Boller Is Not Close to Deal With Ravens

Kyle Boller appears headed toward a holdout that could ruin his bid to become the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens.

Boller -- the 19th overall selection in this year’s draft from California -- will be given the opportunity at training camp to compete against Chris Redman and Anthony Wright for the No. 1 job.

“There are substantial philosophical differences between the sides,” Boller’s agent, Mike Sullivan, said Wednesday.

Boller won’t be eliminated from the competition if he reports late, but a holdout would almost certainly hinder his chances of being the team’s starter for the Sept. 7 opener against Pittsburgh.

“That’s not to say it can’t be done,” Raven Coach Brian Billick said. “Unlike what has been speculated -- that’s if he’s not there for the first practice it’s over -- I never said that. But clearly, these are long odds as it is. With every practice that you miss, you stretch those odds even farther and farther.”

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Receiver Charles Rogers, the second pick in the draft, signed a six-year contract, including a signing bonus of $14.4 million, with the Detroit Lions.

Rogers, from Michigan State, will earn $40 million over the six years, and with incentives he could earn as much as $54.6 million, a source within the league involved in the contract negotiations told Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

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Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Ken Dorsey signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Dorsey, the 49ers’ seventh-round draft pick, set nearly every passing record at Miami and was 38-2 as a starter. He led the Hurricanes to the national championship game in each of the last two seasons -- winning two seasons ago.

San Francisco General Manager Terry Donahue said the 49ers might keep four quarterbacks on their roster for the third consecutive season.

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Bill Belichick got a two-year extension of his contract to coach the New England Patriots, taking him through the 2006 season.

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The Washington Redskins, again confronted by American Indians who find the team’s name offensive, asked a judge to overturn a ruling that revoked the team’s federal trademark protection.

Seven American Indians successfully argued otherwise in 1999, when the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board granted their petition to cancel the team’s trademark registrations because of a federal law that prohibits registering “disparaging” names.

A ruling is not expected for a few weeks, after the judge has had time to review a sealed deposition by Redskin owner Dan Snyder regarding the case’s possible financial impact on the team.