Ed Reed is open to new deal that would allow him to retire as a Raven

Ed Reed has two years left on his contract, but the Ravens safety let it be known that he is open to a deal that would allow him to retire with the Ravens.

“I always said I wanted to retire here and play for one organization,” Reed said Wednesday during his football camp.

Reed is scheduled to make $6.5 million this season and $7.2 million in 2012, the final year of his contract. The seven-time Pro Bowl player made it clear that he isn’t campaigning for a new deal. He pointed out that he doesn’t even have an agent at this time.

But …

“After the lockout is over and the collective bargaining agreement is done, I’ll go back to the table with the Ravens and see what makes sense to them and what makes sense for me,” he said. “Right now, what makes sense for me is finishing out my career with the Ravens the next two years that I have on my contract or maybe me and the Ravens do another deal, finalize things for me going into my retirement. It’s going to be what makes sense on both sides. I’m not asking them for anything right now.”

The Ravens have a long list of players who need to have their contracts addressed. They'll have to look into extensions for defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice over the next couple of years.

Reed, who turns 33 on the season opener against Pittsburgh, declined to say how much longer he plans to play football. He is coming off an impressive 2010 season in which he led the NFL eight interceptions despite not playing the first six games of the season because of a hip injury.
Although Reed said he still has to rehab that injury, he declared himself “full go” for training camp. Reed, though, hopes the Ravens will be smart with him during camp.

“I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t do the things that training camp requires because of longevity of my career and my life,” he said. “After not going through training camp with the physical abuse of last year and playing the way I played, I would hope Coach [John Harbaugh] would be smart about how they handle me. Let young guys get the reps that they need and show that they’re quality safetys and get them the repetitions to showcase their talent for another team. I don’t think I have much to prove during training camp but it is the time to get in shape. I’m not trying to be a selfish individual. But it is what it is.”

Reed also continues to deal with a nerve impingement in his neck. But he won't have surgery on it until after his playing career is over. Reed backed up his decision by pointing to Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who is having his second neck surgery in as many years.
"You saw guys have similar surgeries, like a Peyton Manning and you saw his production drop drastically last year," Reed said. "Nobody wants to comment on it as much but I’m sure Peyton knows it. That’s why he went in and had another surgery. I’ve been dealing with this a long time and I’ve been blessed to keep it strong enough to where I didn’t have to do the surgery. When I do have the surgery, it’s going to be when I’m done playing this game."

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(baltimoresun.com)