Ed Reed has heard the critics. He knows they think he has nothing left. He’s ready to prove them wrong — in a Jets uniform.
“I know what I know, and I know what I feel,” Reed said Thursday. “I know what I put into my offseason workout. I’m ready to go. You’ll see. You’ll be the judge of that, too.”
The 35-year-old safety, who likely is bound for the Hall of Fame, became a Jet on Thursday, two days after the Texans released him. Reed is reunited with coach Rex Ryan, who was his defensive coordinator with the Ravens from 2005-08.
Ryan’s presence was a factor in Reed picking the 5-4 Jets over the division-rival Patriots, who also were interested in signing him. Reed also said his familiarity with the Jets’ system led him to picking Gang Green.
“Going in there trying to learn a new system probably would have been difficult,” Reed said. “I’m sure they probably thought about that too, but when I talked to Rex and Dennis [Thurman, defensive coordinator], everything else was kind of out the window. ”
Reed arrives with a résumé no one can argue with. He has been to nine Pro Bowls and been All-Pro five times. He is considered one of the best safeties ever to play the game. But he also arrives with question marks about what he has remaining in the tank. Houston, which is 2-7, released him Tuesday, saying it wanted to play younger players. He played just 12 snaps in the Texans’ game last Sunday with the Cardinals then criticized the coaches.
“It just wasn’t a good fit,” Reed said.
Ryan always has had high praise for Reed, saying he considered him the best safety ever to play the game. When he heard Reed had been released Tuesday, he ran up the stairs to general manager John Idzik’s office.
“It’s only rumored that I pulled a hamstring,” Ryan said jokingly. “That’s not true. Immediately, I did go up top and talk to John. He had a huge smile on his face. I think he anticipated it. He had already beat me to the punch. He had already set in motion with our scouts, everybody was assigned to do different games on him to see where he’s at. We did the same thing as a staff. Then we all got together and the decision was made.”
What they saw led Ryan to believe Reed still can be effective. The Jets contacted Reed’s agent Wednesday after he cleared waivers, and he was on a plane to New Jersey from his home in Georgia on Wednesday night. He arrived around midnight and went right to the team’s training center in Florham Park, N.J., where he met with Idzik and the staff.
He passed a physical on Thursday morning and was on the practice field with the Jets just before noon wearing No. 22. Ryan said Reed immediately showed his recollection of the defenses they ran in Baltimore.
“It feels good,” Reed said. “It feels right and it is right. I’m happy to be here. A great situation.”
Ryan and Thurman both said Reed will play Sunday against the Bills in some capacity. It likely will be a limited role, but it sounds like it will expand quickly. The Jets face the Ravens, Reed’s former team, next week.
“This had nothing to do with sentiment,” Ryan said. “We believe that Ed is going to be a great signing for us, and he’s going to help this football team without question. Again, I’ll let you guys make your own mind up or whatever when you see him on Sunday.”
Ryan also dared opponents to throw it Reed’s way.
“We’ve had some issues playing the deep ball,” Ryan said. “Teams have been throwing it over our head a few times. Let them throw it there now.”
Reed did not have many chances in Houston, with quarterbacks staying away from him, and he said he feels that led to his lack of production. He has no interceptions this year, after getting four for the Ravens last season. That led to some harsh criticism and questions whether he was finished. According to Pro Football Focus, he has had three passes thrown his way, all completions and one for a touchdown.
“It seems like Ed Reed is held to higher standards,” Reed said. “I’ve created that monster. I’ve been blessed to create that monster. I love it.”
Reed had hip surgery in the spring, but has been healthy. The Jets think he can help in the final seven games.
“The weakness of the Jets defense has been deep safety, in my opinion,” one league executive said. “He will likely be used to his skill-sets more in New York than in Houston. … He has headiness, ball skills and zone-coverage ability that have always been pluses, but see a little less explosiveness, a little less burst and a little less recovery. However, he protects himself and you don’t see him fall out of position much. He takes good angles and understands route combos and route leverage. He doesn’t give you much as a run defender. I’m sure his familiarity with Rex’s defense will assist him.”