Ravens’ Birk fined $5,000 for refusing to wear a microphone

**Purple Floyd** · 10-13-2011, 07:49 AM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Ravens-8217-Birk-fined-5-000-for-refusing-to-?urn=nfl-wp9368

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk (notes) plans to appeal the $5,000 fine assessed by the NFL this week after he refused to wear an embedded microphone in his pads during the team's last game against the New York Jets.
Birk told reporters the microphone, used by television production teams to pick up audio at the line of scrimmage, was bothering him before the game.
"When I went out for warm-ups, the microphone came loose and was jabbing my neck," he said. "It was tucked in there pretty tight and I couldn't get it back in there, so I just took it off. Then I was notified that I'm not supposed to do that."
A Harvard grad like Birk should know that ignorance of the rules can't be used as a defense. Still, he says he now knows the rule and will appeal his fine. "I've got my 6th kid on the way," he said to WNST. "I need all the money I can for diapers and Cheerios"

lol

**singersp** · 10-13-2011, 08:24 AM

I thought wearing a microphone was voluntary, not mandatory.

If Goodell upholds the fine, he's a fucking douche bag.

His fines are usually utterly ridiculous.

**Marrdro** · 10-13-2011, 08:33 AM

If I was getting my ass handed to me the way Matt has this year, I wouldn't want to wear one either.

**Purple Floyd** · 10-13-2011, 08:49 AM

Nice try Marty. If you would have been out of the closet you would see that both Birk and McKinney have been playing at a very high level this year.

**singersp** · 10-13-2011, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Purple Floyd

Nice try Marty. If you would have been out of the closet you would see that both Birk and McKinney have been playing at a very high level this year.

+1

NFL - Scouts Inc. 2011 top center rankings - ESPN

**midgensa** · 10-13-2011, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by singersp

+1

NFL - Scouts Inc. 2011 top center rankings - ESPN

That link is based on 2010 play ... has nothing to do with this season.

His play has been a concern for the Ravens this year, especially considering they thought it was a position they did not need to address for a while.

**singersp** · 10-13-2011, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by midgensa

That link is based on 2010 play ... has nothing to do with this season.

His play has been a concern for the Ravens this year, especially considering they thought it was a position they did not need to address for a while.

Do you actually believe his play dropped off that significantly since last year? Any links to Ravens being concerned about Birk? I haven't found any yet.

**Purple Floyd** · 10-13-2011, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Purple Floyd

Nice try Marty. If you would have been out of the closet you would see thatboth Birk and McKinney have been playing at a very high level this year.

Originally Posted by singersp

+1

NFL - Scouts Inc. 2011 top center rankings - ESPN

LMAO.

Marty rips on the 2nd rated C in the league. Where the hell is Sully on that list? Top 28?

**midgensa** · 10-13-2011, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by singersp

Do you actually believe his play dropped off that significantly since last year? Any links to Ravens being concerned about Birk? I haven't found any yet.

Actually ... no links because the team is obviously not going to publicly say anything.

But his knee injuries are catching up with him and if you watch the Ravens play you can definitely see he is struggling. My information that the organization has noticed comes from a Ravens beat writer that I am friends with here in D.C. (work with his lady friend) ... but no, there is obviously nothing on the record from anyone because there would be no point in that.

He is definitely struggling this year ... and showed signs of slowing near the middle of last season as well, but seemed to bounce back by season's end.

Saying "getting his ass handed to him" might be a little bit overboard, but he definitely is not performing well.

As for the McKinnie reference from PF ... he has seemed to get his act together and is playing significantly better than we saw out of him for the last year and a half or so. Wish he had gotten his act in gear while in Minnesota.