It is totally ridiculous that a player of Ed Reed's caliber would resort to playground moves while chasing an NFL Championship. Don't expect him to change. These guys from the "U", and I love our guys, just have their own way of doing things. Ask Brian Billick. Please Ed, 4 games to win and win smart. Don't hurt the team with a costly turnover because you think you see the enitre field.You are a Hall of Famer. Do not "defame" that fact with Pop Warner moves. Go RAVENS!!!!!!!

reed will be reed and hes the best so let him be he is high risk high reward always has been

Yeah Preston, and how many defensive players of the year did this guy coach? I for one hope he doesn't change. He's a guy who's great because he has great instincts, and that's not something you can just "turn off". His instinct is to lateral to a guy and keep the play going. In defense of "not lateraling" though, I will say that right now, he doesn't have someone like Deion or McAlister or Landry to pitch to, so these days it's probably not the best idea. But go ahead and go with your strategy Preston, and call him a "boy". Nice.

Mike,

We all know it's dangerous when Reed tries to make plays after an interception and in the past, the coaches have talked to Reed about it.

But in the end, would you, the fans, or the Ravens, rather have a secondary with or WITHOUT Reed?

Give me a playmaker anytime.

Mike,

On the John Harbaugh Radio Show earlier this year (following the Eagles game) Coach Harbaugh himself said that Reed should not have lateraled while returning his first interception in that game.

However, Harbaugh did indicate that the team does practice laterals in defensive return situations and that Reed has the green light if it will be a low-risk, clean pitch. Harbaugh reinforced that laterals can result in touchdowns, as they have for Ed Reed in the past.

Could not agree more with the coaches and Mr Preston. These kind of plays will work against mediocre football teams but not the Steelers or Colts, especially in January.

Would someone remind Reed that this is the NFL, not Rugby Union. If he likes the laterals go play for Australia or the All Blacks!

i heard Rex mention this to Mike on Fox 1370 am on Monday - and Rex is right!! - Ed get control , I do not care how good you are , those moves overshadow !

The after-intercept lateral is not a "Pop Warner" move. It is a fully practiced option that can and should be employed in the proper situations.

It should be noted that every time he catches the ball, a train jumps on the track ans starts moving with him. Blockers to the front and side to create an alley.... and one or two players behind for the lateral option.

The fumbled lateral from Sunday was a mistake. The Dolphins will be anticipating this play and may try to have an answer, but I like keeping the restraints off Reed. His game study is allowing him to be in the proper place at the proper time and I like his game prep. Let him keep taking risks to help this team win the game!

Mike,

I am using this outlet not to talk about Reed's laterals (which do need to stop), but about your article saying the Ravens need to franchise Lewis next year. I have no problem with what you wrote, in fact, you may even be right. But I do have to question the timing on the release of your article. Why now Mike? Why, after this team has just clinched a spot in the playoffs, and our season is still very much alive would you put out an article that could somehow lead to distraction and division in the locker room?
I am sure you will say you don't have that kind of power (and you wouldn't be all wrong) and you are not paid to be a "homer" who writes only happy purple Kool Aid articles. I don't want that and most of the time I appreciate your candor and directness, but I think this article and the conversation surrounding it would have served us all much better had it come when the season truly ends (I hope in Tampa, Fla.)

Best,

Josh

I would rather see Mike Preston stop this nasty habit of writing about the Ravens.

I'm hoping the fumbled lateral is enough to make Reed a little more cautious. But I dont want him to lose his aggressiveness. Reed is one of the most exciting players in the league (offense or defense) and I want him to play with freedom. There's a time and a place for everything and I hope in the playoffs he will just use the right judgement.

To me, if I'm an opposing player, the idea that Reed may lateral just makes him even more scary than he already is. Not only do I have to chase him down and tack him, I also have to consider the fact that doing so may not be enough.

Yes, it's a risk to lateral, but man, do I ever enjoy it when it happens :).

I love to watch Ed Reed. He's the first guy who's jersey I've ever bought and worn in my life. BUT..I wish he would hold the ball tighter to his body when he runs with it. Drives me nuts to see him swinging it out there like a loaf of bread. One day the wildness is going to hurt the team. A lateral now and then is great. But too many and the other team will be looking for it and take advantage of it one day. Still... he's a great player. Go Ravens!

It seems to me, that if lateraling the ball was such a good idea (and safe), the offense would be throwing the ball all over the field.

Just a thought, but it would be very very interesting for Cameron to put in his bag of tricks a play where Reed is in the slot for a screen., or a decoy and have flacco pump to Reed and let it fly to Clayton who's lined up on the same side. You heard it here first.

Ed Reed is so good at what he does. To me you have to take the "bad" with the good. You want Ed Reed on your team? You take the laterals. You don't want the laterals, then get rid of Reed. It's that simple. His instinct is to extend the play and get the ball into the endzone. He isn't doing it to hurt the team. It's not a "U" thing. I agree with EastsideJim. I want playmakers, not guys who are willing to settle

Ball retention is of the utmost importance, whether the game is football or rugby. It is exciting to see the pitch; it's only bitten us a couple of times and has helped far more often.

One thing to be said about the pitch on Sunday: Ed Reed passed the ball to the only rugby player on the field, Haloti Ngata

Ed is a playmaker. This is his style and why he is one of the best Safeties in the league. He is not going to change. You cannot change a person's personality! We have to live with it. You don't get his "good stuff" without some of the "bad stuff".

I agree with everyone. Ed's a great player, one of the best. I do hope he realizes the riskiness of the lateral BUT it works. It scares me too when he runs with the ball but my goodness he's a sight to see. My husband (who would probably cringe right now at me daring to post on a sport related topic) and I watch the Ravens and we have very heated discussions but we both agree that the Ravens had a great season and it was more than anyone expected. GO RAVENS - playoffs here we come! To me it's more than just a game :)

Every time Ed does that - either lateraling after an INT or attempts to - I pull my hair out. Yes, he's a playmaker. Yes, he's a huge part of this defense. Yes, he's an extremely talented football player. Yes, I'm glad Ed Reed plays for the Ravens. But one day that sandlot crap will blow up in his face and cost the Ravens a game. And when that happens, who will everybody blame? The coaching staff.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE UNLESS IT RESULTS IN A TURNOVER. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, REED & THE DEFENSE WERE USED TO BEING ON THE FIELD FOR THE WHOLE GAME BEFORE THIS SEASON. THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT TO TRY TO SCORE 7 BECAUSE THEY KNEW OUR OFFENSE WOULDN'T.

This isn't the Ravens team of old, where the defense needed to put points on the board while they had their hands on the ball, because otherwise it wasn't going to get done.

So, Ed (in the words of Winston Wolf), pretty please, with sugar on top, hold on to the freakin ball!
-harry

Exactly ... You have to remember that our defense is used to a offense that could not score. So ofcourse their first instinct once creating a turnover is to score. Let the MAN play his style of game. Doesn't one of the greatest QB's of all time (Bret Farve) gets bashed because of his sandlot style of play ?

"Do not "defame" that fact with Pop Warner moves. Go RAVENS!!!!!!!"

The above quote is written by someone who obviously doesn't understand Pop Warner Football. One of the key elements that kids are taught in Pop Warner is to execute basic skills and to stay away from Playground tactics. No well-trained Pop Warner Athlete would lateral the ball on a defensive turnover...

Anyone who is defending Reed's lateral pass at the end of the game this past weekend because it's just "Reed being Reed." you need to stop drinking your Reed-Aid. The game was over, PERIOD. By pitching it back, he risked turning the ball back over and thereby additional playing time for the defense. There was almost 2 minutes left to play! What if someone got hurt during that span and missed the playoffs. Is it going to take something drastic like that to make Reed realize what he's doing is wrong??

He is fantastic to watch and have on our team- but the fact that he seems unable or unWILLING to be more careful with the ball is downright childish. I like the quote offered by Mike. Makes perfect sense. It seems as though gifted athletes don't feel the need to THINK- but rather just go by their "instincts." I guess instincts can always be defined as "Unwilling to do what your boss asks because you're so used to PLAYING."

Reed maybe the defensive player of the year again, this year. His first lateral, in the game, i really didnt think was that bad or high-risk. Haloti is a former rugby player and was ready to make the catch, with no one behind him.

The second lateral, was right to Rolle but he got hit, and that caused the fumble. That happened near the end of the game, with the Ravens up comfortably though. The game was already decided, and I think Reed was just having fun.

The guy is an All World player. The amount of time he puts in watching game film and in preparing for the next game, shows his dedication. He is obviously a smart player... Does anyone really think he would take that big a chance, at a point of the game, where it REALLY MATTERS?

That said, I think if an Ed Reed, feels the head coach is talking down to the players, it shouldn't just be brushed off as Reed popping off at the mouth. When have we ever heard Reed speak out like this before? It would be different if Cmac or Mcgahee said it.

Finally to touch on what an earlier blogger said... Mike.. whats with the stirring up controversy at this point of the season? This town loves to talk Ravens... the Ray Lewis article coulda waited to the off season, when their is less to write about the team.. dont you think?

p.s. lol he wont respond to that last part.. im just guessing

The thing is ... Reed tosses the ball around, because he thinks everyone plays ball like him ... everyone should be able to catch the ball and pick up yardage. He does not think about that fact that he plays on a different level. Reed is Reed .. and the others are just not as good! Go ball hog Go!

I cringe everytime Ed Reed starts an interception return. He frequently only has two contact points on the ball vs. four and this penchant for flipping the ball all over the field before he gets hit will eventually bite us. From my observation, the recipient of the "chuck" rarely is prepared to catch the ball, which they shouldn't be anyway since they should be blocking! Please Ed, make the picks, tuck in the ball, get what yardage you reasonably can and then go down with the ball secured vs. held up in the air where an opposing player can swipe the ball if you are ruled not to be down.

Fine,all you kool aid Reed and Ravens fans who enjoy watching an NFL football being passed around like it's no big deal during a playoff game.Possession of the football is precious and until Reed causes a major fumble,say against the Steelers with 2 mins. left on the clock and we're playing catch-up or just trying to run down the clock-it's going to be his damn fault if the TEAM goes down from his hotdogging,period!I've been pointing this flaw out in Ed's performance during interceptions for 2 yrs,now.Otherwise,everybody,let's hope and pray he won't be careless with his responsibility with the ball the next time he intercepts.Tuck the ball,Ed!!

REED!!!!!!!!!! he can do whatever the hell he wants, he only led the league with 9 picks this year!! has a defensive player of the year award and 43 career picks!! easily a future HOF!! he is a man idc what u people said! he is playing with a major injury and the stats speak for themselves! REED YOU ARE THE MAN

How smart do you have to be after 16 unsuccessful laterals, and looking like a school boy (yes I said boy) playing football, to understand the game. Get the yardage you can, don't fumble, and get tackled without getting hurt. That said, Reed's a hell of a player and I am glad he's on our team. No doubt, he will be ready for Sunday's game. Who knows? Maybe he'll lateral for a touchtown during a interception. God knows, he's due.

Everyone needs to relax. Reed only does that when then game is not on the line. Think back to the redskins game when he picked off Jason Campbell at the end of the game and just sat on the ball. He knows when to play and when its time to go to work. When he picks off chad pennington on sunday he will either sit on it or take it to the house without lateraling the ball.

Perhaps someone with a better memory than mine may remember. But I recall a game either last year or before when Reed intercepted a ball and returned it for what would have been great FG range for the potential win. But after he ran the ball back he got stacked up. He then tried to remain upright, rather going down to end the play, apparently anticipating a lateral. While doing so an opposing running back took the ball away from him in what was declared a forced fumble and recovery by the offense. The opposing team took the ball back, returned on offense and won the game. Does anyone remember that fiasco of a play and that heart-breaking ending?

yes Reed will be Reed, and he is awesomeand wouldnt want him onany other team, but the laterals, all be it exciting, if pick off by the other team could give thema TD insteadof us having the ball. Be glad we go the interception and possess the ball. It will backfire on im one of these days, and I dont think anyone here wants to see that happen in theplayoffs. That would bestupid.

to jim: the reason why offensive players dont lateral is because defenders specialize in pursuit and containment. when an interception occurs the play breaks down and the the offense (who is often at an athletic disadvantage only worsened by the fact they are not in a formation designed to contain a ballcarrier.) thus all sorts of lanes open up where sometimes a simple lateral ruins the angle all the offensive players are taking and creates a great scoring opportunity. k thanks.

I don't have a problem with him doing it. I just want him to be smart when he does it.