http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article.jsp?id=10555<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>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.Reed, By The NumbersYear GP/S TT Solo INTs FR FF TDs PD2002 16/16 86 69 5-167 0 1 0 132003 16/15 92 77 *7-132 0 0 0 *192004 16/16 89 80 *9-#358 3 2 1 *172005 10/10 40 36 1-23 0 0 0 12*-Led team and NFL#-NFL record</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2502163<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Four-year veteran safety Ed Reed, the league's defensive player of the year in 2004, has reached agreement with the Baltimore Ravens on a six-year contract extension worth $40 million that will carry through the 2012 season, team officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon.The team's first-round choice in the 2002 draft, Reed was entering the final year of his original contract with the team, at a base salary of $1.983 million, and would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency without the extension. Reed, 27, has been seeking to upgrade his contract for more than a year.Had the Ravens not been able to reach an extension with Reed by next spring, it is likely Baltimore would have designated the former University of Miami star a franchise player to limit his mobility. It is not known yet when the contract will be officially executed with the NFL, but Reed is expected to sign it this week, and Ravens officials said there is no chance the deal will not be completed.The deal makes Reed one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. Reed's agent, Greg Genske, said his client will receive a $15 million signing bonus in the largest deal ever given to a safety."It's one less thing for him to worry about," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "He knows he is going to be here for the long-term now, and it part of the plans in the big picture, and he can devote his energies now to football matters and to being the playmaker he has always been for us."If possible, Reed's importance to the Baltimore defense will be heightened this year, since he will be breaking in a new safety partner. Starting free safety Will Demps departed to the New York Giants as an unrestricted free agent and there are a number of candidates, all of them relatively inexperienced, vying for the job.The 24th player selected overall in the 2004 draft, Reed became a starter as a rookie and has been a fixture in the Baltimore defense ever since. In four seasons, he has appeared in 58 games and started in all but one of those contests. Reed missed six games in 2005 with an ankle injury and recorded career lows in games played (10), tackles (37), interceptions (one) and passes defensed (12).In his first three seasons, Reed averaged 89 tackles, seven interceptions and 16.3 passes defensed. Reed posted five or more interceptions in each of his first three seasons and led the NFL with nine interceptions in 2004. The Ravens expect him to return to health, and to his previous form, for 2006. Reed was selected to the Pro Bowl for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.Although he is listed as a strong safety, and is effective playing close to the line of scrimmage, Reed also possesses great range and a big-play mindset. In his four seasons, he has 31 "big plays," the combination of takeaways and sacks.</div>
6 Years, 40 Million.Holy Shit.... That one completely blows out the overpaid Archuleta deal out of the water. Thats prime position type money for a Saftey.
He definately deserve this kind of money because he has proved he's one of the best strong saftey in the league and i expect him to have a great year since he got hurt last season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (chang @ Jun 29 2006, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd give Reed a 40 million extension when he won the DPOY in his 3rd season.</div>Im not saying he shouldnt be the leagues highest paid saftey.Im saying he shouldne be the leagues highest paid saftey by 10 million over what the Redskins gave Archuleta.
