Ravens And Reed Agree On Extension

The Baltimore Ravens added a safety net at the safety position, agreeing with 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Ed Reed on a contract extension. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome announced the news today that it will be a seven-year contract (extending his current contract six years). The extension assures that Reed will not enter the free agent market at the conclusion of the 2006 season, which was the final year of his previous contract. What some perceived as a tenuous situation between the two parties was just part of the negotiation procedure. Both head coach Brian Billick and Reed were confident that an agreement could and would be reached. "Our track record speaks for itself," Billick told the Baltimore Sun before the beginning of the Ravens' mandatory minicamps on June 6-8. "There have been very few people we value that leave this organization. Ed Reed would be right at the top of that list." As a rookie out of the University of Miami in 2002, Reed signed a five-year contract and immediately began making an impact. The 5-11, 200-pound former Hurricane began his career with five interceptions, then went on to lead the NFL in 2003 and 2004, with seven and nine picks, respectively. Both '03 and '04 were Pro Bowl campaigns. Last season, Reed was limited to only 10 games of action due to an ankle injury sustained in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. Still, the ball-hawking safety merited a spot as a first-alternate in the 2005 Pro Bowl. "Ed is one of the bright young stars in the NFL," said Newsome. "He's already had outstanding production, including his MVP season in 2004. He's an emerging leader on our defense and to the whole team, for that matter. "The way he works, the way he prepares speaks volumes to his teammates." Reed's extension ensures that one of the NFL's top secondaries - consisting of No. 20 and Pro Bowl cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle - will have the opportunity to stay intact for years to come. McAlister signed an extension that runs through 2010 in 2004, while Rolle inked a six-year deal as a free agent in 2005. To complement Reed at the safety position, the Ravens recently traded a conditional 2007 draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Gerome Sapp and drafted the hard-hitting Dawan Landry out of Georgia Tech. The training camp competition will be rounded out by Robb Butler and Jamaine Winborne - both of whom looked like playmakers at the Ravens OTAs - special teams talent B.J. Ward, and rookie free agents Shannon James and Steve Paris.