NEW ORLEANS - Earlier this week, Ravens safety Ed Reed caused stirring when he said he'd like to play for Bill Belichick.
Reed said Thursday he meant that hypothetically, not as an intention.
"I was asked, would I play for BillBelichick? Yes. What football players wouldnt play for Coach Belichick? Will I be in New England? Most likely not," explained Reed. "Its just terrible that people get half the story. Itseven more bad when you hear the comments that they make towards you. But itcomes with it, man."Reed will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. The five-time All-Pro turns 35 next September. He's long been the gold standard for safety play in the mind of Belichick. So much so that quarterback Tom Brady has said Belichick acts like he wants to adopt Reed and change his name to Ed Belichick.
The Patriots play in the secondary improved in the latter half of 2012 but they're still sketchy back there. Reed's experience, if he ever did entertain a move to New England, would aid Devin McCourty immeasurably as McCourty makes the move to safety.
"I gotta lot of years in me," Reed told me Thursday. "I dont want to play till Im40. I always said my mark in the NFL is 35. I always said that if I feel I couldplay more, I would so Ive been doing a great job with my doctor. Since about twoor three years ago, since I had (hip) surgery thats the worst thing that reallyhit me. When I had the hip surgery thats when I really started to think aboutthings and I really felt better this year than the last two."One of the things that makes Reed so good is his ability to disguise his intentions and bait quarterbacks then make up ground. Does he still have the speed to do that?
"I can still cover ground with the best of them," Reed promised. "Im notgoing to say I can do it better than any other safety because we all havedifferent attributes that we bring to the table. But theres a reason why ... people dont throw my way, man. I still get that respecton the football field I can still play this game and when I cant, trust me,youll know." How will his decision-making unfold once he becomes a free agent?
"I take my time this offseason just like I did last offseasonand every offseason going forward," he said. "Its not a circus, its just me taking mytime, working out, always getting ready. If I get to August and I feel like Imin shape and I dont want to play, I wont do it. Thats not to any fan or anyorganization, but its me and my family and my body and how I feel. Im prettysure Ozzie and them will let us enjoy this season. Once we get everythingsituated Im sure well be talking. However long that process goes, we willknow." His first choice, though, is to remain a thorn in the Patriots' side.
"I always said when I came into the league and gotdrafted that I didnt want to be one of those guys jumping from team to team," hesaid. "If it was up to me, I would be right in Baltimore.If it happens to be somewhere else, I can play football on the moon.