This completes the defensive exodus from Baltimore, it is officially Time to start over on D in Baltimore.

Stay tuned for details as this story developes.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) after their game against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

So last night the word among experts and people in the know was that the defection of Ed Reed was all over but the crying. Then something happened, around 1 in the morning, word started to spread that the Ravens were still in discussions with Reed and that there was a 50-50 shot for the Texans to steal him at best. Now Reed has left Houston and has gone back to Atlanta(his offseason home).

The word on the street currently is that Reeds Agent and members of both the Ravens and Texans front office will meet with each other this week at the NFL league meetings. Jason LaCanfora has theorized that the Texans Offer was in the ballpark of the Ravens offer and that Reed might not be willing to leave for just a small raise.

This is all pretty interesting stuff, i am not sure I ever remember there being so much drama over what has to be a 2 year contract before. but it is a very good sign that the Ravens are still fighting for Reed. Just the fact that they arent willing to just give up on him is the type of thing that will speak volumes to Reed. Reed is very concerned with respect and feeling valued, the Ravens are showing both to him right now.

I am a big Ed Reed fan, i think he is probably the best safety to ever play this game in for my money there are only maybe 6-7 players at any position that were better than him in his prime. That said, I am not sure which direction I want this thing to go. on one hand, the Ravens need a solid leader in the backfield to hold things together and there is still no better coverage safety in the league than Reed. On the other hand Reed is in the twilight of his career, threatens retirement every offseason(except, oddly enough, the one where is is about to get paid), and he cant tackle my grandmother in the open field.

He is still a valuble player because of the way he alters opposing offenses schemes, but i am not sure he is going to be worth what he gets paid(many are speculating the Texans offered him between 4.5 and 5 million per year). What do you think Ravens fans?

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Stop me if you have heard this one before, but the Ravens are about to lose a free agent. This time though, it strikes a little closer to home than the others have. Ed Reed signing with the Texans appears immanent. It will probably be official tomorrow morning.

Reed is a Ravens lifer in the minds of most Ravens fans, so it is extremely sad to see him walk away, but it appears that the Ravens not only arent willing to pay him what he is asking for, but they might not be interested in paying him at all. Multiple Ravens insiders have been reporting that the Ravens had little or no interest in pursuing Reed. This has been coming for months so it isn’t terribly surprising, but that wont make it any easier to see Reed in a different uniform. At least it isn’t the Patriots or Colts though.

It has been a really tough couple of days for the Ravens fan base, but from all reports and conversations I have had with people, it seems like the only player the Ravens didn’t plan to lose was Ellerbe, and they weren’t even all that optimistic about keeping him. The good news for Ravens fans though, is that this all seems to be part of the plan. It is time for the Ravens defense to evolve, unfortunately for us sentimental fans, that evolution does not involve Ed Reed.

i will get a post up to thank Ed Reed for everything he has done here in Baltimore when it becomes official.