The drama surrounding Ed Reed can be put to rest. Sort of.
Jeremiah: Return trips unlikely
How hard is it to make it to the AFC or NFC Championship Game two straight years? Daniel Jeremiah says recent history doesn't bode well for Ravens, Patriots, 49ers, Giants. **More ...**
Reed told Comcast SportsNet Baltimore on Wednesday that he will be playing in 2012. This comes as no surprise, but it's welcome news to the Baltimore Ravens organization and fans after Reed's hints about retirement href="">.
"I always planned on playing this year," Reed said. "I never thought about not playing. I want to play four or five years after this."
So why is the drama only "sort of" over?
Reed still hasn't promised to show up to training camp on time. A holdout wouldn't be a surprise at all. And as we've learned with Reed before, he's apt to change his public tune on these matters on a daily basis.
"I was reflecting," Reed said. "I retired this offseason. I honestly got myself away from football. That's why I didn't come to minicamp. I was away from football. I was spending time with my family. "A player would be wrong not to assess himself, any player, after a 10-year career. That's what I was doing."
We expect Reed to be at training camp, and he even might show up for day one. But the only real surprising development would be if the drama surrounding him totally ended anytime soon.