Ed Reed disagrees with fine, says NFL is 'changing the game'

Ed Reed once again spoke out against the NFL, this time in reference to its decision to fine him $21,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Patriots receiver Deion Branch.

Reed has appealed the fine, which came after Baltimore's 31-30 win over New England in Week 3.

"They're changing the game," Reed said. "You don't see the NHL changing the game. They're letting those guys play. You obviously need to police the injuries as far as head shots and stuff like that. But some stuff is just a given. I didn't think my [play] was that bad. I had a lot of people saying it was legal."

Reed hit Branch in the helmet late in the third quarter, drawing a personal foul.

Reed said he shook hands with Branch and told him he didn't intend to hit him as high as he did. But he said he's still unsure why the NFL, which has made a point in recent years to fine players who make contact with an opposing player's head or neck regardless of intent, levied this fine against him.

"It seemed to me it looked like [Branch] dropped down," Reed said. "What do you do? He's dropping down, who's wrong there, him or me? It's just a tough situation."

Reed, the coach: Reed appears to be preparing for life after football already.

On Tuesday, the veteran safety said he has plans to become a high school football coach when his NFL days are over. If he has it his way, he'll coach his son once he's ready to play as a freshman in high school.

"I've come to know that I want to coach," Reed said. "I love helping kids. I have my camp (in Owings Mills, Md.), I have my camp in Louisiana. I was always around that. Coaching is in me. It's part of why I study the film the way I do."

Part of Reed's motivation is to make up for lost time spent on his football career. But once his son, who turned 4 in April, finishes high school, Reed said he wouldn't be opposed to coaching at a higher rank.

"Right now it's just high school because I want to be around my son," Reed said. "I'd love to coach at [the NFL] level at some point, or maybe college. I feel like you can get the kids when they're young and still give them information. I'm not sure now, but I want to coach somewhere around my son because he's growing up and I don't want to lose the time that I've lost with my family, being in college and being in the league."

With his son plenty of years away from high school, his potential coaching career isn't a sign he's ready to hang up the cleats. Reed is in the final year of his contract and has previously stated he thinks he has more years left in him to play.

"We, as football athletes, we beat down on our bodies so much," Reed said. "Me, being 34, I'm bouncing back great right now. I'm doing all the things to help the body recover."


(cbssports.com)