In The Spotlight: Ravens safety Ed Reed

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Ravens safety Ed Reed is one of those players the Browns let get away in the draft, and he's been making them pay ever since.

What makes it even tougher is the guy who passed him up -- former Browns coach Butch Davis -- coached him at the University Miami and knew his potential. Davis opted for running back William Green instead at No. 16 in 2002 and the Ravens snatched up Reed at 24.

Since then, he's gone on to make the Pro Bowl five times and make life miserable for the Browns every time they face him.

"A guy like Ed Reed can ruin the game at any point from an offensive perspective," said Browns coach Eric Mangini'. "He has great instincts, and he aggressively uses those instincts to make plays. Once he has the ball in his hands, he's an impressive returner. They use him from time to time as a punt returner and he's made plays there. You add the fact that he's a pretty special rusher when he's up on the line of scrimmage, and he's rushing on their punt return teams, he's a guy you have to deal with there as well."

Some nauseating numbers for Browns fans regarding Reed:

• In 14 games against the Browns, Reed has 53 tackles (47 solo), seven interceptions and 12 passes defensed.

• His seven picks are his most against any NFL team, as are his 295 interception return yards and three TDs.

• His 106-yard interception return for a TD vs. the Browns Nov. 7, 2004 set a record for the longest return in NFL history, which he broke last season with a 107-yarder in Week 12 at Philly. The 106-yarder helped him become NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.

• He has 43 interceptions, most in Ravens history and best in the NFL since he entered the league in 2002. His 1,152 interception return yards also lead the NFL since 2002.

• He tied his career-high with nine interceptions last year.

• Of his 43 career interceptions, 26 have come in the second half, 17 in the fourth quarter.

• When Reed records an interception, the Ravens are 27-8. When he picks off two in a game, the Ravens are 8-0.

• Reed has 12 career TDs and is the only player in NFL history to score return TDs off a punt return, blocked punt, interception return and fumble recovery.

"Any way that he can return it he has, and he's dangerous at all times," said Mangini. "You can't exactly pinpoint where he's going to be because of the way that he plays, and some of the freedom he has back there."



(cleveland.com)