The Ravens have seen several longtime veterans depart already this offseason in the form of linebacker Ray Lewis, center Matt Birk and wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
If free agent safety Ed Reed makes it one more, Owner Steve Bisciotti will once again be saddened, but will also understand Reed's decision.
"If it happens, it happens," Bisciotti said Monday at the NFL owners meetings. "If we can keep him, I'm thrilled. If we can't keep him, I'm thrilled for Ed that he got his Super Bowl."
Bisciotti hasn't spoken with Reed since the Super Bowl postgame party. Thus, Reed's future in Baltimore is in the hands of General Manager Ozzie Newsome and his mantra of "right player, right price."
"Ozzie's recipe is what Ozzie's recipe is, and I can't change the recipe," Bisciotti said. "I can't change one ingredient and not change the entire thing."
Bisciotti was pained by Boldin's departure, just as he was when tight end Todd Heap was released after 10 years in purple and black. Bisciotti sees Reed's possible exit as the same situation.
"Will that hurt more than Anquan? Has [Reed] jumped the list as the toughest one? Absolutely," Bisciotti said.
Reed has played 11 seasons in Baltimore. In his seventh trip to the playoffs, he finally hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Now Reed could opt to do that for some other team.
"Anquan and Ed are going to try to go get another one before the Ravens get another one," Bisciotti said. "And that's kind of the fun of the business – picking your spots. I can't change teams, they can."
