NEW YORK, N. Michael Jordan Jersey Swingman .Y. - Former Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens centre Matt Birk was hired Thursday by the NFL as director of football development. The six-time Pro Bowl player and 2011 Walter Payton Award winner as the leagues man of the year spent the 2013 season as an NFL-NFLPA appeals officer. In his new role, Birk will be involved in administration of game-day operations, oversee the further development of the scouting combine and regional combines, as well as the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine game for college players. "Im very excited to begin this next chapter of my football career," Birk said. "Its a real honour for me to be entrusted with developing the game in so many different ways." Birk becomes the eighth former player to take a job at the NFL executive offices, joining Merton Hanks, Dwight Hollier, Patrick Kerney, James Thrash, David Tyree, Troy Vincent and Charles Way. Vincent is the leagues top executive for football operations. "Matts experience as a terrific NFL player, a model citizen in his community and a reputation as a forward-thinking leader make him ideally suited for this role," Vincent said. Michael Jordan Jersey Nike . The club says its first-choice centre back "underwent medical tests on Wednesday morning" which confirmed he has injured his right hamstring. The injury was caused in the second minute of Tuesdays 4-1 league win over Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou when teammate Sergio Busquets accidentally struck Mascherano just above the knee with an outstretched boot. Custom Sports Jerseys . - Mike Zimmer has brought a demanding style to the Minnesota Vikings. ST. JOHNS, N.L. -- The sound of the final buzzer going off on Saturday night was music to St. Johns IceCaps goalie Michael Hutchinsons ears. Hutchinson earned a 42-save shutout to lead his team over the Binghamton Senators 1-0 in American Hockey League action. "I was pretty excited when the final buzzer went," Hutchinson said. "I didnt even realize when it first went off, I was getting ready for the guy who was about to take a shot. "After that, everything hits you and you start reflecting and enjoying it once you get in the locker room." IceCaps head coach Keith McCambridge said the star of the game tonight was an expected one. "I thought our best player was obviously who everybody knows it was, its Hutchinson," McCambridge said. "It was all him. He bailed us out numerous times, and credit the guys who were blocking shots." The IceCaps were aware what they were up against playing the Senators, who lead the league in goals scored this year. "They are the number one ranked team offfensively in the league, and they showed that tonight," McCambridge said. Tom Brady Jersey New England Patriots. "We turned over too many pucks, to give them opportunities." Hutchinson says playing against a team with the offensive production of the Senators is a welcome challenge. "Its always really fun to play when we play against a team with as much offensive power as Binghamton has," Hutchinson said. "You know youre going to face shots and youre going to be relied on." Eric ODell scored for the IceCaps (34-19-4). Andrew Hammond made 24 saves for the Senators (33-19-4). St. Johns opened the scoring 11:41 into the game, as Kael Mouillierat found ODell headed to the net. ODell finished off a low one-time wrist shot. St. Johns was outshot 17-8 through the first period but held on to the lead due to strong play from Hutchinson. Halfway through the second period, Hutchinson made the save of the night, sprawling with his left pad to shut down Corey Cowick on a cross-crease opportunity to preserve the lead. ' ' '