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Anthony Wright began the season as the Baltimore Ravens' third-string quarterback, buried on the depth chart behind an untested rookie and a rusty veteran coming off back surgery.
Wright probably suspected he was destined to replay his 2002 season, when he spent the entire year on the bench. He certainly had no reason to expect anything else, even if he had more experience than the other two guys combined.
From the outset of training camp, however, Wright prepared for every practice as if he was the starting quarterback. And now, incredibly, he is.
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Wright will play in his first postseason game Saturday against the Tennessee
Titans. It's been an amazing turnaround for the journeyman whose seven starts
this year are two more than he compiled in his first five pro seasons.
``My parents, my brothers, my other family members, they always ask me if I realize what's going on,'' he said. ``I haven't really sat down and thought about it. Myself, I just try to keep a level head about the situation and keep focused on what we have to do to get to Houston.''
If the Ravens are to get to Houston, site of the Super Bowl, it likely won't be on the strength of Wright's right arm. His responsibility is to merely be accurate enough to let running back Jamal Lewis and the formidable Baltimore defense win the game.
``Every week I come out and try to get Jamal started, then let everything else fall into place,'' Wright said.
Wright did little more than run the scout team until November. Then, after starter Kyle Boller injured his leg and backup Chris Redman performed miserably in relief during a loss to the St. Louis Rams, Wright was given the starting job on Nov. 16 in Miami.
He has performed well enough to maintain the role, even though Boller is healthy now.
In the playoffs, Wright will be asked to reprise the role of Trent Dilfer, who took the Ravens to a world championship in 2001 by doing little more than avoiding interceptions and silly turnovers.
``Anthony has some assets around him. What we will ask him to do is in the framework of what we do,'' Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. ``We have been here before, and have had some success with it. But Anthony will have to step up his game just like every quarterback, Pro Bowl or not, in the playoffs.''
During the regular season, Wright went 94-for-178 for 1,199 yards and nine touchdowns. He also threw eight interceptions, miscues that must be kept to a minimum if the Ravens are to advance.
``You can't turn the ball over at a crucial time in the game,'' Wright conceded, ``but at the same time, you can't allow a turnover destroy your mind-set as far as what you expect to do.''
Wright has never played in a bigger game, but he has no intention of letting the situation dictate the fashion in which he will perform.
``Pressure? I don't really view it like that,'' Wright said. ``I just see it as another game. If I put a lot of pressure on myself, it will hinder how I play.''
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