Emotional Ed Reed: Football is 'the least of my worries'

Baltimore Ravens S Ed Reed, playing despite the disappearance of his brother two days earlier, broke into tears on Sunday after receiving a game ball in the locker room following a 30-7 playoff win at Kansas City.

"My, brother he loved football," Reed said, via CBS TV, to his huddled teammates, "But he'd want to beat Pittsburgh."

The Ravens' wild-card win clinched a berth for them in the divisional playoffs against the Steelers next weekend. But the much of the focus after the game was on Reed and his family, with his brother, Brian Reed, still considered missing.

Police in Louisiana were pursuing Brian Reed, 29, on Friday when they saw him jump into the Mississippi River. He has not been located since.
Reed credited his teammates -- whom he called his "second family" -- with helping him stay focused, but he added it wasn't hard to be prepared to play on Sunday.

Reed played with a heavy heart Sunday after the search for his missing brother was called off by police Saturday.

Reed’s mother confirmed that police found Brian Reed’s jacket and shoes after he jumped in the Mississippi River.  Brian Reed was being chased by authorities after they stopped him in what was believed to be a stolen car.

Ed Reed told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols he broke down crying while in a team meeting Saturday. 

"There's a bigger picture to life than what we have going on," Reed said. "This is just a child's game we play ... it's not tough to focus on this."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he made it a priority to help Reed deal with his family this week. "We rally around each other," Harbaugh said. "We care about each other."

Reed, who said he was focused on the Ravens' trip to play in Pittsburgh on Saturday, said he was heartened to know that his mother and father are being strong.

"Football," he said, "that's the least of my worries."

Click here to order Ed Reed’s proCane Rookie Card.



(usatoday.com)