Boller and Ravens Agree on Contract

The Baltimore Ravens and holdout quarterback Kyle Boller reached an oral agreement on a five-year deal Wednesday.

Boller, the 19th overall pick in this year’s draft, is expected to join the team today.

“Kyle is very excited to be on his way to camp to start his career with the Ravens,” said Mike Sullivan, Boller’s agent. “He can’t wait to be there.”

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Boller started every game for California last year, throwing for 2,815 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Raven Coach Brian Billick said the competition for the starting quarterback job is open among Chris Redman, Boller and Anthony Wright. Redman started the Ravens’ first six games last year before a back injury ended his season.

Boller, who was absent from three days of practice, will join the fray. “It’s great to have it done. The time lost is irretrievable, but hopefully we can make up that time for him,” Billick said.

“It’s good to have everybody in camp now.”

Boller faces an uphill battle to gain the starting job.

“I’m not going to slam the door on him and say, ‘No,’ but the other two looked very good and are playing very well,” Billick said. “It’s going to take something to overcome that lost time.”

Boller and the Ravens reached agreement one day after Baltimore’s other first-round pick, defensive end Terrell Suggs, signed a five-year deal.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars brought portable lights to practice and probably will hold some night workouts after linemen John Henderson and Larry Smith collapsed this week because of heat and had to be hospitalized briefly.

Coach Jack Del Rio hasn’t changed his training camp schedule, but team spokesman Dan Edwards said the Jaguars probably will shift two or three practices to nighttime.

Team owner Wayne Weaver said he would consider building a practice bubble so the Jaguars can work out indoors to escape the heat and thunderstorms.

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Detroit Lion rookie receiver Charles Rogers could return to practice this weekend after dislocating his left ring finger Tuesday.... Cornerback Donald Strickland, a third-round draft pick out of Colorado, reported to the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp after agreeing to a three-year, $1.34-million deal.... Rookie defensive tackle Nick Eason is expected to return to the Denver Broncos’ training camp by the weekend after unexpectedly leaving the team Tuesday. Eason had to take care of unspecified personal matters, his agent said.... San Francisco 49er tight end Mark Anelli will be sidelined six to eight weeks because of a broken collarbone suffered Tuesday.... Linebacker Chaun Thompson ended his holdout and agreed to a five-year contract after the Cleveland Browns warned the second-round draft pick they might reduce the amount of his deal.

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All-Pro linebacker Derrick Brooks didn’t accompany the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Japan for Saturday’s exhibition game against the New York Jets, staying behind to be with his ill mother at Pensacola, Fla.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Coach Jon Gruden told the St. Petersburg Times at Tokyo, where the Buccaneers arrived Wednes- day.

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The Washington Redskins ownership group led by Dan Snyder is selling about 20% of the team, according to a source within the NFL.

Three people who are close to Snyder will each buy a stake in the team, with the total purchase worth an estimated $200 million, according to the source who spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Snyder will remain the majority owner.

The deal is pending before the NFL’s finance committee and is expected to be completed in August.

The money from the sale would be used to pay off some of the team’s debt, which once totaled more than $500 million, according to the source.