Matt Birk
Matt Birk
Matthew Robert "Matt" Birkis a former American football center. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and later played for the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football at Harvard. Birk is a two-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl selection, and one-time Super Bowl champion...
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth23 July 1976
contribute field gives hopefully looking minnesota obviously playing respect seven six surgery totally
I totally respect their decision. Obviously I am disappointed that I won't be able to contribute on the field this year. But looking long-term, hopefully this surgery gives me another five, six or seven years on the field playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
again assume career felt injured last pain playing risked shortened team unless willing
Playing with pain is part of the game. But I felt that I had risked my career by playing injured last year, and probably shortened it. And I wasn't willing to do it again unless the team was going to assume some of the risk.
pain playing
Playing with pain is part of the game,
morally people sit
I'm not going to sit here and tell people morally what they should do,
ready until
I'm ready to go right now. I'll never know until I get out there, but that's the way I feel.
calls classy game hope left mail number passionate players regret union voice
I left him a voice mail apologizing. The union and the players and the game is something I feel passionate about, and I was kind of emotionally charged. I left him my number and hope that he calls me back. It just wasn't a classy thing to do on my part, and I regret it.
frustrated point seemed
In 1999, it seemed like Randall was struggling, and he kind of seemed frustrated to the point where he didn't know what else to do,
clean happy measures necessary ownership restore team
I'm happy that the ownership of this team is going to take the measures necessary to clean this team up and restore it to respectability.
accept ahead gene guys league paper piece whatever
Don't put this in the paper ... no, wait, go ahead and put it in. Gene Upshaw is a piece of (expletive). Too many guys in the league just accept whatever Gene says. I don't know why no one has called this guy out.
besides loaf meat
Besides steaks and fish, we're going to have meat loaf and big old burgers.
answer anybody decide guys involved leaves months people rest scandal seem talk wear
Things like this just wear you out. It's frustrating because every two months we seem to have a scandal around here, and then the people involved decide they won't talk to the media. That leaves the rest of us, who aren't involved, to have to answer for them publicly, and it's not a whole lot of fun. But, hey, some guys are just selfish. They don't think about anybody else.
balance dangerous success
The more balance you can get, the more success you can have. And the more dangerous you can become.
destiny games hard mentally physical playoff row saw seems teams three tough won
The Steelers won three playoff games in a row on the road; they are a mentally tough team. And they are one of the most physical teams I saw all year. When it comes to physicality and mental toughness, they are a hard team to beat. Plus, it seems like they have one of those destiny things going for them.
ecstatic emotion moments separate
I would have been ecstatic to play this year. And I'm disappointed that I'm not. But also, at those moments when I separate the emotion from it all, I think this is probably the right thing to do, not only for myself and my career, but also for the Vikings.