Birk a no-show for voluntary workouts again

Matt Birk continued his plan to skip the Vikings' voluntary workouts Monday as he missed the first day of Organized Team Activities at Winter Park.

The six-time Pro Bowl center is entering the last year of an eight-year contract. The Vikings are playing wait-and-see before considering an extension.

Birk made it clear at the outset of the team's offseason conditioning program in March that he would not beg for a new deal. "I don't feel like I need to plead my case for a contract," he said. "I think my career and my 10 years in this league speak for themselves."

Birk is due to make a base salary of $5.32 million and receive a $400,000 roster bonus before his deal expires next March. NFL teams often extend the contracts of valuable veterans before they enter the final year of their deal.

Birk has been working out with former Vikings long snapper Mike Morris, who has a weight-training program in which various athletes participate. Birk, appearing on Morris' radio show on KFAN (1130 AM) last week, said, "Have I missed anything that's mandatory?"

The Vikings hold their mandatory minicamp June 6-8 and Birk is expected to attend. Joe Linta, who serves as Birk's agent, said Birk "has been in close contact with coach [Brad] Childress" about his decision "and is very respectful of the integrity Coach Childress brings to the organization."

Also absent Monday was running back Chester Taylor, who often works out on his own during the offseason. The Vikings' OTAs will continue through Thursday and then resume next week.

JUDD ZULGAD

The NFL's labor situation could get more complicated this week. League owners meet today and could vote to opt out of the labor contract.

Such a move could signal a protracted period of labor tension and lead to a 2010 season without a salary cap and a potential work stoppage the following year.

The owners have until Nov. 8 to terminate the contract. Some would prefer to do so now and hasten the way for talks toward a new agreement to replace the two-year old contract that most owners believe has tilted too far toward the players, who get 60 percent of total revenues.

That the owners will opt out is basically a foregone conclusion. But the NFL often takes its time on such matters.

The official business of the meeting is to award the 2012 Super Bowl, with Indianapolis, Houston and Arizona vying for the game.

• Cincinnati waived linebacker Odell Thurman, less than a month after the NFL reinstated him from a two-year suspension. The Bengals staunchly supported Thurman during his suspension for violating the league's substance abuse and conduct policies, but when he didn't show up for voluntary workouts, they decided they had enough.

• Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson recently had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee that will keep him from practicing with the Texans until training camp. He injured his knee early last season and missed seven games because of what the team called a knee sprain.

• Linebacker Dan Morgan retired, two months after the frequently injured former first-round pick signed with New Orleans. Morgan played seven seasons with Carolina.