Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans have signed safety Ed Reed, taking the future Hall of Famer away from the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
Terms were not disclosed, but the Houston Chronicle has reported it to be a three-year deal worth $15 million with $5 million guaranteed.
"This late in my career, you think about things differently," said Reed at a Friday press conference. "It was just a matter of being somewhere that fits, for me and the team. It was perfect timing."
Reed had spent his entire 11-year career with in Baltimore after the Ravens selected him with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 draft. The Miami-Florida product has led the league in interceptions three times, totaling 61 in 160 career games. He has taken a pick back for a touchdown seven times.
"To say that we have added a player who makes a difference is an understatement," said Texans general manager Rick Smith on Friday.
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Reed helped the Ravens to the Super Bowl last season. He had four interceptions and 58 tackles in 16 regular-season games last year.
"That's 11 years, that's just storybook," Reed said about his time with the Ravens. "I'm proud to say the last game in Baltimore was a Super Bowl. The relationships I had with people in Baltimore will never change."
The Ravens were hoping to keep Reed, but the two sides could not agree to a new contract.
"Our hope is that the Hall of Fame players we drafted could play their entire careers with us, but we understand why Ed is moving on to the Texans," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome in a statement Friday. "How fortunate we were to have Ed with us for 11 seasons. He is one of the Ravens' and NFL's all-time greats. Words cannot measure what he did for us, including helping us win a second Super Bowl. We thank him for all he did for Baltimore. Ed will always be a part of the Ravens family."
Reed became another key player to leave the Super Bowl champs this offseason.
Superstar linebacker Ray Lewis and veteran Pro Bowl center Matt Birk retired after the Super Bowl championship, while wide receiver Anquan Boldin was traded to San Francisco. Safety Bernard Pollard was cut and signed with Tennessee, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe went to Miami as a free agent and linebacker Paul Kruger signed with Cleveland as a free agent.
