Center Matt Birk said Wednesday he would appeal a $5,000 fine from the NFL for failing to wear a microphone under his jersey as prescribed by the new collective bargaining agreement. Birk said he had problems with the microphone in warm-ups before the Oct. 2 game against the New York Jets, and when he couldn't get it corrected, he took the mike off. "When I went out for warm-ups, the microphone came loose and was jabbing my neck," he said. "It was tucked in there pretty tight, and I couldn't get it back in there, so I just took it off. Then I was notified that I'm not supposed to do that." Birk couldn't resist a playful plea for leniency from commissioner Roger Goodell. "I'm not going to get up here on my soap box and proclaim my innocence," Birk said. "I think it's a misunderstanding. It wasn't like I just ripped it off because I didn't want to wear it. I'll pay them, and whatever the commissioner decides, that's the final verdict. I will tell him, though, I got my sixth kid on the way, you know. I need all the money I can for diapers and Cheerios." Source: The Sports Xchange
And he should. It's a bullcrap fine to start with and if the mic isn't fitting him or working to his liking, hindering his play, whatever you want to call it, that's not his fault. The leagues gotta figure out how to do it so the players "don't know it's there.". BTW - those diapers and Cheerios ain't cheap. No joke!
