REISTERSTOWN — Since his arrival in Baltimore, Ed Reed has been one of the most instinctive, dynamic safeties in the game.
And the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year would prefer to end his career with the Ravens, wishing to retire with the same organization that drafted him in the first round nine years ago.
Signed to a six-year, $40 million contract that has two years remaining with $6.5 million and $7.2 million base salaries over the next two seasons, Reed said he’s not lobbying for a new contract. He noted that he doesn’t currently have an agent after being represented by Eugene Mato and Jeff Moorad in the past.
"After the lockout is over and the collective bargaining agreement is done, I’ll go back to the table with the Ravens and see what makes sense to them and what makes sense for me," Reed said Wednesday during his youth football camp at Franklin High. "Right now, what makes sense for me is finishing out my career with the Ravens the next two years that I have on my contract or maybe me and the Ravens do another deal, finalize things for me going into my retirement. So, it’s going to be what makes sense on both sides. I’m not asking them for anything right now. .. I always said I wanted to retire here and play for one organization."
Reed, 32, intercepted eight passes last season despite missing the first six games on the physically unable to perform list following offseason hip surgery.
"It’s going to be tough, honestly from my perspective, because I’ve been through some things with the Ravens," Reed said. "I’m fortunate that I’ve been a decent athlete and have produced for them in a way to where it’s surpassed what they’ve done contractually for me. It would be hard right now for them to come back at me.
"I’m not trying to ask them for nothing or pitch anything to them because I don’t even have an agent someone to go in there and negotiate. I’m grateful for what the Ravens did in 2002 in selecting me in the draft because a lot of people did pass up on me because they didn’t know football."
Reed predicted he would be able to participate fully in training camp even though he’s still affected by the hip injury.
He’s hoping Ravens coach John Harbaugh takes a cautious approach with him in practice.
"I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t do the things that training camp requires because of longevity of my career and my life," he said. "After not going through training camp with the physical abuse of last year and playing the way I played, I would hope Coach would be smart about how they handle me.
"Let young guys get the reps that they need and show that they’re quality safeties and get them the repetitions to showcase their talent for another team. I don’t think I have much to prove during training camp, but it is the time to get in shape. I’m not trying to be a selfish individual, but it is what it is."
Reed declared himself to be in good health one year removed from a hip surgery that caused him to begin the season on the physically unable to perform list.
"I’m feeling fine," Reed said. "I’m feeling all right. I can’t really gauge how I felt last year at this time. I had the surgery last year, but I’m still rehabbing it. It’s going to be a life-long thing you deal with. I feel good for right now."
Reed said he’s capable of operating fully during training camp.
"I’m full-go," he said.
Reed said he’s still affected by a nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder, but has no intentions of ever having surgery while he’s still playing for fear it would weaken him.
"I’ve been dealing with this for a long time," he said. "I’ve been blessed enough to strengthen it and keep it strong enough to where I didn’t have to do the surgery. When I do have the surgery, it’s going to be when I’m done playing this game."
