I have to agree on the comments about Birk. I also think he's trying to show he's a rah-rah guy so that the Vikes keep him around with a new contract, even with all his injuries.

I think you are over-reacting to Birk. I felt exactly the same way he did when I read the reports. A meeting that is supposed to be confidential is exactly that. What does that say about the "Vetern Starters". Maybe he shouldn't say it in the media, maybe he was told to, I don't know. But the point is I think there are certain players on this team that have quit already. They evidentally don't have any respect for the coaches, I don't know who's falt that is. But it is interesting on Totally Football last night that Moss came accross with complete respect for Tice.This will make it very interesting if we get a new coach in the off-season to be able to "weed out" the quiters. That is what is going to be needed to get this team where we all want it to go sooner rather than later.

Lonnie: I can see your point. The first time I read that article this morning the first thought that rang in my head was "what a hypocrite" and I was wondering if anyone else read it the same way. Besides, if Cheesehead Craig is agreeing with me, I must be wrong!

Either way, Birk's got something none of us have...and that's a cool million or so for standing around doing nothing but shooting his trap off.

You are not the only one annoyed at Birk's Holier Than Thouness. I wrote about it back in August at http://www.twincitiesminnesotablog.com/2005/08/who_will_replac.html

I'm getting tired of Matt Birk, too. Hey, did you hear he went to Harvard?

C'mon, the Vikes will keep Birk because he's talented, not because he's a rah, rah. guy. Maybe he showed a little guts by going on the record. If you are man enough to leak info you were asked to keep in the room, you ought to man enough to attach your name to the quotes. Obviously the players who leaked have some axe to grind.

It's simply not all coaching why this team is imploding, the players do have some responsibility for the poor start as well.

Birk's comments were absolutely appropriate. Somebody had to slap down the childish dumbasses that went public to anonymously sell out their coach and teammates.

Your irritation at Birk betrays your sympathy for the mutineers, which I think is misplaced, whatever your personal opinion of Tice. It's fine if you, a fan, want him replaced, but rooting for a team mutiny is not the way to achieve it. The essense of team is loyalty. And loyal players stand with their leader until leadership properly changes hands. As you've said yourself, team disagreements need to stay behind closed doors. An open mutiny would create HUGE rifts between players and would poison this team for years to come.

For the sake of saving team unity, somebody on the team had to publicly defend the coach. And Birk's a good one to do it. He's a respected team leader, but also he's out for the season, so he doesn't have to worry about standing in the huddle with the rat turncoats he called out.

SS: I do not want a team mutiny...just voicing a worry that it is headed that way. I fully concur with you that it's the last thing the team needs right now....open division within the locker room.

I don't mind Birk making the comments but I have issue with him taking players to task via the media when he has done it himself.

I also feel that it should have been an active team leader such as Culpepper, Smoot, or Sharper dealing with said players. Not someone on injury reserve. But then, it may have already been dealt with by active leaders and we'll just never know of it!