Matt Birk may retire after this season

[svt2nv04]

I was watching the CBS Sports pregame show and Charlie Casserly reported that Matt Birk is going to retire after the end of this season. Here is a link to the tweet for proof:

[url="http://twitter.com/#!/EyeOnNFL/status/158599316578119680"]http://twitter.com/#!/EyeOnNFL/status/158599316578119680[/url]

Who do the Ravens get as a replacement?

[Bltravens]

They'll resign Gurode. Then go to the draft this season for sure. They always sign a FA veteran stop gap for positions like this and give the young kid a chance to grow.

[The Raven]

I suppose we would resign Gurode to a 2 year contract as a veteran stop gap/insurance policy. There are a few talented centers in this draft so its very possible we find his replacement there. Justin Boren was a UDFA and has been playing guard for us, but he played some center at Ohio State. That's a possibility as well. It'll be hard to find a replacement for Birk from a pass protection standpoint, but we could definitely find a better run blocker. I'll miss Birk, thats for sure. He really solidified this line and was very underrated.

[PuRock]

Looks like we MUST target a C in the draft. Gurode might be a decent stop gap, but we can't dance around this issue.

[Mount-Cody]

Hopefully he can end his football career with a super-bowl ring.

[faceoffbob]

anyone have a url i can watch today??? am on the road....

[Radinho84]

[quote name='Mount-Cody' timestamp='1326649025' post='948474']
Hopefully he can end his football career with a super-bowl ring.
[/quote]
that would be nice for sure!

[Gordo52]

Let Birk go out a champ! and then draft a center!

[BloodRaven]

I hate it when we drive a talented young player out of town and replace them with a 33yo has been. As good as Birk has been he's not going to help us next season watching from home.

[The Raven]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1326664171' post='951276']
I hate it when we drive a talented young player out of town and replace them with a 33yo has been. As good as Birk has been he's not going to help us next season watching from home.
[/quote]

We didn't drive him out of town. He left. And I hear that he has been atrocious on the Rams.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1326664171' post='951276']
I hate it when we drive a talented young player out of town and replace them with a 33yo has been. As good as Birk has been he's not going to help us next season watching from home.
[/quote]

You mean Jason Brown? He left for a bigger contract with St. Louis. Remember that was 2008, and we had Ray, Sizzle, Scott, and those other guys that bolted to the Jets to take care of first. I was an unfortunate loss. But Birk played great the last 2 years. He's 36 and has been getting absolutely mauled by some of the biggest guys out there for almost a decade and a half. He really aged this year, but I'm happy we had his services.

[Gordo52]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/158662694231224320"]https://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/158662694231224320[/url] Birk

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1326664629' post='951321']

You mean Jason Brown? He left for a bigger contract with St. Louis. Remember that was 2008, and we had Ray, Sizzle, Scott, and those other guys that bolted to the Jets to take care of first. I was an unfortunate loss. But Birk played great the last 2 years. He's 36 and has been getting absolutely mauled by some of the biggest guys out there for almost a decade and a half. He really aged this year, but I'm happy we had his services.
[/quote]

The contract we gave Birk isn't much more than what the Rams gave Brown, he complained that we drafted around the defense.

[Fricknmaniac]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1326648841' post='948467']
Looks like we MUST target [b]the best players available[/b] in the draft. Gurode might be a decent stop gap, but we can't dance around this issue.
[/quote]

Fixed

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1326665161' post='951356']

The contract we gave Birk isn't much more than what the Rams gave Brown, he complained that we drafted around the defense.
[/quote]

Oh really? Guess he's regretting leaving now that we have a franchise quarterback, franchise running back, 2 stud tight ends, and 3 receivers that would be second or third type guys on a lot of teams in the league, and are about to go to the AFCCG again.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1326665161' post='951356']

The contract we gave Birk isn't much more than what the Rams gave Brown, he complained that we drafted around the defense.
[/quote]
You sure? I thought Brown was the highest paid C of all time. I miss Brown though.

[BloodRaven]

Of course he regrets it, he even pulled a Peyton Hillis and gave up on his team so he could get out early. The Rams aren't going anywhere for a few years.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1326666086' post='951442']
Of course he regrets it, he even pulled a Peyton Hillis and gave up on his team so he could get out early. The Rams aren't going anywhere for a few years.
[/quote]

Yep. I still can't believe they took Bradford. I think he had more than just that one injury in college. I remember a lot of places saying he was prone to getting injured, and St. Louis has a weak oline, Jason Smith was almost a total bust (safest pick in the draft my foot). I'm amazed Jackson can do what he does every season. Bradford's a good QB when healthy, but so was Marc Bulger once upon a time.

[Tank 92]

This is of no surprise. He was on the fence about plaing this year.

[Bltravens]

Our whole Oline could be in flux next year. A new "C", it will be difficult to resign Grubbs (he's going to wait to see what Carl Nicks gets in FA and demand from there), and who knows whats going to happen with McKinney.

[hawkprey]

If Birk stays, we might be able to spend a late round pick and groom him rather than spend a high round pick to start from day 1.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1326666982' post='951486']
Our whole Oline could be in flux next year. A new "C", it will be difficult to resign Grubbs (he's going to wait to see what Carl Nicks gets in FA and demand from there), and who knows whats going to happen with McKinney.
[/quote]

It's looking really, really bad, Oz is going to have to work some real magic here.

[BaltimoreBean]

“@DanKolko: Birk on report he'll retire after season: "I haven't made that decision yet. I don't know Charley Casserly. He didn't talk to me" #Ravens”

[JO_75]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1326665707' post='951402']
You sure? I thought Brown was the highest paid C of all time. I miss Brown though.
[/quote]

Yep, I think he wound up getting benched in St. Louis. Maybe Brown gets cut and there is a chance to re-sign him. I guess it depends on how Jeff Fisher feels about Brown.