OWINGS MILLS — Ed Reed’s timing is usually impeccable on the football field. Instinctive and quick to react, the Baltimore Ravens’ All-Pro safety makes the difficult play look routine.
His timing in asking the Ravens for a new contract is a bit off considering he’s coming off hip surgery.
Plus, Reed isn’t ready to commit to playing beyond this season and has three years left on a six-year, $40 million deal that included $15 million in guaranteed money with remaining base salaries of $6 million this year, $6.5 million in 2011 and $7.2 million in 2012.
"I’m not making it a big deal," Reed told 105.7 the Fan. "I think it needs to be taken care of."
Reed is still rehabbing from his surgery procedure performed this spring in Colorado.
While he has informed the Ravens he intends to play, it’s unclear when he’ll return.
Reed also has a nerve impingement in his neck that has limited him for the past couple seasons.
"I’m not going to ask the Ravens about anything if I’m not going to play any much longer," Reed said. "I appreciate the opportunity that the Ravens have given me. I’m not about to ask them for anything if I’m not going to be playing. My focus is to get myself back. I’m coming back for at least for one more year."
Reed made the point that he has maintained a high standard of play while other safeties who have received big contracts have slipped.
"If the negotiations continue and we can do some things in the process, I’m going to welcome it," Reed said. "Right now, my focus is to get myself back to 110 percent and back to a 107-yard return against the Philadelphia Eagles."
As far as his health, Reed is hoping to play in the first game against the New York Jets.
Of course, the convalescence could take even longer.
"I believe with the hip, it could be a realistic thing where it could be October, November and December," Reed said. "We don’t know. It’s going to be dependent on how I feel and what have I done to get back into full-throttle game shape."
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was named to his sixth Pro Bowl last season despite missing four games in December with the hip problem.
Reed says he’s getting better.
"I have some quickness," he said. "If we had to play the Super Bowl now, one game, I think I could go out there and smart it up a little bit, using the mind a little more than the body just to give our team something."
NOTES: Ravens rookie third-round tight end Ed Dickson received a $662,500 signing bonus in his previously-reported three-year contract. The deal carries a total value of $1.87 million. … The Ravens announced that cornerback Walt Harris passed his physical and formally signed his one-year contract. … Rookie sixth-round offensive tackle Ramon Harewood officially signed his three-year, $1.289 million deal, which includes a $74,171 signing bonus.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
