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Reed released over comments?

Published Nov. 12, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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Did Ed Reed get released by Houston because of his critical remarks?

The Texans released the nine-time Pro Bowl safety Tuesday, just two days after he publicly criticized the team and said Houston had been outplayed and outcoached.

On Friday, he expressed his displeasure at not starting. Reed also missed the first two games after hip surgery.

Interim coach Wade Phillips, the team's defensive coordinator, seemed unhappy when asked about Reed's comments on Monday.

"Everybody has their own feelings about what's happening," Phillips said. "They have their own ideas about what's happening or didn't happen. We try to keep everything in house."

Regardless of Reed's comments, it's not such a drastic move after Houston's seventh straight loss. The 35-year-old was signed to a three-year, $15 million contract in the offseason after he spent his entire 11-year career with Baltimore, in an effort to beef up what the Texans saw as an elite defensive unit that needed an upgrade in the secondary to make an expected run at the Super Bowl.

But Reed never showed the playmaking ability he had become known for in Baltimore and had just 16 tackles this season.

A few hours before the Texans announced his release, Reed tweeted: "Thanks to the Texans! And the City of Htown!"

The move could mean the end of the career of a player many believe is the best to ever play his position. He was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and led the league in interceptions that season and again in 2008 and 2010. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of the last seven seasons and was a five-time All-Pro.

He started each game for the Ravens last season and had four interceptions and 49 tackles to help them to a Super Bowl win. A first-round draft pick in 2002, his 61 career interceptions were most among active players and he has 109 passes defended, 524 tackles and 11 forced fumbles in 167 games.

The Texans (2-7) have gone from Super Bowl contenders to AFC bottom-feeders. Besides Kubiak's health problems, quarterback Matt Schaub was benched and standout linebacker Brian Cushing was lost for the season to an injury.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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