Baltimore Ravens: No Need to Worry About Ed Reed

Ed Reed likes to stir the pot from time to time.

Whether it's openly flirting with retirement due to legitimate injury, or using the media as a tool to get a new contract, sometimes he just likes to get a rise.

It's just Ed being Ed, and the Ravens organization and the media outlets that cover the team are used to it.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora and The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec summed it up best in their tweets on the subjects yesterday: 

"

@JasonLaconfora Would be pretty surprised if Ed Reed didn't play football this season, despite what he said today. Ed likes to stir it up sometimes

@JeffZrebiec Reed has also said this offseason that he'd like to play four or five more years. #Ravens have gotten used to Ed being Ed

"

So while these comments shouldn't be taken lightly, they can't really be taken too seriously either.

The Ravens don't have to appease Ed Reed to get him to be a competitor; he was born than way, and he doesn't know any other. This is the same Ed Reed that plays like a champion through injury after injury. The same Ed Reed that comes up with game-changing plays at the most crucial of times. The same Ed Reed that can change the entire momentum of a game. Isn't it?  

Contrary to popular belief, the Ravens' defense is by no means "old." They're actually leaning further towards the young side. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are not.

Lewis has his Super Bowl ring, but his Miami brother doesn't.

Ed Reed may be a future hall of fame safety, and one of the best players to ever take the field—but there's no doubt that he won't be satisfied without a Super Bowl title.

Then there's the money that Reed would be leaving on the table by retiring. Obviously a Super Bowl is higher on the list of reasons to stay, but it'd be tough to pass up on about $7 million dollars—no matter how much money you've already made.

So rest easy Ravens fans. Your beloved Ed Reed will be back this season, despite whatever uncertainty he decides to display between now and then.

He'll be back to help Ray Lewis lead the defense in the absence of Terrell Suggs. He'll be back to make that game-changing interception right when you've come to expect it. He'll be back to tutor fourth round draft pick and rookie free safety Christian Thompson. He'll be back for another shot at the Super Bowl title that seems to always allude him.

And you better believe, that Ed Reed will be back to stir the pot, yet again.