Ed

April 20, 2002 : A season removed from winning their first Super Bowl, the Ravens take Reed, a play-making free safety out of the University of Miami, with the 24th pick in the 2002 Draft. Then minority owner Steve Bisciotti wanted University of Florida cornerback Lito Sheppard, but General Manager Ozzie Newsome stuck to his draft board. Sept. 30, 2002: In a 34-23 home victory over the Denver Broncos, Reed picked off Brian Griese for his first career interception and also blocked the first punt in Ravens' history.

For so long, they had been the two faces of one of the league's most dominant defenses, Ray Lewis the punishing tackler and Ed Reed the unrelenting ball hawk. Now, they are both gone and the mass exodus from the Ravens defense continues. About six weeks after Lewis retired following his last game as a Raven, Reed moved closer to signing a two-year deal with the Houston Texans, who aggressively pursued the 34-year-old safety over the last week. Terms of the deal aren't known and there are still a few things that have to be worked out, but it's clear that Reed and the organization that he had played with for the last 11 years have parted ways.

I sat down with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti today at the league meetings and we discussed a variety of topics. The Q&A will be on our site momentarily. However, since I've been getting the most questions about his thoughts on free agent safety Ed Reed, I figured I'd put up his comments that just related to that topic. They are below: Where are things at with free agent safety Ed Reed and would it be tough to lose Reed and Ray Lewis the same offseason? Bisciotti: " I don't think the same offseason matters much.

As the occasional snowflake fluttered through the air and landed on a makeshift football field, Jahvid Best once again stood on the sideline, watching others play the game he loves. This day, it was his choice. The Detroit Lions running back, who hasn't played a game since October 2011 because of multiple concussions, was one of 17 NFL players who visited St. Vincent's Villa in Timonium on Sunday morning. As Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt captained teams of children, Best laughed, cheered and tried to stay warm.

Ed Reed sure seems to be serious about exploring his options on the open market. As I write this, the free-agent safety is in Houston, where the Texans have rolled out the red carpet for the likely future Hall-of-Famer. They scooped him up in a private jet and scurried him to Reliant Stadium, where he was greeted by video cameras, microphones and a group of Houston media. Surely, Reed feels wanted right now. And surely, that means something to the 34-year-old, who has always had a sizable chip on his shoulder.

It's not all bad news for the Ravens on the first day of free agency. Despite trading receiver Anquan Boldin on Monday and then losing linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe on Tuesday, the Ravens still might have a shot at retaining safety Ed Reed and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. Free agency is basically a young man's game, and the big names usually sign during the first couple of days when the market opens. So far, the interest has been lukewarm for McKinnie and Reed.

Edwin F. Hale Sr., the Baltimore developer and former CEO of First Mariner Bancorp, filed a $5 million lawsuit Monday against the operators of 1st Mariner Arena , alleging they are improperly using billboards that belong to him. Filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court, Hale's suit names as defendants arena operator SMG Holdings of West Conshohocken, Pa., and the advertising firm that replaced him at the arena, Legends Sales and Marketing of...

Try to imagine the Ravens defense next season without Ray Lewis. Now try to imagine it without Ed Reed, too. No, I can't do it, either. One thing's for sure: the Ravens are at a delicate point in their long relationship with the moody free safety with NFL free agency starting Tuesday. The man is bound for the Hall of Fame and he's been the ultimate team player and community do-gooder for the Ravens. So they don't want to tick him off with a ridiculously low offer. But with his age (34)

The welcome lifting of the federal consent decree on Baltimore City Public Schools does not mean all is well for students with disabilities in Baltimore and Maryland - far from it. Yet, the General Assembly rarely pays any attention to the fact that special education isn't nearly special enough. Hopefully that will change. Pending legislation gives lawmakers a chance to at least take a small step to improve the education of students with disabilities. As things now stand, students across the range of disabilities - from intellectual limitations to language impairments to dyslexia - are denied the opportunity to meet academic standards because they are not provided services to which they are entitled under federal and state laws.

The Orioles will host a Phillies split-squad team this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez will make his first spring apparance for the Orioles, following starter Chris Tillman. He threw an indoor bullpen session with hitters tracking on Tuesday, and since he threw 35 pitches then, he will likely go at least two innings today against the Phillies, pitch count permitting. Tillman, making his second spring start today, allowed one hit and issued two walks while striking out one in his first start against Boston on Wednesday night.