I absolutely LOVE Ed Reed as much as the next Ravens fan. He's been amazing his entire career but let's face it: he's not getting any younger, has had TONS of injuries, and now this contract talk completely smacks of trying to get one last big payday. If the Ravens redo his existing contract in any way that gives him even more money than he is already scheduled to make currently, they will be embarrassing themselves.

Kinda sounds like he's trying to force the Ravens to make him retire.

If Reed draws this out and doesn't get what he thinks he deserves, he can retire and blame the whole thing on the Ravens for not paying him what he needs to play.

It plays out ending with when his mouth stops and the Ravens stand their staring at him with the mouths open. Plays as well as a f@rt in chuch is how it plays!

Pay the man, man. it's only money, man. What the hay. I says, what the hay man ?

It sounded more to,me like he made a passing reference to a new contract and then backtracked the rest of the interview.

He spends more time explaining why it it won't happen than anything else.

Ed doesn't appear to be under any illusions. This is a COMPLETE tempest in a teapot.

Ed had was is commonly known as a brain fart. As for the Ravens granting Ed's wish/request, no chance as long a hell remains hot.

Ed is a great player, but he doesn't have many good years left and more than three would be quite a surprise. It's not like Ed is an aging corner in good health that can switch to safety in order to extend his career.

Kevin, You offer no new info and no insight while asking a lot of questions and quoting Hensley. You also list Ed Reed's age and the length of his tenure in the "punishing" NFL.

Maybe you intended to send this as an email to Jamison?

Cheers,
A Fan

I guess the whole idea of a strike next year and lack of salary cap this one was lost on Kevin Cowherd. Really not hard to understand.

who cares...derrick mason has done the same stuff and he still plays. all this is posturing

just cut him. they are deep enough at safety. another ray lewis, looking for one last payday after his prime. He is an AVERAGE safety at this point in his career.

this is seriously the chutzpah of the year award to you? i call BS on that one.
please stop writing about sports.

I love the Ravens and I love Ed Reed but it really irks me when players want to renegotiate their contracts when they have more than a year left on their existing deal. They need to play out their contracts and start renegotiating once they have a year left on their existing deal. You never hear an owner in the papers saying they want to renegotiate their deal with a player that didn't fullfill their end of the bargain and have a subpar season. Did anyone hear Bisciotti wanting to renegotiate Suggs' deal when he didn't play up to his potential?
If the Ravens even consider giving him a new deal they would be making a huge mistake. Ed, you're on the downside of your career and you're one hard hit away from being out of football. I would be thankful you are set to make the money you agreed to in 2006.
On a positive note, I hope Ed is healthy enough to play week 1 of this season and finish out this 3 year deal the same way, on top of his game! Go Ravens!

Before everyone gets their man-panties in a knot, give Reed the benefit of a doubt. He could have been floating a trial balloon, he could have been running off at the mouth as a result of mixing his pain killers with Vodka and Red Bull - sit tight, let things settle and develop and we'll go from there.

Ed's a Hall of Famer - did it all for the Ravens. He deserves a wide berth here. I suggest, before some of you guys go for your pitchforks and torches, let more time pass, let Reed continue the dialogue to see if what we're seeing is what we're really seeing. One story does not a contract demand make.

Ed did also go on to say that he wants to get healthy first before pushing for one last extension, so I'm fine with it. He seems to be saying that he wants to go 2-3 more years. Why else would he go through such a painful surgery at this time?

UH,,,,, How much did ozzie give T=Fizzle. Ed Reed may be broken but he is not stupid. Using the Suggs equation reed should get a bazillion dollars. He will even promise not to pour bleach on anyone!

Purple Koolaid--no comments?? You must be on vacation....Mr Deez--why would Ed Reed go thru this painful operation--uh, maybe so he can walk again and without as much pain when he's 32. Anyone see Johnny Unitas walk in his 50s--nothing sadder than seeing the great hero of Baltimore--and I am saying that with reverence and respect--hobbling like a cripple. definitely needed a new hip....

At the end of the day, it's still a business and they would have to let him retire. As you mentioned, there would be other players expecting the same treatment. Sorry, Ed, you are/were a great player, but this makes no sense.

Its really not hard to want to pay Ed more money. So lets look at the film:

Has Ed made a few good interceptions: Yes. Payton Manning would rather Ed retire.

Blocked punts? A bunch - recently-no
Punt returns? A bunch-recently - a couple.
Impact hits on WR's-in the past he caused his share of fumbles-last year I recall one hit.
Ed Reeds highlight film is like watching highlights of Michael Jordan

I still think Ed Reed plays safety at the level MJ played hoops - just now its on the level of MJ we saw in a Wizards uniform.

So Ed, you going to COACH the secondary and play these last two years? Ok-maybe......

Is it really baffling? The guy is playing in pain and risking his long term health for the team? And if his career ended this year, the Ravens would release him and he wouldn't get paid. That's the way the NFL works. So I don't have any trouble at all with him trying to get some more guaranteed money.

It is quite easy to understand. Most NFL contracts are not guarenteed. Years 4, 5, and 6 are at the club discretion. What Reed wants is to sign another contract and get a huge bonus which is guarenteed. Then when he cannot play in a year or two the Ravens look like fools and Reed is even richer without even playing. Until he proves he can actually play again; no new contract.

Contract renegotiation actually makes perfect sense. Reed doesn't realistically expect to play out the three years remaining on his contract. With his various injuries, he is year-to-year, and retirement is a definite possibility -- maybe advisable in his case. What he is saying is, given my physical condition, it isn't worth it to me to come back and get beaten up more for the $6 million due under the existing contract; I'll do it for something more, though. If he can play, he's worth more, as we all know. So structured the right way, renogotiation is good for both sides. The Ravens lose if Reed retires.

T Stout,
damn good thing your not the GM

Perceptive retort.