A TEAM THAT NO LONGER REEDS
Ed Reed was cut by the Houston Texans on Tuesday, after just making five starts into a three year, $15 million contract. Reed had been injured for the first two games of the season, but even after returning in Week 3, played poorly, and lost his starting role to Shiloh Keo. He then said the Texans were “outplayed and outcoached” in an interview after last Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
One of the most popular suggested landing spots for Reed is to come back to Baltimore, where he won a Super Bowl last February. The Ravens are reportedly not interested in the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, and it is not hard to see why.
The Ravens have plugged first-round pick Matt Elam in with James Ihedigbo as the two starting safeties, and the results have been good. Elam has improved each week, and Ihedigbo had his first two career interceptions last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Reed likely would not be starting for the Ravens even if Ozzie Newsome had interest.
Other possible landing sites mentioned include the Patriots, Jets and Cowboys. The only deal that the Ravens should extend to Reed is one-day version that allows him to retire as a Raven.
BURFICT NOT SO PERFECT WITH ACCUSATIONS
After the Ravens defeated the Bengals last Sunday, Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict accused the Ravens of shoving him on the sideline during the game. He specifically accused Defensive coordinator Dean Pees.
The story is hard to believe simply because it is rare that a Ravens coach loses their composure, and even harder to believe since Pees watched the game Sunday from the Coaches Box, and was not even on the Ravens sideline.
Head coach John Harbaugh took the high road as he told the Baltimore Sun, “Yes, I heard him allege it, that’s all I heard. I don’t take too much stock in that stuff. I thought our guys did a great job conducting themselves in that game with great poise and great class in spite of some of the stuff that went on.”
Call me crazy, but I tend to agree with Burfict. I think Dean Pees snuck down from upstairs to push him, and then immediately snuck right back up.
Very sly, Dean Pees.
TUCKER KICKS WAY TO AFC SPECIAL TEAMER OF THE WEEK
Kicker Justin Tucker received honors for being named AFC special teams player of the week Wednesday. Tucker drilled a game-winning 46-yard field goal in overtime last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals to give the Ravens the win.
Coach Harbaugh called Tucker “special” and praised his kicker’s rare poise after Tucker’s fifth game-winning kick of his career and his third in overtime just halfway through the kicker’s second year.
Tucker is the first Raven to be named Player of the Week this season, and has been automatic this season. He’s easily the best kicker the Ravens have had since Matt Stover.
HARBAUGH AIMS TO DISAPPOINT THE PRES
Last June the Ravens visited the White House, as all Super Bowl Champions are invited to do. While visiting, they are honored by the President and given a ceremony. At the ceremony, President Barack Obama wished the Ravens good luck in the 2013-2014 season, but did remind them of his personal rooting interest, the Chicago Bears. Obama told the team they would need all the luck they could get when they visited the Bears in Week 11.
Harbaugh was reminded earlier this week of those comments and laughed them off, saying that he appreciates that Obama is a fan and that the Ravens will “do our best to disappoint him.”
If the Ravens can defeat the Bears on Sunday, it would be a step in the right direction towards Harbaugh backing up his statement that the Ravens planned to visit Obama again the following year.
