Birk Retiring

**Paintballguy** · 02-22-2013, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

OK, Thanks, man.

I didn't think Boldin was still signed with everyone talking about cutting him. I know it's to make room to save CAP space but still if he's signed?? Cut someone else.
Guys like you and Ravor are the reason I come here when I need CAP info. I'm not a CAP expert as you can see.

No problem - I've been doing a lot of reading trying to understand contracts and salary cap implications.

Also, I always enjoy reading your stories.

**alienrace** · 02-22-2013, 12:08 PM

Thanks to Matt. He was the best center we ever had.

**Tolucaraven** · 02-22-2013, 12:09 PM

Thank you Matt for being a Raven! It must of been hard to move from your hometown team Vikings and uproot your family and move to the Ravens especially with all your children. You will be missed.

**The Excellector** · 02-22-2013, 12:34 PM

The personification of class and handling his self in such a manner, professionally in his work ethic and away from the game.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-22-2013, 12:56 PM

The reason people talk about cutting Boldin is because the next closest guys are Jacoby Jones (4 Mil) and Vonta Leach (3 Mil). Boldin's number is just HUGE. But that said, I agree...you CAN'T cut him. No one else steps up to replace him.

I'd rather cut Jacoby AND Leach and keep Boldin for 6 Mil. That said, hopefully Flacco gets a deal done, and we can extend Boldin

**StingerNLG** · 02-22-2013, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by alienrace

Thanks to Matt. He was the best center we ever had.

That he was. I'm glad he was able to get his ring too. He was a class A guy while he was here, and I wish him only the best in his post-football career.

That Harvard degree will come in quite handy now. He will have no trouble being set for life.

HOF talk is interesting. I don't think he goes in right away, maybe 3rd or 4th time. You can't argue with his accomplishments. But he's not a big name guy.

The bigger question.......Ravens ROH?

**B-more Ravor** · 02-22-2013, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

We have around 20-21 mil in cap space after figuring in the savings from Birk and Lewis retiring. If they get a deal done with Flacco, we definitely should have enough for Ellerbe. Boldin is under contract until the end of next season. They might extend him to lower his cap number for this year.

If that $20-21M under is coming from Spotrac.com, it's not accurate.

They have around $111M committed to the Cap presently. Removing Ray, Birk and Williams reduces that number by $7.6M, but that would be with only 46 players under contract. Once the RFAs and ERFAs are added back in, much of that space will be used up.

With no other moves made (Leach restructure/release, Boldin extension, any other restructure), I would estimate they will have around $7.5M in Cap space heading into FA. But, that wouldn't include whatever they do with Flacco.

**B-more Ravor** · 02-22-2013, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Bufflehead

Thanks Matt!!! What a great career, and I am so happy you got your ring here in Baltimore!

Enjoy the time with your family!.

A total class act, team-first guy! Very glad he could go out on top!

**2gigch1** · 02-22-2013, 01:31 PM

I hope he stays in the area too. I know he's a transplant but his presence raises the per capita 'class act' number for the entire region. And that's not to say it's that bad in Baltimore, it's to say he's that good.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-22-2013, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by StingerNLG

The bigger question.......Ravens ROH?

I'd say no. He was a great NFL player, but only 4 years here. No Pro Bowls. Basically, just a great man off the field, and a good player on it.

You can probably find several examples of those players. Rod Woodson? Maybe didn't do as much off the field, but certainly was here for 4 years, won a ring, made 3 Pro Bowls, etc. But not in the Ring of Honor.

**leachisabeast** · 02-22-2013, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

A total class act, team-first guy! Very glad he could go out on top!

Assuming they are replaced by rookies, the cap savings wills till be around $6.16M, that is still pretty significant.

Rookies usually have a cap hit of around 480-600 k in their first year.

So after all the tenders are signed and ERFAs are re-signed etc, we should now roughly be around 7.303 M under the cap (assuming Williams is cut), and this is before further potential retirements, cuts, contract extensions, and restructures (I don't expect the Ravens to restructure anyone really though).

**leachisabeast** · 02-22-2013, 01:48 PM

Oh and congratulations to Matt Birk on an outstanding career. Great guy off the field, and a great player for us, he gave us 4 solid years, and can go out happy with a ring. A Harvard graduate, made the NFL as a 6th round pick, made multiple pro bowls/all pro's and won a SB with the Ravens, can't think of a much better journey than that.

He wont make the HOF, purely because only ONE center has made the HOF in the last twenty years (I think anyway), and while he was certainly top 5 all time C in the last 20/15 years, he can't help the fact that his position is just not recognized much even if it is one of the most important ones in football.

**B-more Ravor** · 02-22-2013, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Assuming they are replaced by rookies, the cap savings wills till be around $6.16M, that is still pretty significant.

Rookies usually have a cap hit of around 480-600 k in their first year.

So after all the tenders are signed and ERFAs are re-signed etc, we should now roughly be around 7.303 M under the cap (assuming Williams is cut), and this is before further potential retirements, cuts, contract extensions, and restructures (I don't expect the Ravens to restructure anyone really though).

You don't need to add in the replacement costs now because they are still under 51 players under contract. Once the RFAs and ERFAs are tendered, that will provide the replacement value, so there's no need to further deduct for the replacements for Lewis, Birk and Williams.

**leachisabeast** · 02-22-2013, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

You don't need to add in the replacement costs now because they are still under 51 players under contract. Once the RFAs and ERFAs are tendered, that will provide the replacement value, so there's no need to further deduct for the replacements for Lewis, Birk and Williams.

oh yeah lol

**AirFlacco** · 02-22-2013, 03:25 PM

Thanks Ravor.

Can you do a column for this site on the latest cap hits, etc and posting who you think will leave?

Thanks in advance.

**Raving Sports Fan** · 02-22-2013, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

He gave the Ravens 4 mostly good seasons. A couple hiccups here and there, but mostly he was pretty darn solid on the field, and ALWAYS without a doubt a standup guy in the locker room and on his own time. A lot of people (myself included) bitched and moaned when they let Jason Brown leave, but once again Ozzie proved that he knows what's he's doing. Glad to see Matt walk away on his terms, and go out as a champion. He was one of the guys that I was most happy for after the SB. Happy trails, Matt, and thanks.

Agreed way to go out on top. Thank you Matt Birk you always seem classy in interviews on tv enjoy life beyond football