From nfl.com MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 25, 2005) -- Minnesota Vikings center Matt Birk could miss three months because of hip surgery after the Vikings declined to guarantee his contract for 2006. Joe Linta, the player's agent, said that Birk will have the surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. Birk had been cleared to play with painkilling injections, but asked the Vikings to guarantee his salary for 2006 in exchange for him taking a risk and playing with the pain. "They've turned down all our proposals," Linta told The Associated Press. "For Matt, it's probably the best thing. I just feel like the Vikings are making a big mistake. The risk is so minimal for them." Linta said he was essentially asking the Vikings to increase the injury protection clause in Birk's contract for 2006. NFL guidelines call for players to receive $250,000 if they cannot play because of a previous injury. Linta wanted the Vikings to increase that amount to equal his base salary. Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski confirmed the decision, but declined to elaborate on the reasons for the decision. "It's something we're dealing with internally and I don't think now is the right time to comment publicly on it," Brzezinski said. Linta said the injury came as a result of Birk's early return from a torn labrum and sports hernia in his right hip. Birk has had four operations in the past year to try to correct the problems, but the pain returned during training camp this season. Linta said Birk told him the pain was "excruciating" and that Birk wasn't even sure if he wanted to try to play with it this season. "He couldn't tell me what he wanted Rob and the Vikings to say," Linta said. "I think, in his heart of hearts, he knows that after this surgery he'll be 100 percent and ready to go next year." At the very earliest, Birk would be ready to return by mid-November. But that would mean the Vikings would have to carry him on their active roster until that point. If he is placed on injured reserve, Birk would miss the entire season. Earlier in the week, coach Mike Tice shuffled the offensive line to prepare for Birk missing the opener on Sept. 11 against Tampa Bay, but insisted that "Matt's return is imminent. I just don't know how imminent." Tice made backup Cory Withrow the starter at center, moved Chris Liwienski from right guard to left guard, inserted rookie Marcus Johnson as the starter at right guard and moved Adam Goldberg from starting left guard to the primary backup at both guard spots and center. Once viewed as a makeshift unit until Birk's return, now it appears that will be the offensive line for the majority of the season. Withrow certainly has plenty of experience. He started five games last season while Birk was out with his hip ailments. "The challenge isn't to replace his shoes, because I can't," Withrow said, before adding a little levity. "Our styles are different. He's actually good. I'm not." Tice wouldn't go that far, but he did admit there is a drop-off from Birk, who has been to four of the last five Pro Bowls. "Matt has to decide about his body, what's best for his career and at the same time, keep in the back of his mind that we need him," Tice said earlier in the week. "Not that Cory Withrow is a bum or anything like that. Cory is a good football player. But he's not a Pro Bowl football player." Which is why Linta was somewhat surprised the Vikings did not take up Birk on his offer to play this season. Linta said it was hard to come up with a scenario where Birk would not be in a Vikings uniform next season anyway. He signed an eight-year, $31 million contract in 2001, but none of the remaining three years after this season is guaranteed. "The thing that is very, very important here is that he's not asking for a dime more," Linta said. "People are saying this is a landmark scenario, and it may be. But all I care about is Matt Birk. I'm not trying to be Christopher Columbus here."
I read something about this yesterday. He said he was considering surgery, but wasn't sure. I guess this sinches it... Now, if only they'd lose six or seven starters on defense.
"Matt has to decide about his body, what's best for his career and at the same time, keep in the back of his mind that we need him," Tice said earlier in the week. "Not that Cory Withrow is a bum or anything like that. Cory is a good football player. But he's not a Pro Bowl football player." - Mike Tice This is the kind of front office crap that really irks me. Tice has some nerve telling Matt Birk to keep in mind that the Vikings need him. Birk and his agent tried to work out a compromise with the Vikings, but heaven forbid that the franchise take any sort of risk. Let's let the player always be the one to put his butt on the line. No matter what Matt Birk finally decides, he's a stand up guy. The men in the Vikings front office should take notes.
He wanted to play through the injury for a gauranteed salary but they woulden't give it to him, better to be safe than sorry I guess though. Too bad it happened to this guy though he's a class act.
Tice doesn't have any idea what is going on in the front office. Unlike many coaches (and definitely unlike Denny Green), Tice still has the players mentality: I got one job to do and I will do it well. Administration is not a part of that job. It is going to really hurt to lose Birk for the season, but this is a good move on his part. Anytime you have an injury, it is a bad idea to play with it. I hope Birk is able to have the surgery, get back to 100%, and get 3 more years under his belt. I'd rather have him miss this season and come back next year healthy, then play this season at 80% and risk his career or more importantly a life-long injury.
Its gonna be a huge loss to the vikings, but Matt Birk needs to think about his health above football and that is why he chose to have the surgery
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It is going to really hurt to lose Birk for the season, but this is a good move on his part. Anytime you have an injury, it is a bad idea to play with it. I hope Birk is able to have the surgery, get back to 100%, and get 3 more years under his belt. I'd rather have him miss this season and come back next year healthy, then play this season at 80% and risk his career or more importantly a life-long injury.</div> I agree 100%. It was a noble gesture on his part to offer to play in pain, but ultimately, I think this decision to have surgery is going to be the best option for him and the team in the long term. I hope he has a full recovery. He's one of the few Vikings players I don't outright loathe.
