The FA Pursuit and Signing of S Ed Reed

[HPF Bob]

Last year, I kept reading how messed up Reed's shoulder was and how much it hurt now to lay a lick on someone. Props for his courage to still stick his nose into the pile but a backline tackler with a bad shoulder is not a good thing. His body is telling him he's done but his will and his pride haven't quite received the message. I'd rather not be paying $6-7 mil for him to get the message. No doubt he's a great player and a likely Hall-of-Famer but I don't believe we'd get our money's worth unless the Texans desperately need somebody on defense who can shame them into a whole 'nother level of toughness. And maybe the Texans need that.

[popanot]

From that article nunusguy references above...

The Ravens' tight salary-cap situation could preclude them from making Reed a major negotiating priority. Plus, the 34-year's old age, durability concerns and decline in range could work against a reunion with the Ravens.

That's from a Ravens beat writer and quite possibly from an internal Ravens source with the team who Reed's had a HOF career with. And even though the Ravens are in a "tight salary-cap situation" as it applies to Reed, they're in the market for Dumerville.

http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#secti.../?related=true

And are considering Huff.

http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#secti.../?related=true

The Ravens would like to have Reed back, but not for $6 million annually and definitely not for the $7.2 million he made in the final year of his expired six-year, $44.5 million contract.

As for the Texans, a league source with knowledge of the situation characterized the Texans' initial three-year offer as low enough that a fast deal was unrealistic.

Sounds like the right thing to do to me.

[Keith]

It's really not all that clear to me that the Ravens, much less any team other than the Texans, are seriously bidding for Ed Reed's services. Makes me wonder if the Texans' "low-ball" offer is really that low. Reed needs to sign the best offer on the table, and I am sure it is Houston's.

So Reed is holding the Texans hostage at this point. I'd give him an ultimatum to sign by tonight or it's time to move on. And I am one who actually thinks signing him, at least for 2013, would be a good move. A leader on the defense (something arguably lacking when DeMeco left), Reed has recent Super Bowl experience and the instant respect of his peers. Not that Cushing or Watt (or JJo) don't already earn respect from others, but Reed could walk onto the field and be the defensive team captain.

[popanot]

A 1-yr or 2-yr deal (but only with an out-clause in YR2) would be fine, IMO. I've always been a huge Reed fan and definitely think he can provide some of that missing leadership. I just don't want the Texans to overpay and/or give him a contract that keeps us in cap purgatory. If you're going to let young homegrown players walk, at least let there be a future cap benefit from it.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Keith

It's really not all that clear to me that the Ravens, much less any team other than the Texans, are seriously bidding for Ed Reed's services. Makes me wonder if the Texans' "low-ball" offer is really that low. Reed needs to sign the best offer on the table, and I am sure it is Houston's.

So Reed is holding the Texans hostage at this point. I'd give him an ultimatum to sign by tonight or it's time to move on. And I am one who actually thinks signing him, at least for 2013, would be a good move. A leader on the defense (something arguably lacking when DeMeco left), Reed has recent Super Bowl experience and the instant respect of his peers. Not that Cushing or Watt (or JJo) don't already earn respect from others, but Reed could walk onto the field and be the defensive team captain.

Agree with this. One of Rick Smith's savviest moves as a GM was making a run at Nnamdi but then cutting his losses and going after Joseph when he couldn't get a deal done with Nnamdi in reasonably short order. Needs to go back to that playbook.

[WMH]

From the chronic on Reed:

"The Texans have made an offer that, according to two people familiar with the negotiations, is closer to $4 million a year than $5 million. Reed has been hoping to get a multiyear contract that averages $6 million to $7 million."

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans...ose-on-a-deal/

[Keith]

A 3-yr $12 million contract will not put the Texans cap into a death spiral, especially if Reed is at least playing through 2014.

This deal keeps sounding better all the time. Rick Smith is getting better at his job. Now if he can just remember who to listen to and who to ignore of his college scouts...

[WMH]

Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) tweeted:
Future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed has agreed to terms with the Texans, ending his Ravens career.

No terms yet, other than its a 2 year deal.

Updated:
Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) tweeted:
Hearing Ed Reed got as much as $7 million total guaranteed on his two-year deal, per a league source.