Free-agent safety Ed Reed has given his word to the Houston Texans that he will sign with them after reaching a deal, according ESPN.
Reed, who has been an intricate part of the Baltimore Ravens defense for the last 11 years, visited the Texans last Friday without reaching a deal. According to reports released earlier this week, the Texans offered Reed a three-year deal for around $12 million. However, Reed had been seeking a salary to the $7.2 million he earned last season.
“Ed is a great friend and player,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a text message to NFL.com. “I will always appreciate our time together.”
There were thoughts in the Ravens organization that Reed was just seeing his value in the free agency market, but would return to the team after helping the franchise win its second Super Bowl.
“On the hopeful scale, I’d say it’s on high hope,” Harbaugh said at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday. “It’s high on the measuring stick. We’ll just have to see how it works out.”
The free-agency resigning period has not worked out for the Ravens. The downward spiral began with the trade of wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick. Days later, highly touted linebacker Paul Kruger signed with the Cleveland Browns and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe took his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Dolphins. They also released safety Bernard Pollard and lost Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis to retirement.
The Texans have had a relatively quiet free-agent period, but are overwhelmed to be adding a safety of Reed’s quality to their secondary. They lost safety Glover Quin left for the Detroit Lions in free-agency.
The 34-year-old Reed reportedly had dinner with Texans star receiver Andre Johnson and center Chris Myers, his college teammates at the University of Miami. Johnson was highly confident that the Texans would land Reed after the dinner.
“No Reed or Ray in Baltimore????? This season is gonna be weird,” Ravens receiver Torrey Smith tweeted after learning of Reed’s decision.
Reed is Ravens all-time leader in interceptions with 61 for 1,541 return yards, an NFL career record. The eight-time All-Pro has 14 touchdowns for his career and was named NFL defensive player of the year in 2004. He played in all 16 games during the 2012 regular season and finished with 58 tackles and team-high four interceptions.
