Birk Retiring

[RavenScallywag]

Nothing but good things to say about Matt.

Now let's use a 4th or 5th to get some C to push GINO.

Most likely, the guy to push Gino will be a cheap vet, ala Gurode in 2011...

speaking of, what is Gurode up to????

[Tucker: M&T Sec 527]

class act and I will always be grateful for his contributions here. Remember when he played the whole year with a gash on the bridge of his nose that opened up every game? Tough, smart guy and I wish him the best in retirement.

This is just the first move for a team that will look a lot different next year

The guy took a real chance uprooting self and family from their comfort zone in Minn. to take a last couple laps in Baltimore. So glad he got his ring. He did a nice job on blocking assignment calls, and had maybe one botched snap in his time here, IIRC. He's very active in raising resources for the older NFL vets and has already promised his brain to CTE research after he dies. Knowing what he knows, he wasn't going to stick around one play past what he needed. John Harvard wants to keep those Ivy League cognitive functions around as long as he can!

Godspeed Matt and THANKS!

[AirFlacco]

$3M pr yr and back to back exciting AFC championship games and a SB ring is a pretty good comfort zone to land in.


IN THE OLD DAYS WE USED THE PLAYOFFS FOR EXTRA CASH TO SUPPLEMENT OUR INCOMES. TODAY CENTERS SHOW UP
TO PRACTICE WITH A BRIEF CASE AND LAWYER.


WEEB EUBANK -

HE COACHED THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT WINS IN NFL HISTORY - 1958 SUDDEN DEATH CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND SB 3.
THE WINNING SHARES FOR EACH PLAYER IN THE 1958 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WAS $5,000 PR MAN.

[bacchys]

Birk was and is a class act, and I don't doubt that he gave his all to the Ravens every single time he took the field.

Count me among those happy he has a ring to cap off a great career. I'm even happier it was as a Raven. I hope he's another vet who comes around Owings Mills to help mentor future Ravens. He's the kind of player who brings more to a franchise than just his talents on the field.

[Ash55]

Peter King had a few quotes from Matt Birk in his Monday Morning QB on page 2. Here is the link.



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl.../?sct=hp_wr_a2

[JohnBKistler]

Peter King had a few quotes from Matt Birk in his Monday Morning QB on page 2. Here is the link.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl.../?sct=hp_wr_a2

I loved this quote:

I'm happy. Fifteen seasons, Man of the Year, two great franchises, Super Bowl my last game, and we win it. If you ever hear me complaining about anything, ever, slap me in the face. Please.

[esmd]

Glad to see Matt getting some media love. He's certainly earned it.

[RavenScallywag]

I loved this quote:

I liked when he said Ravens wanted to have a ceremony to retire him and he was like "No, don't do that for me. You do that for Ray Lewis, you don't do that for guys like me".

He's another guy like Kevin Millar, who turned down a limo to take him to his O's signing press conference, and asked for a pickup truck instead.

[esmd]

Not to quibble, but IMO Matt Birk is NOTHING like Kevin Millar. Birk has class and doesn't seek the spotlight. Millar has none and never met a reporter/camera/recorder he didn't love. I've never been so happy to call someone a former Oriole in my life.

[BcRaven]

I believe Birk is the type of guy who appreciates his long NFL career, Super Bowl ring, and the amount of $$$ he made at his chosen profession to support his family. I think he doesn't care about individual awards (HOF or ROH) because he's been blessed with a body type (that sustained 15 NFL years @ Center) and an intelligent mind (Harvard grad). IMO he is the personification of a true professional and a person who can really bring insight as a media persona... Bc