Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome offers Ed Reed a job -- as coach

Coach Ed Reed?

It's a possibility, maybe even next season with the Baltimore Ravens if the safety is open to the invitation extended by general manager Ozzie Newsome on Friday.

Newsome revealed that Reed, who turns 35 in September, wants to be a coach one day, and that day might be coming sooner than later, considering how Reed's body has broken down the past two seasons with a nagging hip injury last season and a painful shoulder labrum problem during this season.

Reed was insistent Thursday in saying he intends to play next year and that Super Bowl XLVII -- 30 miles from his hometown of St. Rose, La. -- won't be his last ride.

Reed's view could change, however, depending on the outcome of the game against the San Francisco 49ers and the fact that Reed's contract is expiring. The Ravens will have to decide whether they want Reed back at his age and advanced salary.

There may be other teams interested, especially considering Reed's former Ravens defensive coordinator, Chuck Pagano, is head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Pagano recruited Reed at the University of Miami.

No matter what, Reed will likely have plenty of options.

"Ed wants to be a coach, so he sees this as an opportunity to start his coaching career by helping those young players come along,'' Newsome said. "The thing about Ed is, he doesn't just talk about it. He goes out and works the way you have to work to get it done.''

Does Reed have an open invitation to coach with the Ravens?

"That'll be up to Ed Reed,'' Newsome said. "That will be something that (Ravens owner) Steve (Bisciotti) and I can talk about. But Ed still has a lot of football left to play. So we'll cross that hurdle. If Ed decides he wants to do that, I think we can find a way.''


(usatoday.com)