Ed Reed skips first day of camp

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed skipped the first day of the Baltimore Ravens' mandatory minicamp, and the team is unsure what prompted Reed's unexcused absence.

"I have not communicated with Ed, so I'm not sure what the situation is on that," coach John Harbaugh told reporters after Tuesday's practice.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, the Ravens can fine Reed as much as $63,000 for missing the mandatory three-day minicamp and another $9,000 for not taking the physical when players report.

This doesn't appear to be an indication that Reed is contemplating retirement. Inside linebacker Ray Lewis told reporters Tuesday that Reed has a family issue and will report to training camp in late July.

"People across the world never worry about minicamps or whatever," Lewis said, according to the Baltimore Sun. "Whatever him and coach talked about, they talked about. I don't think it's an issue at all. Ed has other things going, a baby boy, and he's really trying to focus on things like that. Sometimes, life calls you away from the game. These three days won't take away from what Ed Reed's focus is, and that is to come back and help our defense be the best defense there is in football. I don't think it's an issue at all, not for us."

Last month, Reed created a stir when he told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was "not 100 percent committed right now to playing this year." Reed later clarified his comments, saying he plans on playing in 2012 and possibly beyond.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said last week that he expected Reed to be at the team's mandatory minicamp. Reed is holding a two-day football camp three miles from Ravens headquarters next month.

Reed, 33, has been vocal in his displeasure over his contract situation. He is scheduled to make $7.2 million in the final year of a six-year, $44.4 million contract.

In other news, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie didn't practice for conditioning reasons. Harbaugh said, "We're probably going to continue to do that to get him into good shape."

Center Matt Birk was absent while recovering from surgery on varicose veins in his leg.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Jamison Hensley

NFL

• Archive

• ESPN AFC North Blogger
• A University of Maryland graduate
• Lives in the Baltimore area with his wife