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After recently being benched and making critical comments about his new team, former Ravens safety Ed Reed was cut by the Houston Texans on Tuesday.
Spending the first 11 years of his career in Baltimore and finally tasting Super Bowl glory last February, Reed signed a three-year, $15 million deal that included $5 million guaranteed in March to join the Texans, who were seeking defensive leadership and help at safety. However, Reed underwent hip surgery in the offseason, forcing him to miss the Texans’ first two games before he made his debut with his new team against the Ravens on Sept. 22.
Reed’s play was disappointing as he collected 16 tackles with no interceptions or pass breakups in seven games. Reed eventually lost the starting free safety job and was critical after the 2-7 Texans’ loss to Arizona on Sunday, saying his team was “outplayed” and “outcoached” after he played only 12 snaps against the Cardinals.
Houston is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak and replaced Reed in the starting lineup two weeks ago with Shiloh Keo.
The 2004 AP Defensive Player of the Year is subject to waivers and owed roughly $400,000 for the remainder of the 2013 season. Considering the minimal interest the Ravens showed in retaining Reed this offseason and his lackluster play as a 35-year-old safety coming off a second hip surgery in four years, an on-field reunion with Baltimore appears highly unlikely despite the Ravens essentially playing with two strong safeties in the secondary this season.
A Pro Football Talk report has already said the Ravens will not put in a waiver claim for their former free safety.
The sides parted amicably in the offseason and Reed joined his former teammates to visit the White House in early June as the Super Bowl XLVII champions were honored by President Barack Obama, but the most likely scenario that involves Reed returning to the Ravens would be a ceremonial one-day contract in the offseason. Such a gesture would allow the future Hall of Famer to retire as a member of the organization that drafted him out of the University of Miami in 2002.
