Ravens' Reed talks retirement
INDIANAPOLIS – After a frustrating game in which the Baltimore Ravens' Ed Reed(notes) fumbled away one interception and had another wiped out by a penalty, one of the top safeties in the game talked about walking away from the game.
"It's 50-50," Reed said of whether he'll retire this offseason. "I have great doctors I deal with. … It hurts just to think about."
Reed, an eight-year veteran who has been considered one of his position's elite performers since being a first-round draft pick in 2002, has been bothered by injuries to both legs this season, a groin problem and neck pain that has affected him for the past two years.
At 31, Reed said he started considering retirement as the clock ran down in Baltimore's second-round playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night.
"Honestly, I did [think about retirement]. It kind of hit me on the sidelines. … I don't know how much I'm going to have going forward."
Reed has 46 career interceptions in the regular season and seven interceptions in eight playoff games. He missed four games this season with injuries. He has scored eight defensive touchdowns in his career, and he has made six Pro Bowls. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.
