-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor for the primary backup job behind quarterback Joe Flacco, but this will not guarantee a roster spot for Painter. The Ravens only carried two quarterbacks on their 2011 roster, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would like to create more opportunities to utilize Taylor’s athleticism in the offense.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, the former sixth-round pick of the 2009 draft brings good size but went winless in his eight starts before being benched in favor of Dan Orlovsky, who led the Colts to their only two wins of 2011.
