Sid Hartman: Birk plenty familiar with border rivalry

Matt Birk should have a good appreciation for what the Packers-Vikings rivalry is all about. Not only is he from St. Paul, but as the longest-tenured player on any of Minnesota's four professional sports teams, he has played in 19 games between the teams.

His teammates Ryan Longwell and Darren Sharper have played in more Packers-Vikings games, but most of those for those two players came when they were with Green Bay. On the Packers' side, with Brett Favre gone, receiver Donald Driver is the active player to have played in the most games in the rivalry, 19.

The Packers have won 13 of 21 games against the Vikings since Birk joined the Vikings as a sixth-round draft pick in 1998, including five in a row. Green Bay is 5-5 at the Metrodome during that stretch, but it has won four of the past five here.

"It's a rich tradition, a lot of great games over the year," Birk said. "I think for us, it's the biggest rivalry game we have."

Asked what makes the rivalry so big, Birk said: "The atmosphere, it's always electric. Whether it's here or there, the crowd is always pumped up, and you see so many fans from both sides in the stands, and it's a rivalry game. I don't know if we play better, but it's certainly a little bit more electric atmosphere."

Birk spent the 2005 season on injured reserve because of hip and sports hernia injuries, but he has had Pro Bowl seasons in each of the two years since.

At age 32, he still feels as if he has some good years ahead of him. His contract ends after this season, and he will be eligible for free agency.

The big difference between this game Sunday and every previous Vikings-Packers game at the Metrodome since 1992 is the absence of Favre, who has given the Vikings fits in the past. That's why I'm confident that the Vikings will win Sunday, because new Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is no Favre.

Michigan defense poor When Lloyd Carr resigned as the Michigan football coach, he was sure he was leaving an outstanding defense for the Wolverines, who went 9-4 last season and were due to return seven defensive starters -- including their entire defensive line -- and 25 lettermen on defense.

But the Michigan team that faces the Gophers on Saturday at the Metrodome ranks last in the Big Ten in pass defense (giving up 252.6 yards per game) and 10th in total defense (393.6 yards per game, only a half yard better than last-place Indiana).

Purdue is ranked seventh in the conference in total offense and ninth in scoring offense. Those are the Boilermakers' rankings after they compiled 552 total yards in beating the Wolverines 48-42 at home last week. The previous week at home against the Gophers, Purdue put up 226 yards and six points.

So if the Gophers offense is clicking Saturday and quarterback Adam Weber and Eric Decker have their normal games, the Gophers finally could beat Michigan at the Metrodome for the first -- and last -- time.

The Twins' share of concession sales was $7.5 million, up more than $800,000 from 2007.

The Twins announced an attendance of 2,302,431 this year, the third-highest total in team history, and a slight improvement from last year's announced number of 2,296,347. The MSFC said the actual count at the turnstile was 2,063,290, an improvement of 20,397 from last year.

Meanwhile, the MSFC reported that the Vikings' ticket revenue through two preseason home games and two regular-season home games was $19.6 million, up from $18.2 million at the same point a year ago.

Jottings Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte has only started only once against the Packers in his long NFL career. That came in Nov. 21, 1999, at Lambeau Field, when Frerotte was with Detroit. Green Bay won that game 26-17, with Frerotte completing 20 of 39 passes for 225 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Sharper, Birk and Jim Kleinsasser are three veteran Vikings who all seem to be having good seasons, and all will be free agents after the season. None of them have been approached about a contract for 2009 or beyond. Outstanding special teams player Heath Farwell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, also can be a free agent.

At Saturday's Gophers-Michigan game, Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf will present a $170,000 contribution from the Vikings Children's Fund to the University of Minnesota Department of Pedatrics. The Wilf brothers will be a guest of University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks at the game.

The Baltimore Ravens released former Gophers receiver Ernie Wheelwright this week, one of the moves they made to make room for former Vikings and St. Cloud State quarterback Todd Bouman. Wheelwright played in three games for Baltimore since being signed off the practice squad in October, and he was signed back to the practice squad.

Daunte Culpepper's contract with the Lions calls for a $40,000 signing bonus, $350,000 for the balance of this season and $5 million if he lasts the 2009 season. ... Former Vikings first-round pick Troy Williamson has been a bust for Jacksonville, catching three passes for 7 yards this season. The receiver was inactive four games in a row but has played in the Jaguars' past three.

Look for the Twins to unveil a new uniform commemorating the teams' final season in the Metrodome at a special event featuring Justin Morneau on Nov. 24. ... Earlier this week, Delaware North Sportservice took day-to-day management of the Twins Pro Shops located in Roseville, Apple Valley and Minnetonka. The Sportservice company is expected to open other outlets to sell tickets and other merchandise.