Ed Reed: Ravens Must Appease Future Hall of Famer with a New Contract

Entering a contract year this season, Baltimore Ravens' safety Ed Reed turns 34 years old in September and has undoubtedly put together a Hall of Fame career.

That said, according to Nick Kostos of Sirius XM NFL, Reed stated:

"

Ed Reed just admitted on the #SiriusXM Blitz that he's not 100% committed to playing football for the #Ravens in 2012.

"

"— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) May 17, 2012"

Certainly this is a surprise when you consider that Reed has played his entire career in Baltimore and has been named to six consecutive All-Pro teams.

If anything, this appears to be a hint from Reed about wanting a new deal as NFL Network's Albert Breer mentioned on Twitter.

"

... And Ed Reed has rumbled about retirement in the past. Plus, fellow DB Lardarius Webb just got paid. Reed's deal up after this year.

"

"— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 17, 2012"

The immediate future is what's at stake for Reed and Baltimore, because the AFC is seeing other playoff contenders like Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Buffalo and Kansas City on the rise.

In addition, there are some other reasons why the Ravens need to get Reed a new contract. So let's dive into those and then finish with Baltimore's future.

Motivation

Time is of the essence with Ed Reed and although winning a Super Bowl would certainly add to his illustrious resume, missing a Vince Lombardi Trophy isn't going to damage Reed's Hall of Fame career.

What a new contract can provide however, is security and longevity in knowing that the opportunity to win a ring remains in Baltimore. There's no reason for Reed to play anywhere else and it would be a travesty to Ravens fans if he did.

We know Ray Lewis is going to finish his career in Baltimore, as he's 37 and signed through the 2015 season. Reed, on the other hand, could potentially play a few years after Lewis retires to also close out his career in a Ravens' uniform.

We've seen some legends change teams and enjoy success, but few remember Joe Montana playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Offering Reed a new contract before the 2012 season only rejuvenates his purpose with Baltimore, which redirects that new-found motivation into maintaining a high-level of performance.

Passing League

Ed Reed is the biggest reason why the Ravens have had such a dominant pass defense throughout the past decade. The development of corners like Domonique Foxworth when healthy and Lardarius Webb are prime examples of Reed's presence in the secondary.

2010 was an uncharacteristic year for the Baltimore defense as it ranked No. 21 against the pass by allowing 225 pass yards per game. Coincidentally, Reed missed the first six games of that season and still managed to record eight picks and defend 16 passes in just 10 games.

Since, NFL offenses have significantly increased their reliance on the passing game so Reed's experience is needed now more than ever. Within the AFC North, deep threat receivers like A.J. Green and Mike Wallace are threats to get Baltimore off balance.

Elsewhere in the AFC, you have New England's offense, receiver Andre Johnson in Houston and quarterback Peyton Manning in Denver. Reed's playmaking skills and instincts are a rarity in NFL history, and the Ravens can't afford to play the next few years without him.

Immediate Future

Despite losing the AFC championship, Baltimore still remains a legit Super Bowl contender for 2012. That is, a legit contender with Ed Reed, because without him, the Ravens would be fighting for a playoff berth.

As previously mentioned, other AFC teams are on the upswing and with the ages of Lewis and Reed, Baltimore has limited time. The offense fortunately has the pieces in play with Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Ed Dickson and Torrey Smith.

The defense, however, won't be intact for another five years and the eventual replacement for Reed will have some big shoes to fill. Take a brief look into this season, we see the Ravens face a rough schedule as well.

Reed is needed to sustain the current success and keep the Super Bowl odds alive; because once he and Ray Lewis are gone, a rebuilding period is inevitable.

John Rozum on Twitter.