Harbaugh says he wants Ed Reed back

[OriginalColtsFan]

“We had that conversation on the bus ride away from the stadium actually,” Harbaugh said. "He and I both agreed that we want him back. I want him back, and Ed wants to come back.

“You never know how these things are going to work out, but we are going to work like crazy to work it out because Ed’s a Baltimore Raven. Hopefully, we can make that happen.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/r...,3691904.story

[Steveg85321]

Sorry, I know I am among a minority on the board, but I would like to have him back. I know he doesn't hit like he used to, but he brings a lot more in experience, leadership, competitiveness, etc. than he costs the team in athletic ability. Pollard can hit for the two of them. The defense is going lose a number of guys in addition to Ray, and keeping Ed would be a good connection to what I think we can call "The Raven Way."

[bawlmerbob]

Sorry, I know I am among a minority on the board, but I would like to have him back. I know he doesn't hit like he used to, but he brings a lot more in experience, leadership, competitiveness, etc. than he costs the team in athletic ability. Pollard can hit for the two of them. The defense is going lose a number of guys in addition to Ray, and keeping Ed would be a good connection to what I think we can call "The Raven Way."

Nice post. I agree that it would be great to have Reed retire as a Raven. I felt the same way about Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, and Kelly Gregg. But, salary cap issues are tough to get around, particularly when Flacco needs to be signed. However, if anyone can keep the team reasonably intact, it has proven to be Ozzie. This off season may be his biggest challenge yet. 22 free agents, including, Flacco, Kruger, Reed, Ellerbe, Williams, etc,etc. Wow!

[OriginalColtsFan]

Right player/right price: Does Ed Reed honestly fit that formula?

[bawlmerbob]

Right player/right price: Does Ed Reed honestly fit that formula?

I think that he fits the "right player" portion of the equation. The "right price"? Therein lies the dilemma.

[babylinux]

I'll never get tired of him singing Two Tickets to Paradise

[OriginalColtsFan]

I think that he fits the "right player" portion of the equation. The "right price"? Therein lies the dilemma.

Don't right players at the FS position have to be able to tackle consistently in the NFL to justify their salaries?

[TDL]

I think Jimmy Smith () has the size and potential to develop into a quality FS but as long as Reed is around he's not gonna get the chance to.It's more important that they hang onto their young talent that has an upside than to spend what little cash available on players based on their past performance.Reed cannot cover the space that he once did and he cannot tackle either. Instead of being a non-factor as he was for most of the second half of the season he will soon become a liability.Can't be sentimental about these decisions because there is only so much cap space and it's better that they utilize that for the future instead of the past.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I think Jimmy Williams has the size and potential to develop into a quality FS but as long as Reed is around he's not gonna get the chance to.It's more important that they hang onto their young talent that has an upside than to spend what little cash available on players based on their past performance.Reed cannot cover the space that he once did and he cannot tackle either. Instead of being a non-factor as he was for most of the second half of the season he will soon become a liability.Can't be sentimental about these decisions because there is only so much cap space and it's better that they utilize that for the future instead of the past.

Did you mean Jimmy Smith? (It's like you made a hybrid out of Cary Williams and Jimmy Smith.)

[Steveg85321]

All the above points are valid. I just don't think we, the Ravens that is, should rush into the off-season with the idea Ed has no value. Of course fitting everyone in is the challenge, and the comparison to Heap, Mason, etc. is apt. I really trust the team to do it right, I just don't want to jump to conclusions.

[TonyD79]

Tackling can be overrated. Not really, but Ed Reed's mere prescence kept Peyton Manning from going deep in the Broncos game. He made run tackles in the Super Bowl and forced Kapernick to miss at least one key throw with his rush.

Reed looked out of position at times this year but was it him or the early communication problem the secondary had.

I would not overpay him but if the price is decent, I want him on the team.

[RIKMAN]

I'd sign him to a cap friendly deal...if possible.

I'm not sure it's possible though.

[OriginalColtsFan]

The thing is this -- now that Joe is clearly established as a franchise QB, you have to build around him. For too long the Ravens have over-invested in the defense. They can't do both. So they have to change direction, and give up the sentimentality involved in re-signing a guy like Reed. Even for the vet minimum, which he'd never take, Reed's skill set has fallen off to such an extent that they'd be better served by going young at that position. Joe is the leader now. Not Ray Lewis. Not Ed Reed. Not Haloti Ngata. And the financial investment had better reflect that, or the W/L results are going to suffer.

[SinceU]

Sorry but I think it's time for Ed to retire. IMO He's hurt and rarely lays the lumber any more. When he does he's very slow at getting up. I think it best for him to step away with a ring. He's a FHOF for sure and will go down as the best safety in Ravens history. For his own sake he should give it up.

[bmore_ken]

Sorry, I know I am among a minority on the board, but I would like to have him back.

I'd like him back at the right price, but good luck with that. There are a lot of bills due this offseason

[OriginalColtsFan]

Sorry but I think it's time for Ed to retire. IMO He's hurt and rarely lays the lumber any more. When he does he's very slow at getting up. I think it best for him to step away with a ring. He's a FHOF for sure and will go down as the best safety in Ravens history. For his own sake he should give it up.

I shudder every time he DOES manage to make a tackle. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that he has trouble getting up at least 50% of the time or more after a big hit. It's just crazy.

[kronusthebonus]

Ed needs to come back and be that bridge from the Ray Lewis era to the future. He, like Ray, brings that cerebral approach. He is much more a silent leader, and is just as respected as Ray and a quarterback of the secondary.

Losing two 1st ballot hall of famers in the same offseason would be crushing. People are vastly underestimating the intangibles that Ed Reed brings to the Ravens.

Bill Belichick doesn't covet Ed Reed for his physical play, it is because of his mind!

[AnonymousTerpsFan]

OriginalColtsFan-

So you would disregard the comments of every playoff coach the Ravens beat this year? They have all said, in some form, that Ed Reed made them change their game plans. Do you really think that 1 player whom every coach still game plans around isn't even worth the vet minimum? This isn't even taking into account that, with Ray gone, Ed is the soul of the Ravens (Flacco being the face and the heart).

What I'm saying is, do you toss a guy like that to the curb unceremoniously without even offering the vet min? Do you even realize what you're saying?

I'll read between your lines and paraphrase for you: "Ed Reed is worse for us, at the vet min, than some unnamed, unproven rookie draft pick to-be-announced."

Preposterous. Every other poster has made a valid argument about finding the right price, but to not even want him for the vet min is absurd and disrespectful to one of the best safeties in the history of the NFL.

[OriginalColtsFan]

OriginalColtsFan-

So you would disregard the comments of every playoff coach the Ravens beat this year? They have all said, in some form, that Ed Reed made them change their game plans. Do you really think that 1 player whom every coach still game plans around isn't even worth the vet minimum? This isn't even taking into account that, with Ray gone, Ed is the soul of the Ravens (Flacco being the face and the heart).

What I'm saying is, do you toss a guy like that to the curb unceremoniously without even offering the vet min? Do you even realize what you're saying?

I'll read between your lines and paraphrase for you: "Ed Reed is worse for us, at the vet min, than some unnamed, unproven rookie draft pick to-be-announced."

Preposterous. Every other poster has made a valid argument about finding the right price, but to not even want him for the vet min is absurd and disrespectful to one of the best safeties in the history of the NFL.

You're entitled to your opinion. (BTW...what coaches say is meaningless. It's all PR. I trust my eyes to what I see.)

And I'll go one step further. Even at the vet minimum, Ed Reed equates to NEGATIVE results because he's a major liability. How's that?

[TDL]

You're entitled to your opinion. (BTW...what coaches say is meaningless. It's all PR. I trust my eyes to what I see.)

And I'll go one step further. Even at the vet minimum, Ed Reed equates to NEGATIVE results because he's a major liability. How's that?

I agree completely.

Instead of being a bridge keeping him in the starting line up would seem to be more of an obstacle which would keep someone like Jimmy Smith from getting the PT at the position which is needed in order for him to develop.There will most certainly be some growing pains and mistakes early on but they are going to be unavoidable.There is at least the potential for improvement whereas with Reed his play will only deteriorate further along with his body.As long as Lewis was on the roster he was going to be the starting ILB because Harbaugh out of respect would never have benched him and that's the same case with Reed.Ed has always been one of my favorite Ravens but it's time to move on.

A starting secondary of:

CB Webb
FS Smith
SS Pollard
CB Graham/Brown

Since Williams is gonna bolt that's not too shabby,IMO.The Defense is slow and they must get more speed on the field in the secondary and at LB.