Reed’s knack for interception returns unique

BALTIMORE — Combining instinct and tireless film study with an urge to be a difference maker, Ed Reed established himself as one of the greatest safeties in NFL history.

What he did with a football after plucking it from the air set him apart from anyone who ever played the game.

Reed made 64 interceptions over a stellar 12-year career. He owns an Nfl-record 1,590 yards in interception returns, including the two longest runbacks— 107 yards against the Eagles in 2008 and 106 yards versus the Browns in 2004. Reed considered every pass thrown in his direction to be his property. And when he got hold of it, his lone objective was to take it to house.

“My philosophy was simple. I was trying to score when I got the football in my hand,” Reed said. “When I caught the interception, I knew there weren’t too many defenders on (the opposing) offense.”

Selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, Reed will be the 15th safety inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Whether he’s the best of all time at his position is a matter of opinion — unless you’re asking Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whom Reed helped win a Super Bowl.

“It would be hard to argue that he’s not the greatest safety in the history of football, right?” Harbaugh said. “He’s one of the top 10 players maybe in the history of the game.”

Yes, his coach is expected to say something like that. But Reed also drew that kind of praise from opponents.

“He just does things that nobody else at that position does, or I don’t know if they’ve ever done it,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

Reed played football, baseball and basketball growing up in Louisiana. He idolized Michael Jordan and patterned his play in each sport clutch players.

A defensive player with the mindset of an offensive star, Reed scored 14 touchdowns during his career (including playoffs) and became the first player to score return touchdowns off a punt, blocked punt, interception and fumble recovery.

”Ed was among the smartest and most remarkable, clutch playmakers in NFL history,” Ravens general manager Eric Decosta said. “You never felt the game was out of reach when No. 20 was on the field.”