Matt Birk Re-Signs with Ravens (3-year Deal)

[PurpleReign92]

This could be the biggest comeback story in franchise history all the pro bowl HOF vets are coming back for another season.
That being said going all the way to the AFCC game was motivating these guys to try it again next year...

[The Raven]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1330273709' post='1003529']

Wilfork has been one of the best in the game for a while, but you're right - he's not the best. Haloti Ngata is. Casey Hampton? He used to be good but the guy is slipping fast.
[/quote]

If Ngata is considered a nose, then yes, he is indeed. However, he plays DE in our front so I didn't consider him a nose.

[berad]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1330280699' post='1003788']

If Ngata is considered a nose, then yes, he is indeed. However, he plays DE in our front so I didn't consider him a nose.
[/quote]

True, he's versatile though they line him up on every DL spot

[tctony]

Meh. Either a 2nd or 3rd rounder should go towards a center this year.

[grantkyle2003]

I have a bad feeling about this.

[Purple_ICE 81]

Ozzie should hesitate to pay over a 1 year veterans minimum...Birk is done I hate to say it but he has gotten weaker and weaker the past few years, both in the state of his body and performance wise. We all saw him get 1 upped by Wilfork in the AFC championship. We all know o-line is a huge need this offseason and we need to draft a young talented center of the future Birk will retire next year I dont think there is any doubt about that. I just dont know what Birk has left to give, last offseason he struggled with injury and even throughout the season he got beat up and I just think the only benefit would be a mentoring job for the new center. But ozzie said Matt Birk or no Matt Birk there [b]will[/b] be a new center come training camp. I just hope his name rhymes with Skeeter Fonz...

[Gtown Purple]

I like keepng Birk so he can mentor someone else but we deifnaityely need someone yountger who can stand up to larger NTs.

[JO_75]

I interrupt your regularly scheduled Peyton Manning programming for some Ravens news. On Rotoworld it said that it is believed that Birk wants to play for two more years. I think this would be great news if we can get another 2 years out of Birk meaning we can go elsewhere in the Draft and fill another need.

How would you guys feel about Birk re-signing with a 2 year contract?

[url="http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1199/matt-birk"]http://rotoworld.com.../1199/matt-birk[/url]

[arnie_uk]

we still need to address the position but in the later rounds, 3 - 5. we cant risk not having someone behind, i still want blake in the third if possible, 2nd if need be, i think he will be a stud

[The Raven]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1331235959' post='1015874']
I interrupt your regularly scheduled Peyton Manning programming for some Ravens news. On Rotoworld it said that it is believed that Birk wants to play for two more years. I think this would be great news if we can get another 2 years out of Birk meaning we can go elsewhere in the Draft and fill another need.

How would you guys feel about Birk re-signing with a 2 year contract?

[url="http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1199/matt-birk"]http://rotoworld.com.../1199/matt-birk[/url]
[/quote]

I like it actually. Ideally, he could start half of this year while we groom a center behind him, who becomes the starter around the bye week. In the second year, the new guy starts, and Birk is the backup, a role I would feel very confident in with him.

[CapoRocky]

As much as I like Birk, it is obvious that the Ravens will go with the cheapest option at center. That means that we will either sign a rookie in the draft or stick with Birk or Gurode. Neither player will hurt us for another season, but it is not a long term solution to our center problem. Hopefully, we can pick up a center in the draft that will eventually take over the starting job.

[Ravenslifer]

One good thing about this, for me, is that I think we officially will not have to draft Konz in the first round. I wanted him when I thought we might need a guy to step in and play day one, but we can find a more raw prospect later now, and have him coached up by our 6 time pro-bowl center to take over in 2013.

[JO_75]

Per Schefter:

[quote][color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,]A deal between the Baltimore Ravens and veteran center Matt Birk is imminent. Birk back to Baltimore.[/font][/color][/quote]


So our first signing is re-signing Matt Birk!

[CapoRocky]

I guess we needed to save money for signing Mathis and Winston.

[JO_75]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1331923375' post='1024458']
I guess we needed to save money for signing Mathis and Winston.
[/quote]

Well for Mathis, I doubt we'll get Winston. Though at least now we will have Matt Birk back and if we get Mathis, our offensive line will be solid.

[JO_75]

Deal to bring back Birk is around $3 Million, per Aaron Wilson:

[color=#333333][font=HelveticaNeue,]Contract for Matt Birk to return to Ravens expected to come in at around $3 million. Deal is getting close[/font][/color]

[Gtown Purple]

We still need to draft Konz.

[arnie_uk]

$[url="https://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/180727803644346368"]3 mil [/url]for one year, your kidding me!!

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1331924183' post='1024479']
We still need to draft Konz.
[/quote]
If Birk comes back, Konz in the first is pointless especially since we can get a rookie center to groom in later rounds.

[Gtown Purple]

So lare rounder will be ready for next year? What happens in Birk vs. Wilfork part 2?


[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1331924635' post='1024495'] If Birk comes back, Konz in the first is pointless especially since we can get a rookie center to groom in later rounds.[/quote]

[JO_75]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1331924519' post='1024487']
$[url="https://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/180727803644346368"]3 mil [/url]for one year, your kidding me!!
[/quote]

No where does it say it's a 1 year deal... I'm thinking a 2 year deal.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1331924811' post='1024504']
So lare rounder will be ready for next year? What happens in Birk vs. Wilfork part 2?
[/quote]
Pretty much. There are some solid center options in mid rounds. Outside of when Birk went against Wilfork, he was solid throughout the year. And it's not like Wilfork is a slouch. I think we'll be fine at center as long as we have Birk back with a rookie center taken in mid-rounds to be groomed behind him such as a Phillip Blake.

Plus, with JJ gone and McClain potentially leaving, I'd rather address our LB core with the first pick.

[Gtown Purple]

The drop off in talent is steepe after Konz and he'll be gone prior to our second round pick. Anyone we draft other than him is a longer term project than 1 year.

I won't scoff at Hightower but there are more options is FA for LB than center.


[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1331925321' post='1024515'] Pretty much. There are some solid center options in mid rounds. Outside of when Birk went against Wilfork, he was solid throughout the year. And it's not like Wilfork is a slouch. I think we'll be fine at center as long as we have Birk back with a rookie center taken in mid-rounds to be groomed behind him such as a Phillip Blake. Plus, with JJ gone and McClain potentially leaving, I'd rather address our LB core with the first pick.[/quote]

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1331925473' post='1024523']
The drop off in talent is steepe after Konz and he'll be gone prior to our second round pick. Anyone we draft other than him is a longer term project than 1 year.

I won't scoff at Hightower but there are more options is FA for LB than center.
[/quote]
i think blake will end up the best center from the draft, book it

[Ravens4Real]

I have mixed feelings about this. Would have rather drafted a C early in the draft and thrown him into the fire early and have him learn. This will just push the problem further down the road. Birk is only getting worse as a player with age.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1331925473' post='1024523']
The drop off in talent is steepe after Konz and he'll be gone prior to our second round pick. Anyone we draft other than him is a longer term project than 1 year.

I won't scoff at Hightower but there are more options is FA for LB than center.
[/quote]

Really? There are other talented Centers they just don't get as hyped as Konz does. Plus Matt Birk was drafted in the 6th Round of the 1998 Draft, he turned out pretty well. Besides if Birk comes back on a 2 year deal, that means a guy we draft in the middle rounds has 2 years to learn from Birk.

[Gtown Purple]

We'll agree to disagree


[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1331925560' post='1024527'] i think blake will end up the best center from the draft, book it [/quote]

[Gtown Purple]

Isn't it just a one year deal?


[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1331925841' post='1024541'] Really? There are other talented Centers they just don't get as hyped as Konz does. Plus Matt Birk was drafted in the 6th Round of the 1998 Draft, he turned out pretty well. Besides if Birk comes back on a 2 year deal, that means a guy we draft in the middle rounds has 2 years to learn from Birk.[/quote]

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1331925473' post='1024523']
The drop off in talent is steepe after Konz and he'll be gone prior to our second round pick. Anyone we draft other than him is a longer term project than 1 year.

I won't scoff at Hightower but there are more options is FA for LB than center.
[/quote]
What realistic options at LB in FA do you see being able to come here?

Also, Konz is a great prospect but there are quite a few center prospects who could do quite well learning behind Birk. Blake and Jones being a couple of them. With a bit of grooming and learning from Birk, they can turn out to be solid players for us when Birk hangs it up.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1331926014' post='1024549']
Isn't it just a one year deal?
[/quote]

I haven't read or saw anything about the length of the contract. I just think if it's a $3 Million deal, it makes more sense in a 2 year deal and not a one year deal.