Jets safety Ed Reed lambasted the press Friday, accusing it of not understanding the game, trying to stir controversy and tear the Jets apart.
In short, he was full of holiday cheer.
“Your guys’ jobs is to critique, be critics. That’s why you ask a controversial question — to try to be controversial, then trash people in the media,’’ Reed said when asked a question by The Post. “I could care less about that. Missed tackles happen. Nobody’s perfect. Big plays, you can’t have them. Not to win.’’
Between hip surgery, leaving Baltimore and being waived by Houston, Reed acknowledged it has been a tough season. But the surefire Hall of Famer is clearly not reacting well to criticism — arguably the first real criticism of his career.
“It’s been a long year, definitely not what I expected,’’ Reed admitted. “Expectations [were] high coming into it, regardless of surgery. You leave a great organization thinking you’re going somewhere else to build something, thinking they had something, but it turns out different. No regrets, though, because I’ve learned a lot this season.
“Everything I’ve been through, I’ve been through for a reason, to learn a lot. Even reading your guys’ blogs, listening to your comments, knowing half of you don’t know as much about football as you think you do. Unless you come sit in the film room with us and break film down, you don’t even know the schematic part of it.
“You can ask the questions, but that don’t mean that you’re an expert at what we do. It’s funny to me. Reading it, I smile at it, laugh at it. But that’s your job, some of your jobs. You tear people down — [or] try to — and tear the team down, not understand that it’s a team. You’d rather point the finger at one individual. It’s not an individual game. It’s a team sport.’’
A nine-time Pro Bowler who surely will end up in Canton, Reed acknowledged how tough it was to be on three teams within a year. At 35, he has faced deteriorating play and criticism for the first time, something Rex Ryan said has been tough on him.
“I think so, because this is a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame player,’’ Ryan said. “The fact there’s some negative criticism, everybody’s going to expect 25 or 26-year-old Ed Reed back there. Well, that’s not it. But this is still a good football player, an outstanding football player. Is he as good as he once was? No. But guess what? That list is really short, because you have to start at the top with Ed Reed.
“In my opinion he’s the finest free safety in the history of this game. If he’s going down, he’s climbing down from the very top of the mountain, and that’s Mount Everest. Ed’s a prideful guy. He’s probably never faced criticism in his life because of the kind of player he is.’’
We know what kind of player Reed was in the past, but what kind is he in the present? And will he keep playing in the future? Ryan said Reed has provided the expected leadership and mentoring and helped prevent the deep ball, although hasn’t made as many plays downfield as expected.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reed was the 46th-ranked safety out of 88, just based on his time with the Jets. His contract is up at the end of this season, and Reed said he’d want to return next year, but only if Ryan returns as well.
“Yes, I wouldn’t mind staying here. I know the coaches, the scheme, the trust [and] relationships I’ve built with these players the last few weeks has been awesome,’’ Reed said.
Asked if that would change if Ryan weren’t here, he said: “Probably, because it’s his scheme. … I don’t see why he shouldn’t be [here]. Great coach.’’