Reed Passed Over

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year honor, getting 22 votes to pass Ravens safety Ed Reed, who only received eight.

Reed finished third in the running, also falling behind Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware’s 13 votes.

The case was strong for Reed, however. The seven-year veteran led the league with nine interceptions this year, tying the career mark he matched in 2004, when he originally won the award. Reed also scored three touchdowns during the regular season.

And in the playoffs, Reed stepped up even more, posting two interceptions and a touchdown last Sunday.

“I think Ed Reed deserves to be the Defensive Player of the Year, without question,” Harbaugh said emphatically. “We’ve said it many times about all of our guys: We think we have the best players in the National Football League. Football teams win when really good players play really well. As a coach, that’s what you try to get. We know each other, we recognize one another, and we’re excited to play this week.”

Reed has certainly won the endorsement of his teammates.

“He’s the greatest safety in the game, and he’s proven that week in and week out,” said linebacker Terrell Suggs. “We as a team are disappointed that he didn’t get the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, but then again we probably didn’t want him to win it.

“Everyone who has won an individual award is either out of the playoffs or they didn’t make it at all. We commend them on winning their individual award but we are trying to win a bigger award as a team.”

Added Flacco about Reed’s performance at Dolphin Stadium: “At this point we kind of expect it. We are spoiled. You see him catch the ball, and you are like, ‘Not again.’ He takes it to the end zone almost every time.”

(baltimoreravens.com)