As Ed Reed and the Ravens celebrated their Super Bowl XLVII victory, the organization and the future Hall of Famer made one thing clear:
Both sides want Reed back in Baltimore next year.
"We had that conversation yesterday on the bus ride away from the stadium actually," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday morning after the Super Bowl. "He and I both agreed that we want him back. I want him back, and Ed wants to come back."
Reed is now an unrestricted free agent and he emphasized that he hopes Sunday's Super Bowl was not his last time in a Ravens uniform.
Reed, who said that he played through sprained MCLs in both knees, reiterated that he has no plans to retire and could see himself playing a few more seasons.
"This is not it," Reed said. "This is not it. I'm not done."
The 11-year veteran could have another payday coming his way as an unrestricted free agent, so he and the Ravens would have to come to terms on a new contract.
General Manager Ozzie Newsome said earlier in the week that he and Reed would sit down a few weeks after the season to talk about his future and what it would take to keep him in Baltimore. Reed downplayed questions about his future and said he wanted to relish his first Super Bowl victory.
"It's all about right now," Reed said. "I'll reassess things the way I always do and we'll tune in and get back to you all. It's all about the moment. I'm not even thinking about this. I love this game. If I'm able to do it, I'll be doing it."
Despite playing through pain, Reed showed in the Super Bowl that he can still perform at a high level.
He came up with an interception and also displayed some physical play at times with big hits on tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Reed could draw interest from multiple suitors, but his preference is to stay with the team that drafted him in the first round 11 years ago. Newsome even said that he could see the Ravens carving out a role for Reed as a coach or in player development once his career is finished.
"You never know how these things are going to work out," Harbaugh said. "But we are going to work like crazy to work it out because Ed's a Baltimore Raven, and hopefully we can make that happen."
