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

[JO_75]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1331928170' post='1024648']
they could be option years like ray lewis deal
[/quote]

That's what I'm thinking. We could still draft a Center in this year's draft and most likely I bet that Center could take over the starting job from Birk either toward the end of the season or by next year.

[Raven07]

Ozzie is being smart, building and structuring the team from the INSIDE out not the opposite side in. (outward in) its very smart for ozzie to build the O line first. establish a concrete foundation, then go on the the outskirts.

a prime example of what im talking about is the '11 eagles..... last year's "all american rejects" ..... on paper they looked stacked with the names they brought in, but they failed to realize one thing. Foundation. they built the team from the outside in, and as a result they imploded.

i applaud Oz for this move (just wish we would be more proactive sometimes)

[Alexir]

Told u we weren't getting Konz

[JO_75]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1331930526' post='1024756']
Told u we weren't getting Konz
[/quote]

yeah Centers can be found elsewhere in the Draft, it's not the end of the world because we don't draft a Center in the first. This now allows us to focus elsewhere in the Draft and concentrate on another need that we probably couldn't have filled if we had let Birk walk.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Welcome back Birk! Lets see some 2011 campaign, not the 2010, or 2009...

[Alexir]

This is great we can get more value with our first and prepare a center behind birk

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1331931085' post='1024772']
Welcome back Birk! Lets see some 2011 campaign, not the 2010, or 2009...
[/quote]
He's been good for us every season he has been here.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1331931085' post='1024772']
Welcome back Birk! Lets see some 2011 campaign, not the 2010, or 2009...
[/quote]

I wouldn't turn down 2009 production out of Birk and the rest of the line, Rice would have a monstrous season. 2010 he was hurt most of the year.

[CapoRocky]

I was really pushing hard for us to go in another direction at center. Birk may not make it through 3 seasons, but it seems to be a fair contract. It's too bad that we couldn't sign Grubbs, too. Well, let's move on to other things and close out this topic now.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1331929450' post='1024717']

That's what I'm thinking. We could still draft a Center in this year's draft and most likely I bet that Center could take over the starting job from Birk either toward the end of the season or by next year.
[/quote]

Molk looks like a good center.

[raybaby]

I doubt he stays for 3 years. This deal allows us to do a lot of other things so I'm okay with it. Not exactly looking forward to the post season with him though... that is when our line typically seems run down.

[Alexir]

To save Birks health and wear n tear for post season we could just put boren or rookie in for him when we have a significant lead to run down the clock

[bMore Heathen]

Booooo!!! Very disappointing.

[Purple_Polo89]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1331936741' post='1024938']
Booooo!!! Very disappointing.
[/quote]

Explain why this was a bad move...? Now we can draft a center in the later rounds, and use our picks to the full advantage now that center is not a number one priority.

[Yatagarasu]

Matt Birk can play, I just think he got tired and wore out because of the long season. I think giving him rest on meaningless games, or maybe groom a Center with him for the season might do good. We have to find ways to preserve him as long as possible and avoid overusing Matt Birk. His smarts, and experience can really help a young center (cough Konz cough). Also, if we do land Konz, we can use Birk as a stop gap center and Konz as a guard, so we can mold and train our center, and when the time comes, we can use him and Birk as a back-up.

[atlravensfan]

[quote name='Purple_Polo89' timestamp='1331939592' post='1024982']

Explain why this was a bad move...? Now we can draft a center in the later rounds, and use our picks to the full advantage now that center is not a number one priority.
[/quote]

See AFC Championship game....really see last 5 games of the season

[Blex64]

[quote name='atlravensfan' timestamp='1331967500' post='1025324']

See AFC Championship game....really see last 5 games of the season
[/quote]

He was a top 10 center last year. No, he probably can't play an 18 or 19 game season at a high level anymore but he doesn't necessarily have to. This isn't a bad move by any stretch.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='atlravensfan' timestamp='1331967500' post='1025324']

See AFC Championship game....really see last 5 games of the season
[/quote]
One poor performance against an elite DT does not mean he is washed up. He is obviously not a long-term solution but he fills a void until a younger replacement can be found and he will also be a great mentor to a rookie. Last season Birk graded out as a top 5 Center in pass-protection and helped pave the way for Rice's career year.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1331967873' post='1025327']
One poor performance against an elite DT does not mean he is washed up. He is obviously not a long-term solution but he fills a void until a younger replacement can be found and he will also be a great mentor to a rookie. Last season Birk graded out as a top 5 Center in pass-protection and helped pave the way for Rice's career year.
[/quote]

This, I guarantee you Birk isn't the only centre who has had a bad game against NT Vince Wilfork.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1331927768' post='1024627']
i dont think he got handled because he was a superior player, i think birk was just wore down, we play them in the season this year, watch birk have a far better game against him because its earlier in the year
[/quote]
just reposting this since theres been a few haters the last few post

[bMore Heathen]

Look, you can make excuses all you want for Birk. He got tired at the end of the year... This and that... But the fact of the matter is he is no good to us if he can't last 19 or 20 games. What, we are supposed to lose in the playoffs because our players played great in the reg season? No, that's not how it works. If he can't give it his all into the playoffs, he should have retired.
And to the people saying give him a rest for a few games so he will be 100% in the postseason, that's a bunch of nonsense. You can't put your back up center in the game with little or no reps with Flacco. It takes a lot of practice to get the snap down. Putting in a back up, even if they are good, wouldn't help us win.

[The Raven]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1331993488' post='1025417']
Look, you can make excuses all you want for Birk. He got tired at the end of the year... This and that... But the fact of the matter is he is no good to us if he can't last 19 or 20 games. What, we are supposed to lose in the playoffs because our players played great in the reg season? No, that's not how it works. If he can't give it his all into the playoffs, he should have retired.
And to the people saying give him a rest for a few games so he will be 100% in the postseason, that's a bunch of nonsense. You can't put your back up center in the game with little or no reps with Flacco. It takes a lot of practice to get the snap down. [b]Putting in a back up, even if they are good, wouldn't help us win.[/b]
[/quote]

[img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/eyes.gif[/img]

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1331993488' post='1025417']
Look, you can make excuses all you want for Birk. He got tired at the end of the year... This and that...[b] But the fact of the matter is he is no good to us if he can't last 19 or 20 games. What, we are supposed to lose in the playoffs because our players played great in the reg season? No, that's not how it works. If he can't give it his all into the playoffs, he should have retired.[/b]
And to the people saying give him a rest for a few games so he will be 100% in the postseason, that's a bunch of nonsense. You can't put your back up center in the game with little or no reps with Flacco. It takes a lot of practice to get the snap down. Putting in a back up, even if they are good, wouldn't help us win.
[/quote]

Few players, even those in their physical prime, are as effective late in the year as they are in the play-offs. All you have to do is look at Birk's fellow lineman. Yanda's December surgery definitely bothered him. And even though mental lapses have plagued him in his career, Oher's torn right meniscus affected him in the post-season as well.

Birk doesn't strike me as a guy that didn't give it his all in the play-offs. He got beaten by some of the best d-lineman in the league. It happens.

I have no issue with the re-signing.

[Purple_Polo89]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1331993488' post='1025417']
Look, you can make excuses all you want for Birk. He got tired at the end of the year... This and that... But the fact of the matter is he is no good to us if he can't last 19 or 20 games. [b]What, we are supposed to lose in the playoffs because our players played great in the reg season?[/b] No, that's not how it works. If he can't give it his all into the playoffs, he should have retired.
And to the people saying give him a rest for a few games so he will be 100% in the postseason, that's a bunch of nonsense. You can't put your back up center in the game with little or no reps with Flacco. It takes a lot of practice to get the snap down. Putting in a back up, even if they are good, wouldn't help us win.
[/quote]

Umm you act as though Flacco had a poor game and we were blown away by the Patriots,Yes Wilfork did get through Birk but he still held up. Our players played hard and we lost because of a couple plays...So us making this move gives us room to make more moves, so chill and watch what we do is all I'm saying..

[Ravenslifer]

One advantage of Birk staying is maybe we can draft a guy who is a G/C combo, and he could start at guard, then take over for Birk when the time comes.

[ThePurpleWall]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1331993488' post='1025417']
Look, you can make excuses all you want for Birk. He got tired at the end of the year... This and that... But the fact of the matter is he is no good to us if he can't last 19 or 20 games. What, we are supposed to lose in the playoffs because our players played great in the reg season? No, that's not how it works. If he can't give it his all into the playoffs, he should have retired.
And to the people saying give him a rest for a few games so he will be 100% in the postseason, that's a bunch of nonsense. You can't put your back up center in the game with little or no reps with Flacco. It takes a lot of practice to get the snap down. Putting in a back up, even if they are good, wouldn't help us win.
[/quote]

he is human,he will get tired.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1332049453' post='1026395']
One advantage of Birk staying is maybe we can draft a guy who is a G/C combo, and he could start at guard, then take over for Birk when the time comes.
[/quote]

I have read that Konz, while never having played guard, could potentially play there in the NFL. He pulled outside a lot and he has good feet for a center. So that could be a possibility.

[Reed_Fence_20]

Everyone saying h was overpowered in afc game he was playing vince wilfork one of the best and strongest NT in the league. Although I know he is getting older and has lost some strength he is still a very good center. Keep up the good work Matt

[rice-ricebaby]

its a solid move... this way if they draft konz he can plug in at gaurd and still learn from birk.....also can move jah reid to gaurd as well. you cant take away the leadership on and off the field of birk.

[BloodRaven]

I think continuity is underrated, it takes time to build chemistry with the person/s next to you and get used to another position if you're being moved around. It also helps to have a tall centre if you have a tall QB,.