Vikings: Childress displeased with Birk's absence

PALM BEACH, FLA. - Matt Birk's long-term future with the Vikings won't be decided anytime soon, coach Brad Childress said Wednesday in speaking for the first time about Birk's decision to skip voluntary offseason workouts.

Interviewed over breakfast on the final day of the NFL's annual meetings, Childress questioned whether Birk's absence was right for the team. He said Birk will make "good money" in 2008, the final year of a contract he signed in September 2001 -- and said he wants to evaluate Birk's performance in training camp and perhaps beyond before determining whether to offer a contract extension.

"We'll [consider] that after 2008," Childress said. "He's in the longest-running contract currently in the NFL. He had an eight-year deal and he's in the eighth year. ... I think he's making good money right now, as he would tell you. We'll see if he comes back."

Birk is scheduled to make a base salary of $5.32 million and receive a $400,000 roster bonus this season before his deal expires in March 2009. Many NFL teams seek to extend proven veterans before they enter the final season under contract, but Childress said the Vikings "usually get into these things when we get into the [season].

"He's been a loyal guy," Childress added. "He's been a good football player. He's been a Pro Bowler. It's just the fact that you want to see. You want to see him play. He may afford us the opportunity to re-sign him or he may stick his nose up in the air. I just want to see him play. That's all."

Birk was not available to comment Wednesday.

As he did last offseason, Birk is working out this spring with former Vikings long snapper Mike Morris, who organizes strength and conditioning workouts for local athletes at his home gym. For the first time, however, Birk also plans to skip Organized Training Activities -- spring pseudo-practices that coaches consider important for building team chemistry.

Asked if he was at peace with Birk's planned absence, Childress said: "It's his decision."

Childress added: "Certainly I'm a guy that would love to mother-hen it and would love to have everybody there in one big happy family. And Matt knows this. I said it to him. He can do that individually, and that's fine. But team-wise, it may or may not be what's best for the team."

By the end of this season, Birk will have made a total of about $31 million over the eight years of his contract. Last month, Tampa Bay set the market for centers by giving free agent Jeff Faine a total of $34.6 million over six years, including $15 million guaranteed.

Birk is five years older than Faine, but he has been named to six Pro Bowls. More important, Birk revitalized his career after missing four games in 2004 and all of 2005 because of injuries. The Vikings attempted to make Birk take a pay cut after the 2005 and 2006 seasons but were unsuccessful.

"I sleep very well with the [contract status] he's at," Childress said. "And you know what? I think he sleeps well with the [contract status] he's got. But the nature is to look at things and say, 'What does everyone else get? What did Jeff Faine just get?' That's how that game goes. Your deal is a heck of a deal until the next deal gets done."

The upside of Birk's absence, Childress said, will be the opportunity to try out a number of backup options. The possibilities range from right tackle Ryan Cook, who was drafted in 2006 as a center, right guard Anthony Herrera and first-year player Dan Mozes, who spent 2007 on injured reserve.