Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Singing superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48

Ravens safety Reed contemplating retirement

Six-time Pro Bowler says notion ‘kind of hit me on the sidelines’

APTOPIX Ravens Colts FootballAP
Colts receiver Pierre Garcon, right, knocks the ball out of the hands of Ravens safety Ed Reed after Reed intercepted a pass during the second half Saturday. The Colts recovered the ball on the play.

INDIANAPOLIS - Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed is considering retirement after an injury-filled season.

The 31-year-old Reed missed four December games because of a variety of injuries, including problems with his neck, hip and groin.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and it kind of hit me on the sidelines,” he said Saturday after a 20-3 playoff loss to the Colts. “It’s going to be a long offseason. It hurts. I am just thinking about it.

“I’m 50-50. I am going to re-evaluate things and see how it goes in the next couple of days.”

The six-time Pro Bowler was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year. He had one interception of Peyton Manning on Saturday night, but fumbled on his runback, handing the ball back to the Colts. He also had an interception and long return erased by a pass interference penalty on teammate Corey Ivy.

Reed has a franchise-record 46 interceptions and 13 career touchdowns. He is the only player in NFL history to score TDs by blocking a punt and returning a punt, an interception and a fumble.

But Reed has been hindered over the past two seasons by a damaged nerve in his neck, among the other injuries. He made only three interceptions this year, yet made the Pro Bowl.

“It wasn’t a weird nomination. I played the majority of the season,” he said.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Gerald Sensabaugh, Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, DeSean Jackson
AP
Offseason needs for NFC teams

Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.

Image: Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos
Getty Images
Wesseling: Offseason priorities for AFC teams

Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.

Slideshow
Image: AFC Championship: New York Jets v Indianapolis Colts
  Playoff time
See the best images from the 2010 NFL playoffs.

more photos