So after 15 years in the league, Matt Birk has decided to hang up his cleats.  With Birk retiring, the Ravens will save roughly 2 million dollars in cap space, but will have to find his replacement.  They drafted Gino Gradkowski out of Delaware last year in hopes that he could be the guy, but i could also see the Ravens bringing in a veteran to compete.

In my opinion, Matt Birk, is not a Hall of Famer.  I do believe he will be considered, but not quite sure he gets in.  Birk was a 6 time Pro-Bowler and a 2-time All Pro.  He also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2011 as well as adding a Super Bowl to his resume.  He was a good football player but an even better human being.  He has done a ton of work for former players, trying to raise money for them to help with football related injuries.  Birk is going to donate his brain to Boston University School of Medicine for research.  Ravens have a difficult job in replacing the player, but they have an even tougher job replacing the person.