Birk is the Vikings’ unquestioned leader

By Krupka  |   Friday, March 24, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!
In the past two offseasons, the Minnesota Vikings have traded All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders and All-Pro quarterback Daunte Culpepper to the Miami Dolphins. With their two premiere players both gone, head coach Brad Childress is looking for someone to step up and be a leader.

Now, let me not get ahead of myself. Nobody will ever confuse Randy Moss as a "team-first" guy, and I am not here to say that he was big on being leader. Let's face it. Although Moss seems to have a big mouth with the media, he was never very vocal in the locker room. Not all leaders are vocal leaders. Some lead by example. Moss did put up tremendous numbers, yet he still didn't lead by example. The numerous off-the-field issues - including his arrest in 2003 for allegedly pulling a traffic agent half a block with his car - as well as his on-the-field issues, where he has been quoted as saying "I play when I want to," and his infamous early exit from a game against the Washington Redskins shows that he was not the leader of the Vikings.

So maybe the leader was supposed to be Culpepper, and it is conceivable that he was just that. After all, the Moss trade to Oakland was facilitated in part to keep Moss from undermining Culpepper and show Culpepper that it was his team to lead. Actually, most NFL teams want their quarterback to be the leader. Unfortunately, not every quarterback possesses the traits or earns the confidence of his teammates necessary to land that role.

This past season, Culpepper was involved in the "love boat" scandal in which he and three other players were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct, and lewd or lascivious conduct for their actions on a boat on Lake Minnetonka during the team's bye week. Culpepper has recently said that he was busy shooting dice and did not get a dance, therefore he is innocent. Innocent or guilty, it does not matter; a team leader should lead by example on and off the field. Being on the boat, putting himself in a bad position is far from exemplary behavior.

This brings me to the unquestionable leader of the Minnesota Vikings, All-Pro center Matt Birk. The Harvard graduate is a standup guy and always conducts himself with class. Birk is arguably the best center in the game. He has also demonstrated numerous leadership qualities. Most notably, he confronted Randy Moss about walking off the field against the Redskins and when he performed his infamous touchdown celebration at Lambeau Field in the wild card round of the playoffs in 2004. Birk has never backed down from anyone - opponent or teammate - and has never unfairly criticized anyone. He plays the game with maximum effort on every play and expects the same from his teammates.

When the signing of guard Steve Hutchinson became official, a reporter asked Birk about the contract and how he felt making significantly less money.

Birk responded by saying, "Don't start that stuff. I am overpaid as it is. Steve Hutchinson, in my opinion, is worth that money."

Birk's response not only shows his class, but his team-first attitude. It's always refreshing to see a professional athlete not let the money and fame go to their head. Without a doubt, the center is the leader of the offensive line. Birk should help solidify a line that should be vastly improved with his return and the addition of Hutchinson.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report