Matt Birk set to retire on Friday

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[quote][color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4]
It took 15 seasons for Baltimore Ravens center [url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1199/matt-birk"]Matt Birk[/url] to win his first Super Bowl.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4]Apparently he intends on going out a champion. According to Aaron Wilson of the [/size][/font][/color][i]Baltimore Sun[/i][color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4], Birk is set to announce his retirement[/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4] on Friday[/size][/font][/color][/quote]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/22/report-ravens-center-matt-birk-set-to-retire-friday/

Great player, great career, I'm glad he got to go out with a ring.

[Ravenslifer]

He was great the last few years with us. Yes he wore down at times and at times looked his age, but he brought experience, leadership, and toughness during a time when a lot of key players were leaving us. I wish him the best in retirement and I'm glad he went out with a Superbowl ring.

[BloodRaven]

Awesome player, 2x All-pro, 6x pro bowls, now Super Bowl Champion.

[codizzle]

Great player for the Ravens.. Glad he got a ring with us and finished his career with a strong year

[Moderator 2]

Happy for him, there have been rumors of back issues and I am so glad he got his ring,

[PolishRifle]

He had a great last year and proved many nay-sayers wrong along the way. Good for him. Wonder, if Gino is ready to fill those shoes.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1361517191' post='1364633']
Great player for the Ravens.. Glad he got a ring with us and finished his career with a strong year
[/quote]
This. He faded down the stretch in 2011 but it was great to see him keep his quality play throughout the playoff run this year.

[Sizzlebshu]

And so the cap clearing begins (Ozzie mentioned several possible retirees)

But in all seriousness, Birk was great and a big part of why the o-line played so well in our playoff run. Great career and glad to see him go out on top.

[flaccopoe]

Thanks for all you've done for BAL, Birk! You were the foundation of the offensive line that allowed Flacco to go into MVP Mode!

[GTRavens]

How about Matt Birk proving the doubters wrong? Everyone thought he was useless after what Vince Wilfork did in the AFC championship, and he responds by not only not getting dominated, but having a legitimately strong year.

Don't think we will forget that, Matt. You played a big role in your team getting that Lombardi Trophy.

[Desert]

Thanks for everything you have done for the Raven's. Enjoy your retirement, you have earned it!

[UMDan]

Glad to see him going out on top. As has already been mentioned he had a great year after being doubted after his AFCCG performance last year. Gino certainly has big shoes to fill.

Thank you, Matt! Enjoy retirement.

[BmoreRav]

What a way to go out! Congrats on a great career, Matt. Enjoy retirement, you've certainly earned it!

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

I thought it shouldve came a year earlier after the way he played in 2011 but he proved me wrong.He had a great year last year.If my calculations are correct,his retirement should save us $2,050,000 in cap space.

[Ravensfan23]

Congrats to Birk and the Birk family. We always talk about the guys at skilled positions who epitomize what it means to be a Raven. Well count Matt Birk as one of those guys. Smart, Tough, Hard Worker, Leader, Great Family man, Community guy and just a Fighter.

It seemed like for the last 3 seasons Birk was battling some type of injury or having surgery, but he never missed a game. Birk was the questioned leader of that oline and I hope the guys, especially Gino, learned a lot from him.

I'm glad his career didnt end in NE last year and that probably drove him. He got that ring to finish off a championship style career. I hope much like Quadry, Birk comes back and does Rave TV and preseason games. He's a pretty funny guy and knows football, he'd be a treat for fans.

[Footman DCXLV]

Just like with Ray, it's a bitter-sweet moment. You couldn't ask for a better way to go out as a player, and as a fan, I love to see that for a veteran guy who really deserves it. But, as a fan, it also makes me wonder about how it will affect the team this year. One one hand, our starting center for the last 4 seasons has to be replaced. That's never easy. On the other, maybe that will help with a little more cap space.
As much as I loved our line play in the postseason, would losing Birk and McKinnie give us any shot of keeping both Ellerbe and Kruger? Assuming, of course, that a favorable deal gets done with Flacco soon.

[Guest llwillow1231]

Congrats Matt! Enjoy retirement and thanks for everything.Looks like the youth movement has begun.

[GrimCoconut]

I will miss all these old vets we're losing. Lewis, Birk, and possibly more.

Birk was fantastic this year. He was a big part of our Super Bowl run.

[bMore Heathen]

Congrats on a great career and going out in top!!!

[Bump N Run]

Congrats on a great career and even better Super Bowl season. Birk appeared to get better each game and played his best when it mattered most this season, not to mention he played every game.

[TheMadRaven]

A warrior. Grats on the ring - you will be missed.

[Grapple Raven]

Matt Birk, you were the anchor and heartbeat of this offensive line. Your veteran leadership and play was stellar this season and so important to our Super Bowl win. Congratulations on your retirement, and a big thank you for all you have done for the black and purple!!!
Job well done, Sir!

[MsMarvel73]

Looks like I'll have to work on getting a Birk jersey to add to my OL collection.

Enjoy retirement, Matt, and have fun. You deserve it. You'll be missed.

[RobFuseRaven]

I'm actually comfortable with this. Gino looked pretty good in the Bengals game. Of course it was just one game, so they should bring in some depth whether it's through draft or free agency. Kudos to Matt Birk. He's been great for this team. I'm glad he finally got a ring before retiring.

[SideStep77]

What a great guy. Glad he got a ring. However does this mean Gino is the next guy up?

[I AM LEGEND]

Congrats....

His salary off the books should help alittle

[berad]

Glad he gets to go out on top. He basically had to be dragged back this season but finished strong and is a champion.

[GrimCoconut]

Now the only questions I have are:

1.) Who's next to retire?
2.) Who will be the depth behind Gino? I expect us to sign a cut vet or draft a guy or both. We won't get a guy high. Quessenberry could be a target to play all OL positions.

[jdynamite]

Hope Gino Is ready to step up. Hope he can read defenses some and handle all the responsibilities of the center position.

How much cap space does Birk's retirement create?

[black blood purple passion]

how much cap does that free up?