Ed Reed

Ed Reed being non-committal about his future is an annual rite of spring here in Baltimore, and he kept the tradition going Thursday by telling Sirius/XM NFL Radio he isn't 100 percent committed to playing in 2012. Citing concerns about his health and long-term future, the Pro Bowl free safety told hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon that he isn't sure if he will play this season. He said that he has considered retirement during the past three offseasons -- this one included. It's also worth noting that Reed is in the final year of his contract.

Joe Flacco took a couple of steps to his right, spotted Ed Dickson about 10 yards down the field and lofted a pass between two defenders that the young tight end hauled in. After Dickson was touched down and the Ravens' offense retreated back to the line of scrimmage, Flacco yelled out a play that ended with his other primary tight end, Dennis Pitta, making a catch along the left sideline. Flacco wore a red jersey, black gym shorts and no shoulder pads, and his notoriously calm demeanor, which earned him the nickname "Joe Cool," was even more casual than usual.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick has never hidden his respect for Ravens safety Ed Reed and that didn't change during Wednesday's news conference at Gillette Stadium. Belichick showered Reed with praise as the Patriots prepare to face the Ravens in Sunday's AFC championship game. "Can't say I've ever coached against anybody better than Ed Reed in the secondary," Belichick said. The Patriots have played the Ravens six times during the regular season and once in the postseason.

On Thursday afternoon, Ravens safety Ed Reed told Sirius/XM NFL Radio that he wasn't 100 percent committed to the 2012 season and that he has considered retirement this offseason and the two previous. He quickly backtracked, releasing a statement later in the day that said he wasn't referring to retirement. Throughout this offseason, Reed has made conflicting statements about his playing status -- heck, he has made conflicting statements in some individual interviews -- but team officials expect him to play in 2012.

After losing the AFC championship game earlier this year, Ed Reed walked through the Ravens locker room singing an old Teddy Pendergrass tune. "I think I better let it go ...," he sang. The familiar lines of "Love TKO" was all Reed was heard saying after the New England Patriots beat the Ravens in January. He didn't address the retirement rumors or any plans for his future. Nearly a month later, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Reed told the team he will return for his 11th season.

Part of my mission here at Baltimore Sports Blitz is to bring you the semi-latest in Ravens cornhole coverage (examples: here and here ), even the day after a miserable loss an NFL bottom-feeder. So here is mindless video of Ed Reed and Michael Oher throwing bean bags to distract you from thoughts about Monday night.

Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed channeled his inner Channing Crowder on Wednesday when a reporter asked him about offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, whom the Ravens signed after McKinnie was cut by the Vikings. In case you're unfamiliar with Crowder's body of work, the now-retired linebacker was responsible for one of the greatest quotes in the history of geography . Reed's McKinnie quote can't touch that, but it was pretty good. “Baltimore is a different city than Minnesota; there's probably a little more to do,” Reed said, referring to McKinnie's many off-the-field issues with the Vikings . “I don't know why it didn't work out down there.” Different city?

His offseason started last winter with a hint of retirement. By summer, he was diplomatically campaigning on radio for a pay raise. In the spring, he underwent invasive hip surgery. Staying ahead of Ed Reed is a difficult proposition at any time, but over the past year, it's been impossible to predict what the Ravens' Pro Bowl safety would do next. Or in Sunday's AFC wild-card game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first game back after missing six weeks on the NFL's physically-unable-to-perform list because of the surgery, he had two interceptions and caused a fumble.

One aspect missing from the buildup of Sunday's AFC North clash between the Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals is the lack of barbs usually crafted by wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. Ochocinco, a former Bengal who is now employed by the New England Patriots, once sent deodorant to the Ravens secondary to help the defensive players from sweating while trying to shadow him. He used to keep a pre-game list in his locker of the defensive players he planned to target, and he added former cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and current inside linebacker Ray Lewis in the past.

Will he or won't he? What's a Ravens offseason without some drama surrounding Ed Reed's future? Hours after general manager Ozzie Newsome reiterated that the team expects Reed to be its starting free safety in 2012, the enigmatic future Hall of Famer said in a Wednesday night interview on 105.7 The Fan that he feels disrespected by the Ravens -- enough to make him question playing this season. “I plan on playing. Everybody in the world knows that plans tend to change,” said Reed, who is in the final year of his contract.

From contract negotiations with quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice to a potentially season-ending Achilles injury to star linebacker Terrell Suggs to coach John Harbaugh 's comments on the New England Patriots to mercurial safety Ed Reed 's controversial radio interviews, the Ravens have made plenty of off-the-field news this offseason. However, the focus turns to on-the-field issues this week as many of the organization's veterans and rookies are at the Owings Mills facility this week for the three-day organized team activities.

In this part of the country, the Ravens are white hot. All things NFL make people sit up and pay attention. For the most part, this area gets to see some of the best of the NFL - millionaire football players doing good things. That was the case last weekend when Ed Reed (and for those who don't know who he is, this probably isn't the editorial for you) and some of his teammates descended on Harford County. The Jarvis Appliance Ed Reed Flag Football Classic was one of the attractions of the seventh annual Race Against Abuse of Children Everywhere foundation's fundraiser.

Ed Reed being non-committal about his future is an annual rite of spring here in Baltimore, and he kept the tradition going Thursday by telling Sirius/XM NFL Radio he isn't 100 percent committed to playing in 2012. Citing concerns about his health and long-term future, the Pro Bowl free safety told hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon that he isn't sure if he will play this season. He said that he has considered retirement during the past three offseasons -- this one included. It's also worth noting that Reed is in the final year of his contract.

Ravens rookie safety Christian Thompson knows that most of the playing time he earns this season will be on special teams. That's how most rookies first make their mark in the NFL, but it will be especially true for Thompson here in Baltimore. The Ravens, who are deep in the secondary, struggled on special teams last season. “That's going to be my main way of getting on the field,” Thompson said Sunday. “I'm only a rookie. I've still got a lot to learn in this defensive scheme, so that's probably going to take me the whole season.” A few of the team's draft picks talked about how last weekend's rookie minicamp was a bit of a rough transition . Ravens coach John Harbaugh had his practice moving at a high pace Sunday, the one day that the rookie minicamp was open to media.

Tommy Streeter will never forget the pain he felt the weekend of the NFL draft. Projected by some analysts to be a second-day pick, Streeter remained on the board until late in the sixth round. But shortly after the Ravens ended his disappointment, his phone rang. Linebacker Ray Lewis was reaching out to the Miami Hurricanes wide receiver and welcoming him to the family. “I basically told him that I was ready to make that next step, ready to train,” Streeter said Sunday, the final day of the team's three-day rookie minicamp in Owings Mills.

In an appearance on 105.7 The Fan this morning, Ravens safety Ed Reed spoke about the Achilles injury to Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs. Suggs has said it was a partial tear of the Achilles tendon and vowed to play at some point in 2012. But if the injury is a full tear, Suggs will likely be lost for the season. “It definitely takes a team to win, so no one guy is more important than the team,” Reed said. “I know Terrell. He's a young guy, so he's definitely got that on his side.

On Thursday afternoon, Ravens safety Ed Reed told Sirius/XM NFL Radio that he wasn't 100 percent committed to the 2012 season and that he has considered retirement this offseason and the two previous. He quickly backtracked, releasing a statement later in the day that said he wasn't referring to retirement. Throughout this offseason, Reed has made conflicting statements about his playing status -- heck, he has made conflicting statements in some individual interviews -- but team officials expect him to play in 2012.

Fully vested into his 10th year in the NFL, Ed Reed is still waiting for his first Super Bowl title. But the Ravens free safety isn't concerning himself about whether an 11th season is on the horizon. “I'm taking this one game at a time, taking this in stride,” he said Thursday. “The only thing I'm worrying about right now is this game, this year.” Reduced productivity and injuries have added more fire to the speculation that Reed's decision could depend on the team's results in the postseason.

After New England traded up with Denver in the first round to secure the No. 25 overall pick and select Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower, there was a strong possibility the Ravens were going to trade out of the first round at No. 29. It was a good move by the Ravens. The Ravens traded their 29th pick to the Minnesota Vikings, and got the Vikings' No. 35 pick overall (second round) and their No. 98 pick (fourth round). They now have two picks in the second round and two in the fourth round.

For an organization that considers the NFL draft its lifeblood - which is how Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta characterized it earlier this month - there is always a sense of urgency at this time of year. Each draft is crucial. Each opportunity to infuse a proven and playoff-tested nucleus with talent and depth is attacked with the same fervor. So as Ravens officials prepare for this year's draft, which starts with Thursday night's first round, they maintain that it's business as usual.