Pretty bland article. Hopefully he replaces Brown better than he replaces King. For a smart guy, he sure didn't endear himself to the Ravens faithful. He said East Coasters are cold. He should have bragged about his new fans, or city, or teammates, or coach, or even training facility. And he could have shown a tad more remorse for the passing of our former quarterback. Surely their paths crossed at Pro Bowls or something.

Great column by Matt Birk. I am so glad he is the center for the Ravens!

I feel horrible about Steve McNair's death and what his family must be going through, but I have a difficult time viewing him as one of the Ravens. In my mind, he will always be a Titan. He belongs to Tennessee the way Johnny Unitas belongs to Baltimore, not San Diego. I'm grateful for the great season he gave us in 2006, but I knew even then that that would be his last good season. It's a shame he won't be around to bask in the glow of his legacy...as a Titan.

Awesome article, I really like this guy already. He'll be a great Raven

Notice how he politley says he doesn't care for Baltimore. Didn't take him long to miss Minnesota "nice". We prefer our players are nasty anyway. That's why we win games here Matt. Go back to Minnnesota. I miss Jason Brown already.

I hope the above comment is a joke. The guy has had nothing but positive things to say about Baltimore. I think he is well educated (especially with his stance of retired players) and as long as he is nasty on the field, thats all that matters, plus Jason Brown would cripple our salary leaving no room to get Suggs signed.

Coming into a new geographical area takes some getting used to. I remember when I was stationed at Ft Hamilton thinking that it was my privilege to have a New Yorker help me or wait on me! I honestly feel that Matt and his family will get used to it, after all there is a lot to like about Charm City!

That's not what he said, Ron. He doesn't mention Baltimore, he mentions the East Coast. There is a definite difference in an East Coast mentality vs. a Midwestern one.
"Go back to Minnesota"? Really? That's how you want to treat the new Center before he even takes a regular season snap? You're an a$$ and not a good example of a real Ravens fan.

Hey, cut Birk some slack-- after all, he played his college ball at Harvard.

Why are you guys "hating" on a man that speaks the truth: east-coasters are more rude than Minnesotans, plain and simple. He didn't say that he hates Baltimore or that he dislikes Baltimoreans, just that he misses how nice people are in Minnesota. Maybe we can all learn something from the man. Give me a break....

Was it just me or did everyone else think of Todd Heap when Birk started talking about how some professional football players just know how to be ready regardless of their injuries? I hope Todd can somehow change my mind about him.

I think Matt should concern himself with the epic battles between Baltimore and Pittsburgh and leave the NFC North to those teams.

I'm from Maryland, but if there's other parts of the country that are quicker with a smile or a kind word, I'm interested to hear about it. Good for them. Why y'all so defensive? It's so homer.

Oh my. You people are reading too much into Matt's words and taking them out of contest. He is just a citizen exercising is constitutional right of freedom of speech. I did not see anything offensive. The piece is well written. Football is his job not his life. As long as he gives us 100% every play, I'll be happy. I don't care what he, McNair, Ray-Ray or any other Raven is/does off the field. Be your own role model, don't seek it from others.

Matt Birk does not appear to the type of player who would come here "just for money". Let him get settled and experience what it is like to play for the Ravens. If he moved into a neighborhood full of the a$$wipes that work in DC or its suburbs, I can fully understand the inspiration for using the term "coldness". Anybody you can speak in complete sentences is OK with me.

Just read Birk's column. Good humor, in a well writen piece. Better than 95% of the garbage we get in Preston's drivel.

And Birk is one of the good guys who recognize the plight of those players in dire need who came long before he was born. And Burkput hs put his money where his mouth is. Too bad that more of these self-centered young turks don't follow his leadership..

I hope he has a few more good years to give to the team and us fans. It could be awesome.

My comments on the Matt Birk remark people are ruder on the east coast then in the Midwest. I myself being raised in Baltimore , a city I love, now living in Orlando have notice a difference in the way people are much more friendly and quick with a smile. This is something I was unaware of while I live in Baltimore. I don’t think it is intentional but just a fact of living the fast moving highly populated area

Decent, not great article but liked what he said about McNair, so sad that we lost such a warrior on the field, regardless of the ugly circumstances of how he died that's how I'll remember the man.