The Houston Texans just couldn’t figure out how to defend Tom Brady and the Patriots’ passing attack in 2012. So, they’re enlisting a new enforcer to help get them over the hump.
Ed Reed agreed to join the Texans on Wednesday, according to Jason La Confora of CBS Sports. The deal is reportedly for two years and La Confora inferred it could pay Reed an average of $6 million per season.
The Texans allowed the Patriots to score 83 points in two games, including a blowout loss in the divisional playoffs, which is why adding Reed could make a significant difference. Reed’s Ravens beat the Patriots twice in 2012 and held them to just 13 points in the AFC Championship Game on their way to the Super Bowl.
The Texans knew they needed a top-flight corner to compete with Brady, Peyton Manning and some of the other quarterbacks they’ll face on the road to a championship, so owner Bob McNair made sure money wasn’t an issue.
“We play all of the top QBs,” McNair told NFL Networks Ian Rapoport. We needed a free safety back there that had outstanding ball skills.”
Adding Reed to an already stout defense, featuring the likes of J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing, Danieal Manning and Jonathan Joseph, makes the Texans even more dangerous heading into next season and should allow them to better deal with Brady, Manning and others.
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