Free agency is now in full swing around the NFL and even face-of-the-franchise players are changing teams. On Wednesday, Baltimore Ravens safety and future first ballot Hall of Famer Ed Reed signed a three-year deal with the Houston Texans. Specifics of Reed's deal were not made public, but league officials confirmed that a deal had been approved. Meanwhile, in Chicago, Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was unable to reach a new deal with the team, and an announcement was made that the two sides would be parting ways.
Ed Reed marked the seventh key Ravens player to move on from the team since it won the Super Bowl less than two months ago. Ray Lewis and Matt Birk retired, Bernard Pollard was released, Anquan Boldin was traded and Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger were lost to free agency. The departure of Ed Reed leaves the Ravens with no starting safety on the roster and holes all over the defense. With Urlacher now seemingly available, it will be interesting to see if teams like the Ravens are interested in his services - at the right price.
Urlacher and Reed are now going to wear the uniforms of teams other than the ones that they've played with for their entire careers. And that's exactly the way the NFL wants it - star players are often forced to change teams because of their age and the league salary cap. Well-managed teams are forced to be frugal with their veteran players in the hopes that they can draft wisely and lock up young players to under-market contracts before they become stars. It will be odd for Ravens and Bears fans to see their favorite players playing for new teams in 2014, but once the season starts all will be forgotten. Such is the brilliance of the National Football League.
Ed Reed marked the seventh key Ravens player to move on from the team since it won the Super Bowl less than two months ago. Ray Lewis and Matt Birk retired, Bernard Pollard was released, Anquan Boldin was traded and Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger were lost to free agency. The departure of Ed Reed leaves the Ravens with no starting safety on the roster and holes all over the defense. With Urlacher now seemingly available, it will be interesting to see if teams like the Ravens are interested in his services - at the right price.
Urlacher and Reed are now going to wear the uniforms of teams other than the ones that they've played with for their entire careers. And that's exactly the way the NFL wants it - star players are often forced to change teams because of their age and the league salary cap. Well-managed teams are forced to be frugal with their veteran players in the hopes that they can draft wisely and lock up young players to under-market contracts before they become stars. It will be odd for Ravens and Bears fans to see their favorite players playing for new teams in 2014, but once the season starts all will be forgotten. Such is the brilliance of the National Football League.