Houston an ideal spot for Reed, other aging NFL stars

By: Seth of Reddington

HOUSTON, TX—Ed Reed has done it all. 

Super Bowl winner, 9-time Pro Bowler, former AP Defensive Player of the Year, former college roommate of Reggie Wayne.

At 34 years of age, some would ask, "Well, what's next?"

The answer: early retirement … sort of.

Reed, currently a free agent, visited with the Houston Texans on Thursday and Friday to discuss a potential deal.

Reed sat down (he stood) with a few reporters after exiting the offices of Reliant Stadium late Thursday evening. When asked what he thought about Houston so far, Reed replied, "I like it. It's a great complex, a great area and I have a lot of respect for what Arian [Foster] and Andre [Johnson] have done here."

"This organization seems to be on the up and up," said Reed while trying to keep a straight face. He appeared to be holding something back. After all, with Reed's impressive body of work and nearly every team showing some sort of interest, many within the sports world were surprised to see Houston listed as his first choice.

Reed explained, "To be honest, I'm getting up there in age, and the idea of warm weather and a shortened season just sounded really good. I mean, when I was in Baltimore it seemed like every year I was out there destroying my body until like late January. This year it was February! Nope. Not this guy. Not anymore."

He added, "The Texans have only made the playoffs twice since I've been in the league, and they've proven that the Cincinnati Bengals are the only team they can get past."

Reed nodded.

"I like my odds on that."

The future hall-of-famer already has 61 career interceptions in the NFL, but it appears he doesn't plan on adding to that impressive total anytime soon. "I mean think about it- JJ Watt knocks down every ball thrown on that defense, so they won't need me to do much in the secondary. They're offering me big bucks to play under a roof, watch JJ Watt terrorize quarterbacks and hang up my cleats in early January? Where do I sign?"

He would go on to mention Houston's stellar retirement community and his need to get away from elite quarterback Joe Flacco's flamboyant personality.

Reed's weekend meetings were cut short on account of a visiting Pitbull concert, but league sources expect Reed and the Texans to come to a deal sometime this week.