Tom Brady has a longstanding admiration for Ed Reed. So, when the future Hall of Fame safety became available last week, Brady got on the recruiting trail.
Brady texted Reed, trying to recruit the veteran safety to join the Patriots, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. Brady told Reed to stop playing against New England and start playing for them, La Canfora writes.
Reed was very intrigued by the idea of signing with New England following his release, but the Patriots didn’t do much in the way of recruiting him. The Patriots didn’t have any official contact with the nine-time Pro Bowler after he cleared waivers. Meanwhile, Jets head coach Rex Ryan heavily recruited him, texting him almost immediately upon clearing waivers.
Bill Belichick has had a long and well documented infatuation with Reed over the years, even saying that the former Raven might be the best safety ever to play in the NFL. Apparently, Belichick wasn’t too interested in the aging safety (35 years old), though. The Patriots didn’t make a great effort to sign Reed when he became a free agent during the offseason either.
The Patriots’s secondary has been much improved this season, lessening the need to add Reed. Devin McCourty has been playing at an All-Pro level and veteran Steve Gregory, who is still ailing with a thumb injury, has been far improved over last season as well.
Reed, who signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Texans during the offseason, was released by the team last week after playing just seven games with Houston. The Jets quickly scooped Reed up off the free-agent pile, signing him to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum (pro-rated to about $387,000 for the rest of the season).
Reed recorded three tackles, including one tackle for loss, in his first game with the Jets — a 37-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
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