Ed Reed and Biggest Questions Surrounding Baltimore Ravens' 2012 Season

The Baltimore Ravens came within win of the Super Bowl last season, but instead of an offseason filled with reloading for another Super Bowl run, the Ravens have faced contract impasses, significant injuries and the potential retirement of one of their defensive stalwarts.

Here's the latest on the storm clouds swirling around the Ravens and how all this uncertainty could affect the team's chances of being a contender in the AFC in 2012.

Ed Reed's 2012 Status in Doubt?

As if the Baltimore Ravens hadn't experienced enough drama over the past few weeks, safety Ed Reed thought it best to add some more fuel to the fire. Reed told Sirius XM NFL Radio per the Baltimore Sun Thursday that he "wasn't 100 percent committed to playing in 2012" and that while the team may not have been aware of this fact before then "I think they will know after this interview."

Before any Ravens fans start opening windows or climbing on ledges, it's important to note that the 33-year-old, who griped about his contract status back in April, backtracked on his statements so quickly that I'm surprised he didn't pull a hamstring. He told the Carroll County Times that he will indeed be roaming the Baltimore secondary in 2012:

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"It's not about retirement, it's about my focus in the offseason, health, family and football," said Reed, who has battled hip, neck and shoulder injuries in recent years. "This is the time of year where players think through things. My goal is to play football in the years to come."

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At his age and given his recent injury history, it's no surprise that Reed would contemplate hanging them up. That said, Ed Reed threatening retirement has become as much of a summer ritual as swimming pools opening on Memorial Day Weekend, and all indications are the eight-time Pro-Bowl performer will give it at least one more go-round this year.

Upshaw "Ready to Compete"

An even bigger issue for the Ravens as we head into training camp is trying to figure out a way to plug the hole left by the loss of 2011 NFL defensive player of the year Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles' tendon while working out in Arizona and will be out until at least November.

All American linebacker Courtney Upshaw, who the Ravens selected with the 35th pick in April's 2012 NFL draft, will undoubtedly be called upon to pick up a significant portion of Suggs' slack. The former Alabama star recently conceded to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that he knows he can't "replace" Suggs, but the Crimson Tide standout is eager to try to lessen the impact of Suggs' loss.

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“The coaches told me to come out here this mini-camp and learn the defense, come out here and compete,” Upshaw said. “Honestly, speaking on Suggs, there’s only one Suggs. You can’t replace Suggs. Everybody’s got to come in as a team. The veteran leadership on this team is not going to allow slacking on my part or anybody else’s. Everybody’s gotta step up.”

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Suggs racked up 70 tackles, 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles a season ago. The trio of Upshaw, Paul Kruger and Pernell McPhee may not match that lofty production, but they should at least be talented enough to "tread water" until Suggs' (hopeful) return. If that is indeed the case, the vaunted Baltimore defense shouldn't suffer a huge drop-off, even without Terrell Suggs on the field.

The Latest on the Ray Rice Situation

The Ravens' offseason woes haven't been limited to the defensive side of the ball. Starting running back Ray Rice, who topped 2,000 total yards for Baltimore a season ago, still hasn't signed his franchise tender for 2012, and progress regarding a long-term extension has been slow.

However, a contract signed by another star running back may be just the kick in the pants that negotiations needed. The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and Matt Vensel theorized Thursday that the five-year, $45 million extension signed by LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles this week could help set a benchmark for a similar extension for Rice.

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If a Rice extension gets done - and I still believe that it will - it will be in the neighborhood of the deals that McCoy and [Arian] Foster got. The same might hold true for Matt Forte, the also-franchised running back of the Chicago Bears, and for Maurice Jones-Drew who is looking for a new contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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It appears to be in the Ravens' best interest to get Rice, who at 25 is already one of the league's top running backs, locked up long-term, and the McCoy deal sets one more measuring stick for both the team and Rice to base his perceived value off of.

At any rate, Rice still has until July 16 to sign the franchise tender, which leaves plenty of time to hammer out a deal. While anxious Ravens fans would surely like to see this situation resolved yesterday, it's not even close to time to start freaking out...yet.

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