Sid Hartman: Billick says Ravens, Birk will be good fit

Brian Billick, the former Vikings assistant coach and Baltimore Ravens head coach who was in town to speak at a high school clinic, said the Ravens made a good move when they signed former Vikings center Matt Birk.

Billick coached Birk and center Jason Brown, who signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Rams in February.

"Brown is a very good football player," Billick said. "He was a fourth-round draft choice [in 2005 by the Ravens]. A hard-working young man. He played both guard and center for us.

"I think [Baltimore] did a very smart thing in getting Matt Birk. He's an experienced center. He'll do a great job of holding that group together. It's a young, developing line that has played well together."

How does Birk compare to Brown?

"Matt obviously has a great deal of experience," Billick said. "He is in the backside of his career, but I think he'll fit in very, very well. He may not be as physical as a young Jason Brown, but I think his experience and what he'll bring to help that line along will be a huge asset to the Ravens."

What about the trade of Jay Cutler to the Bears for two No. 1 draft choices, a second-round pick and quarterback Kyle Orton? Would Billick have paid that price?

Billick pointed out that two NFL coaches were recently fired, each with three years remaining on their contracts: Mike Shanahan by Denver and Jon Gruden by Tampa Bay. Billick also had three years left on his contract when the Ravens fired him in 2007.

"The total amount of the time left on the three contracts will cost the three owners a total of $65 million if the three coaches don't coach anymore," Billick said. "Life can be good sometimes in that regard. It just shows you there is a fundamental change in the way ownership is looking at the coaching position. That's a lot of cash to have out on the sideline.

"To fire coaches like that and spend that kind of money doesn't make any sense, considering all three of us have coached a team to at least one Super Bowl."

Billick said he'd like to coach again next year, if he felt he was the right fit for the team with the opening.

"It's got to be the right situation," he said. "It's got to be good for both sides."

"I was definitely upset that I got sent down and I just tried to make a positive out of something that was a negative at that time," Span said. "I just wanted to prepare myself for the opportunity when it came, and fortunately it did and I was ready."

Span is hitting only .190 in spring training in 84 at-bats, but he is confident he will snap out of it.

"Don't look at my batting average. If you don't look at my batting average, it isn't too bad," he said. "I'm seeing the ball well, having good at-bats, taking a lot of walks and seeing the ball right now, just trying to find my timing. I'm not striking out, making decent contact and just honestly ready to get out of here and get this season started."

DiNardo likes Gophers Gerry DiNardo, former LSU and Indiana football coach and now a commentator on the Big Ten Network, attended Saturday's Gophers scrimmage and was asked what he thought.

"This is the fourth time I've seen them since Tim [Brewster] has been at Minnesota," DiNardo said. "I think it's the best team he has had. You can tell they are getting more physical."

Jottings "We have a lot of outfielders and some really good infielders and it's tough right now with Joe [Mauer] and his back right now getting straightened out, but we've got some issues," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've got some things we are trying to figure out, but we have a lot of good baseball players here, and that's what makes it fun."

Tom Parish, a 6-4, 200-pound junior quarterback from Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead High School, committed to the Gophers. Parish led Arrowhead to a 13-1 record this past season, with the Warhawks losing to Mequon Homestead 13-11 in the Wisconsin Division One championship game. Last season, he completed 50 of 87 passes for 793 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions, and he also rushed for 596 yards. Parish said one reason he chose Minnesota over Wisconsin was that both of his sisters attended Minnesota.

Jimmy Gjere, the Irondale tackle who has verbally committed, was on the sideline at Saturday's Gophers scrimmage, as were three of the state's most highly recruited players who already have signed: Bloomington Jefferson quarterback Moses Alipate, Fergus Falls offensive lineman Josh Campion and Eastview defensive lineman Matt Garin. Garin and Alipate each had no fewer than seven schools offering scholarships. Three other players who have been offered scholarships -- Totino-Grace quarterback J.D. Pride, Wayzata defensive end Tobi Okuyemi and Mount Carmel (Ill.) running back Milton Greer -- were on hand.

Former Twins outfielder Jacque Jones was reassigned to minor league camp by the Cincinnati Reds on Monday after he hit .089 this spring. Jones, 33, was willing to accept an assignment at Class AAA Louisville, but it wasn't certain the Reds would have a roster spot for him there.

Last week, Toronto Raptors center Kris Humphries got off the crutches he had been on since breaking his right leg in a Jan. 18 game against the Phoenix Suns, but the former Hopkins and Gophers standout has not been cleared to return to action.