Birk's Gushing is Making Me Ill

Matt Birk is a Baltimore Raven – and he’s very, very happy about it.  And not shy about telling everyone how happy he is about it, as we learned from his remarks at the introductory press conference.  A sampling of the shameless – and I think revealing – gushing:

"I probably can’t adequately describe how excited I am to be here and [with] my family.Professionally, I just think this is a perfect fit. From the second I got here, I could just sense that I really feel like there’s something special here. And I’m excited.The one thing being around in the NFL for a while is that crazy things happen. I believe everything happens for a reason. I talked to coach [Harbaugh], and we flew out here. Like I said, we were just impressed. We were more impressed with every minute that went by. This really is unbelievable. The strength of every organization is the people, and everyone we’ve met is first-class, high-class all the way. When you know, you know. When something feels right, then it feels right.I think the strength of the organization lies with the people that are in it. Yesterday I hadn’t been a Raven for more than 30 minutes, and [owner] Steve Bisciotti called me and congratulated me. Just those types of things. I mean, everything’s been first-class. I can see why they’ve had success here. I think there’s something special going on."

Yes, I realize that a lot of this is the usual ass-kissing that goes on any time a guy moves to a new team, and is eager to ingratiate himself with teammates, organization and fans.  But I also think Birk is digging at the Vikings – and specifically at Brad Childress.  I know Birk himself has downplayed the differences he had with Childress, saying he respects Childress even though they disagreed, but I’m not quite buying it.  I think there were deeper issues there than Matt is willing to acknowledge…except by taking veiled shots.  Okay Matt, we get it – the Ravens are a great organization full of great people and they have something special going on.  And the Vikings aren’t and don’t.  You were a great player for us for a long time and I even once talked to you on the phone, so I ain’t gonna call you any names.  But please…zip it now, ‘kay hon?  You got your money.