Friday, February 8, 2013
Baltimore's plans with Reed
By Tim Kavanagh
Coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Baltimore Ravens get some time to enjoy themselves, but then it's back to work quickly, as they need to make decisions on their own impending free agents before hitting the market for additions and then moving ahead to the NFL draft. One of the big questions this offseason is how they're going to proceed with S Ed Reed, a foundation of their defense for the past decade.
Earlier this week, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome confirmed that the club is going to to use the franchise tag on QB Joe Flacco or no one at all, which eliminates that option for Reed. And if he is allowed to explore the free agent marketplace, we've heard him linked to other contending teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints specifically.
In pondering the situation, ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley believes that they'll use the same strategy they deployed a few seasons back with LB Ray Lewis:
Jamison Hensley
Previewing the Ravens in free agency"The Ravens will handle Reed like they handled Lewis in 2009. They will make Reed an offer and let him see if he can get something better in free agency. Lewis eventually came back to the Ravens. But Reed should draw more interest than Lewis on the open market, especially with potential suitors like the Patriots and Colts. It could come down to whether Reed allows the Ravens to match the offer."
