We noted this week that Baltimore’s Ed Reed is the leading AFC free safety in Pro Bowl voting. That might seem a little strange, considering that Reed missed the first six games of the season.
But it’s easy to see why the fans like Reed so much: As he showed again on Sunday (when he picked off a pass at the 42-yard line, ran it back to the 23-yard line and then lateraled it to Dawan Landry, who went the rest of the way to the end zone) Reed provides more highlights than any other defensive player in football.
I write about Reed in today’s Wall Street Journal, noting, among other things, that Reed is the NFL’s all-time leader in interception return average among players with at least 30 career picks.
The guy who’s No. 2 on the all-time interception return average list might consider this statement a “preposterous” slap in the face, but I’d call Reed the best defensive player in history with the ball in his hands.
