Stoney Case Quarterback Baltimore Ravens Profile
	1999 SEASON STATISTICS COMP ATT YDS TD INT RAT 7 15 130 1 0 99.3

Mitchell was ineffective as the Ravens' starter in their first two games, both losses, completing just 24 of 56 passes for 236 yards. Mitchell also threw four interceptions and just one touchdown.

The move follows the Ravens' 23-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at PSINet Stadium. Case replaced Mitchell midway through the third quarter after Mitchell completed just seven of 16 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. After a slow start with the Ravens down 14-10, Case rallied the team to a 20-20 tie, completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Qadry Ismail with 1:22 remaining.

Case, 27, was 7-15 for 130 yards with the touchdown.

It wasn't the first time Case had rallied the Ravens either. In their last two preseason games -- victories against the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants -- the Ravens prevailed in come-from-behind drives engineered by Case.

"I'm excited about it. I've been working for this for a long time and now it's here," said Case, whose start next week is just the second of his career. "I'm going to go out and make the most of this opportunity. I'm definitely excited about it and I'm looking forward to it."

Playing his fifth season in the NFL, Case has completed 37 of 72 passes for 465 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He signed with the Ravens on Aug. 17, after being released by Indianapolis.

Ravens coach Brian Billick said he expects the move to last the rest of the season.

"I don't go into the situation with the idea that it's a temporary measure," Billick said.

Billick also said he made the decision Monday as opposed to later in the week to give Case as much work as possible with the first-team offense.

Case, who came to the NFL from the University of New Mexico, started his career as a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 1995 but spent most of the next four seasons as the team's third quarterback. Case made one start in October 1997, completing 11 of 22 passes for 94 yards, but the Cardinals lost 13-10. Jake Plummer was named the starter the next game and Case never played again in Arizona.

The Colts signed Case in the offseason to back up Peyton Manning but released him on Aug. 11. The Ravens signed him less than a week later.

For Mitchell, 31, it's the second straight season in which he has been benched after just two games. While with Detroit in 1998, Mitchell was replaced by rookie Charlie Batch after the Lions opened the season 0-2.

"I really don't have anything to say right now," Mitchell said.

Mitchell, a 10-year veteran, had his best season in 1995 for Detroit when he completed over 59 percent of his passes for a career-high 4,338 yards and 32 touchdowns.