Birk to finalize return

[Tyrian]

Adam Schefter ‏ @AdamSchefter Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
A deal between the Baltimore Ravens and veteran center Matt Birk is imminent. Birk back to Baltimore.

Moriarty's busy.

[SouthSide]

clap...clap...clap

[arnie_uk]

well his agent said this half an hour ago

Linta on Birk: "But Matt would love to stay a Raven and we won't look elsewhere unless we can't make it work with the Ravens."

and this "We had a good talk. We're fielding calls from other teams (as Matt is now a free agent)."

so they contradict abit, i think i believe his agent

[Tyrian]

Don't believe agents unless they're officially announcing a signing.

Aaron Wilson ‏ @RavensInsider Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Contract for Matt Birk to return to Ravens expected to come in at around $3 million. Deal is getting close

3 million? For a one year deal?

[Bhcforlife]

Meh. Not sure how they can expect different results from what they saw at the end of last year and in the playoffs. He looked done. Hopefully, come September, he's here as a backup and not as the starting C.

[JustaslowZ06]

Hopefully as a mentorship not the starter. Kiss a ring goodbye if he is.

[leachisabeast]

3 million $, are you kidding me???? Man this FA period has been a joke so far for us.

[Ravens44]

3 million $, are you kidding me???? Man this FA period has been a joke so far for us.

Exactly.
Why don't we just bring Flynn out of retirement? He can get pushed into the backfield or whiff just as well as Birk.
Look, I liked Birk. But he had nothing left before last year.
When the Ravens signed Gurode, I was very thankful.
But when they refused to play him at center while Birk was being manhandled game after game, I didn't understand.
And I don't understand now.
Why hasn't Gurode been given a contract to start instead?
Maybe Oz has a different plan altogether.
Draft a number of OLine early and not address linebacker and depth at all, except with late rounders.
I don't know.
I actually think the Ravens got lucky last year when McKinnie and Gurode were still available.
Without McKinnie, Joe would probably have had his head knocked off.
Get a line to protect Joe. Get a BIG wideout.
Get at least one very good linebacker.
So far....nothing.
There is still lots of time. But this Birk thing is making me ill.

[SouthSide]

I still think we need Gurode as C depth, if not to flat out compete for the starting job. Birk's late season and playoff performance was a little scary at times.

[JAB1985]

eh, better than no center. I like birk, but i think his playing days are pretty much over. Im still curious what other C they bring on.

[leachisabeast]

eh, better than no center. I like birk, but i think his playing days are pretty much over. Im still curious what other C they bring on.

For 3 million you'd expect him to be starting, not benching....

[Bhcforlife]

3mil is alot of money for a guy who didn't look like he had anything left last year. That also isn't backup money. I'm not one to rush to judgment on Ravens FO moves but this is a little puzzling. I mean, it was basically like playing with four offensive linemen against the Patriots with how he couldn't do anything to slow Wilfork down.

Think they will draft a C, but clearly with the money they are now paying Birk, they aren't paying him that to stand on the sideline and "mentor" whoever they draft.

[steelerhater]

well his agent said this half an hour ago

Linta on Birk: "But Matt would love to stay a Raven and we won't look elsewhere unless we can't make it work with the Ravens."

and this "We had a good talk. We're fielding calls from other teams (as Matt is now a free agent)."

so they contradict abit, i think i believe his agent

What he meant was that every other team watched Birk's performance down the stretch last year and that he didn't expect any team to be remotely interested in him.

[Irish Raven]

$3M is a whole chunk of cap space and we don't have much

I didn't think the deal would be that high.
Possibly even half of this

[arnie_uk]

lol probably, was making the point that he didnt say anything about an offer, or a deal

What he meant was that every other team watched Birk's performance down the stretch last year and that he didn't expect any team to be remotely interested in him.

[psuasskicker]

Hopefully as a mentorship not the starter. Kiss a ring goodbye if he is.

LOL

You let me know when the last time you heard "Good thing we had an elite C cause we wouldn't have won the Super Bowl without him!" was.

We can get a rookie to play the position. If we draft someone real high, we're gonna have to pay him around $3MM to ramp up anyway. If we pay a vet, what sort of quality do you think we can buy for $3MM? A lot of you guys are acting like we're gonna find some dude on the street to play the position for $1MM a year that will be Pro Bowl caliber. Wake up folks, football doesn't work like that. Birk is solid and a reasonable quality for $3MM per year. He fills the spot for a year and allows us to draft a guy late to come in and develop for a year to step in next year. He doesn't cost us a ton. And he knows the system really well.

Any upgrade from Birk at this position would cost a decent bit more than $3MM. So either you wanna spend a ton of money on the position, or you want Birk back, or you want to take a huge chance on someone being total garbage at the spot.

- C -

[Tyrian]

Adam Caplan ‏ @caplannfl Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Ravens announced C Matt Birk has agreed to a three year deal to re-sign with the team.

I raise an eyebrow. Front loaded?

[goodandfast]

“@Ravens: The Ravens have agreed in principle to a three-year deal with center Matt Birk, pending a physical.”


3 years?!

I hope the second two are in a coaching capacity.

[JustaslowZ06]

LOL

You let me know when the last time you heard "Good thing we had an elite C cause we wouldn't have won the Super Bowl without him!" was.

We can get a rookie to play the position. If we draft someone real high, we're gonna have to pay him around $3MM to ramp up anyway. If we pay a vet, what sort of quality do you think we can buy for $3MM? A lot of you guys are acting like we're gonna find some dude on the street to play the position for $1MM a year that will be Pro Bowl caliber. Wake up folks, football doesn't work like that. Birk is solid and a reasonable quality for $3MM per year. He fills the spot for a year and allows us to draft a guy late to come in and develop for a year to step in next year. He doesn't cost us a ton. And he knows the system really well.

Any upgrade from Birk at this position would cost a decent bit more than $3MM. So either you wanna spend a ton of money on the position, or you want Birk back, or you want to take a huge chance on someone being total garbage at the spot.

- C -

Maybe you missed the games late in the season and the playoffs?

Where did anyone say anything about a ELITE center? I'd just prefer someone who can at least hold his ground and not get pushed into Joe trying to step into his throws. You know for a QB thats kinda important, and kinda hard when you have your center in your lap.

Just saying.

[BcRaven]

As I recall, but I wish I could recall their names (help me out here fellas), the Ravens signed two undrafted Centers in 2011 to our Practice Squad. Not sure if either is still on the roster somewhere, but it does point to Center not being as easy as it looks. Otherwise, Birk and Gurode would be 2012 afterthoughts. Personally, I'd resign one and draft a Center in the 3rd round if possible. Let the young guy learn with a real Pro for a year... Bc