Owings Mills, Md. — Elvis Grbac will be back as the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback next season, yet the team surrounding him could have a decidedly different look.
The advancing age of at least a half-dozen veterans, salary cap concerns and the possible retirement of several players means the Ravens will probably undergo a dramatic metamorphosis during the offseason.
Baltimore quarterback Elvis Grbac finished 14th in the AFC with a 71.1 quarterback rating. The former Kansas City QB plans to return to the Ravens next season.
Some 24 hours after the Ravens' reign as defending Super Bowl champions ended with a 27-10 defeat in Pittsburgh, coach Brian Billick said Monday, "Clearly, there is going to be some change. It's absolutely unavoidable."
But Grbac, who had a stormy first season with Baltimore, will return.
The nine-year pro threw 18 interceptions compared to 15 touchdown passes during the regular season, finishing 14th in the AFC with a 71.1 QB rating.
He bowed out Sunday by getting picked off three times.
The Ravens (11-7) have the option of terminating Grbac's five-year, $30 million contract.
"We've talked about this at length, organizationally, as a team, as a coaching staff: Elvis Grbac is our starting quarterback," Billick said.
"We need to improve the athletic abilities around him, in order to make more of an impact offensively. We have to improve schematically and structurally," he added. "And then he has to improve, as every player does, in a number of fundamental things."
On Sunday, Grbac said, "I hope I'm back. I hope I'm back because we've got a good football team, and I believe we've got a good offense."
The offense generated only 150 yards and seven first downs Sunday, but Grbac needn't worry about where he'll be playing next season.
"We've made very clear what our intentions are," Billick said.
Grbac avoided the media Monday while the Ravens cleared out their lockers, two weeks earlier than anticipated.
"It's still painful. It still hurts," tight end Shannon Sharpe said. "I can't even read the paper, I can't watch it on television."
Sharpe, who hinted at retirement Sunday, has decided to delay making a definite decision on his future.
"I'm going to take some time to myself, go home and visit my grandmother," he said. "I'll call Brian in a month. We'll see."
The Ravens are an estimated $20 million over next season's projected salary cap of $72.5 million, so 36-year-old safety Rod Woodson, defensive end Rod Burnett, 34, and defensive end Michael McCrary, 31, might not be back.
McCrary, who missed the final six games of the season and both playoff games after knee surgery in mid-November, was uncertain of where he will be next season.
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