Ed Reed to mull return to Jets, retirement
Ed Reed is unsure what his football future holds.
The veteran safety would like to keep playing, and for Rex Ryan
and the New York Jets. Retirement can’t be ruled out, either, but
he expects to be in someone’s secondary next season.
”There’s 32 teams, man,” Reed said Monday as the players
cleared out their lockers. ”I know I’m going to be ready to play
football next year.”
Reed’s first order of business will be to get an MRI on his
surgically repaired hip for ”total maintenance” and then mull his
options.
The 35-year-old safety had three interceptions in seven games
with the Jets, who signed him after he was cut by the Houston
Texans. But Reed, who had offseason hip surgery, appeared to lose a
step from being the perennial Pro Bowl playmaker he was in 11
seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
”I think I was pretty good for having two hip surgeries,” Reed
said, ”and being able to play in this defense after being on
another team, first year through free agency.
”I have no regrets.”
Reed and Ryan are close from their days together in Baltimore,
but it’s uncertain if the Jets would be open to bringing him back
next season unless it’s at a veteran’s minimum salary. Both Ryan
and defensive coordinator raved about Reed’s influence on the
team’s young defensive backs.
Reed wouldn’t rule out coming back, saying his familiarity with
the defense would be a major consideration.
”If the team will allow me,” Reed said. ”And if everything
goes according to my offseason, yeah.”
Reed, who has 65 career interceptions, had surgery on his hip in
April and acknowledged that a full offseason and being healthy
would help him going into next season. But he also bristled at a
reporter’s question as to whether people in New York had seen the
”real” Reed.
”The real Ed Reed?” he asked. ”I’m in my 12th year. I know
how to play this game. I’ve played this game a certain way for a
long time. The real Ed Reed was here. My expectations for myself
are higher than you all could ever be.
”The standard has been set high, but like I’ve said, I set that
standard.”
While he’d still like to play, the safety said he came close to
retiring three or four years ago.
”So, there’s always that possibility,” Reed said. ”That’s
something I’ve always evaluated after every season since my first
year. It’s a violent sport. The sport is changing a lot and
organizations are changing. It’s just a different game.”
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NOTES: K Nick Folk, set to become a free agent, would like to
return on a multiyear deal after going 33 of 36 on field-goal
attempts. ”I think I’ve done my part,” he said. … WR Stephen
Hill said no offseason surgery is planned on his ailing left knee
that landed him on injured reserve for the last three games of the
season. … DT Sheldon Richardson, the No. 13 overall pick,
predicted a few accolades will be heading his way. ”I am the
defensive rookie of the year,” Richardson said. ”I don’t have
odds. That’s just how I feel.”
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org