FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets and nine-time Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed agreed to terms on a contract Thursday, reuniting coach Rex Ryan with one of his favorite players.
The 35-year-old Reed was released Tuesday by Houston, cleared waivers Wednesday and joined the Jets a day later. He was with his new Jets teammates on the practice field wearing a green No. 22 jersey; his familiar No. 20 is currently worn by cornerback Kyle Wilson.
Ryan, who coached Reed for several years in Baltimore, acknowledged Wednesday that he and general manager John Idzik discussed the possibility of adding him.
“If we did, I keep that conversation private and all that kind of stuff,” Ryan said. “But part of due diligence, if you’ve coached a player, I’m sure you would want that input. So, did we have it? I think it’s safe to say yes.”
Ryan went on to say “absolutely, yes” he would like Reed on his team — just as he wants any player he has coached or “bled for me.”
Reed, however, has always been one of Ryan’s favorites, and he once labeled him the greatest safety to play the game. While his physical skills no longer make him one of the game’s elite players, Reed will be able to serve as a leader in the secondary and help bring along young safeties Antonio Allen, Jaiquawn Jarrett and Josh Bush.
There’s a good chance Reed will be ready to play Sunday at Buffalo, at least in certain situations, and it is a low-risk, high-reward situation for the Jets. New York has the NFL’s 26th-ranked pass defense, so adding a player of Reed’s experience and playmaking potential was clearly seen as a positive by both Ryan and Idzik.
Reed missed the Texans’ first two games after offseason hip surgery and was relegated to a backup role behind Shiloh Keo in recent games, making just 16 tackles. He was unhappy about not starting in Houston after signing a three-year, $15 million deal in the offseason following 11 years in Baltimore. Reed also criticized the team for being outplayed and outcoached after the Texans’ seventh straight loss last Sunday.
Reed, who won a Super Bowl last season with the Ravens, has a long list of accolades and was honored as the NFL’s top defensive player in 2004. He has dealt with hip, neck and right shoulder injuries in recent years but made it through last season without missing a game, making 58 tackles and intercepting four passes.
The move brings to mind a similar one made by the Jets to bring one of the NFL’s greatest safeties in at the end of his career, when they signed Ronnie Lott in 1993 and he played two seasons with New York.
In 11-plus seasons, Reed has 61 interceptions — seven returned for touchdowns — six sacks and two fumbles returned for scores. He is a five-time first-team All-Pro.
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