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Since Ravens insider linebacker Rolando McClain surprisingly declared his intention to retire from the NFL on Wednesday afternoon, many have questioned the motives and sincerity of his decision to walk away from football at the age of 23.

Some have even gone as far as suggesting it’s an orchestrated plan to keep McClain out of the limelight while he deals with the fallout of three arrests in the last 16 months and could ultimately lead to his return to the Ravens as early as this August. By placing McClain on the reserve-retired list, general manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens retain the former 2010 first-round pick’s rights by way of the one-year, $700,000 deal he signed in April.

McClain attempted to clarify his unconventional decision Thursday and made it known that the Ravens had nothing to do with his choice to retire after three tumultuous seasons with the Oakland Raiders and before making it to organized team activities in Owings Mills.

“Clearly, my decision to retire has raised some questions,” McClain said in a statement released to several media outlets. “Quite simply, I love football, but I have decided at this time it is in my best interest to focus on getting my personal life together. Beyond that, I’m not sure what the future holds for me, including football. This was entirely my decision and the Ravens have been very supportive during this process. I am very grateful for the opportunity they gave me and wish them the best of luck in the future. God willing, maybe I’ll play for them one day.”

The details of how McClain intends to get his personal life in order remain unknown as he vowed earlier this offseason that he needed to avoid spending time in his hometown of Decature, Ala., where he was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest just 10 days after signing a one-year contract with the Ravens. Of course, the biggest takeaway from his statement was his way of leaving the door open to not only a return to the NFL but also the Ravens.

If McClain is truly committed to making the necessary changes in his life to reverse the treacherous route he’s walked over the last couple years, you hope we’ve heard the last of the 2010 first-round pick on the polite scanner. However, the Ravens shouldn’t be interested in being burned a second time by an individual who showed his appreciation to the organization by being arrested less than two weeks after signing and failing to commit himself to the offseason training program.

The former University of Alabama standout may very well receive another opportunity in the NFL one day, but the Ravens shouldn’t let the fact that they hold his current rights cloud the truth that played out over the better part of a month. They can’t give into temptation and risk looking foolish yet again while sending the wrong message to the current players on the roster.

McClain’s time in Baltimore should be over for good.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens appeared to accomplish a great deal by the conclusion of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Frankly, to evaluate a draft as good or bad immediately after it takes place is a pointless endeavor, but you can look at a team’s list of needs entering the annual event to determine how successful an organization was in addressing those positions. Whether those picks ultimately work out or not won’t be known for a few years in many cases.

General manager Ozzie Newsome did what he set out to do after stating just a few days after the Super Bowl that the Ravens needed to get stronger up the middle defensively. With their first three picks of the draft, the Ravens selected Florida safety Matt Elam, Kansas State inside linebacker Arthur Brown, and Missouri Southern State defensive tackle Brandon Williams to add to the middle of defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ unit.

Baltimore added more depth to its front seven with the selections of defensive ends John Simon (Ohio State) and Kapron Lewis-Moore (Notre Dame), though the latter is currently recovering from a torn ACL sustained in the BCS national title game. The Ravens added interior offensive line depth with the additions of Wisconsin’s Ricky Wagner and Ryan Jensen of Colorado State-Pueblo. A cornerback was drafted with California’s Marc Anthony, reinforcing Newsome’s proclamation before the draft that you can never have too many despite the Ravens already having quality depth at the positon.

The Ravens found their fullback of the future in Harvard’s Kyle Juszczyk, who may even push veteran Vonta Leach off the roster should Newsome decide the team needs an extra $3 million in cap space to address other areas. Juszczyk isn’t the same punishing blocker that Leach is, but he could serve in an H-back capacity with his impressive ability as a receiver out of the backfield.

Newsome, assistant general manager Eric DeCosta, director of college scouting Joe Hortiz, and head coach John Harbaugh deserve praise for addressing many of the needs created by a plethora of free-agent departures, difficult releases, and retirements made earlier this offseason.

But the fact that the Ravens were unable to significantly address two of their most glaring questions, left tackle and wide receiver, is one that cannot be dismissed. The fifth-round selection Wagner played left tackle for the Badgers, but he isn’t considered quick enough for the position at the next level and the Ravens have already said they view him as more of a guard. Seventh-round receiver Aaron Mellette posted big-time numbers at FCS school Elon, but to say he’s any better the other young receivers currently in the mix on the roster would be a stretch.

Protecting quarterback Joe Flacco’s blindside and providing him another trustworthy receiving target are two obligations that remain unfulfilled, which is concerning when most looked to the draft as the primary avenue to address them. As Newsome said in the Ravens’ post-draft press conference on Sunday evening, much could still change between now and the start of the season on Sept. 5.

As it relates to those two positions, many will certainly hope so.

“If you look at our history, we picked up Willie Anderson a week before our first game,” Newsome said. “We picked up Bryant McKinnie before the last preseason game. It’s so fluid. We don’t know what’s going to happen between now and then, so everything has to remain fluid.”

In fairness to the Ravens’ brass, the possibility of adding anything more than a project at left tackle was never going to be easy when picking at the end of each round as the Super Bowl champion. The top three left tackle prospects in this year’s draft were gone in the first four picks of the first round and the tier of tackles — including Florida State’s Menelik Watson and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Terron Armstead — that was available to the Ravens didn’t stack up as favorably as the defensive selections of Elam and Brown in the first two rounds.

The Ravens said before the draft that second-year lineman Kelechi Osemele would be their starting left tackle if the season were to begin today and it appears nothing’s changed in that regard. Of course, the absence of a new tackle prospect will reignite desires for Baltimore to re-sign the veteran McKinnie to at least serve as an insurance policy for Osemele.

The only other obvious option out there appears to be the exploration of a trade for Kansas City’s franchise player Branden Albert, who sees the writing on the wall after the Chiefs took Central Michigan left tackle Eric Fisher with the first overall pick. However, the Chiefs’ asking price for Albert won’t be cheap and the 28-year-old seeks an expensive long-term contract.

Even if new run-game coordinator and highly-respective offensive line guru Juan Castillo believes Osemele is capable of handling the left tackle spot, it’s difficult to imagine the Ravens not bringing in another tackle to at least compete. Newsome didn’t sound too concerned when asked about the potential need to add a veteran, however.

“We’ll get the chance to roll the ball out there this week,” Newsome said. “You just can’t go against each other. We’ll have somebody lined up at left tackle.”

Replacing the production of veteran Anquan Boldin was another need many viewed as a priority for the Ravens and the organization praised the depth of the position in this year’s draft. As a result, most assumed the Ravens would come away with a wideout at some point during the first two days of the draft, but a receiver’s name wasn’t called by the Ravens until Mellette was announced as the 238th overall pick of the draft.

The outcome was similar to last year when the Ravens did not choose Tommy Streeter until the sixth round. Once again, Newsome remained true to the board this year, even as several well-regarded receivers appeared to slide more than many experts thought they would on Day 3.

Of course, the Ravens were also able to sign wide receiver Jacoby Jones after last year’s draft and the speedy return specialist also served as an upgrade at the No.3 receiver spot. It’s possible a similar scenario will play out when teams around the league readjust their depth charts with a new batch of rookies joining the fold.

“Were there receivers in every round that we considered? Yes,” Newsome said. “Did one receiver get taken when we were set to take the guy? No, that did not happen at that point. As far as [Mellette], when we got to that point in the draft, he was our highest-rated guy and that’s why we decided to take him.”

The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Mellette was wildly productive in his career at Elon, catching a remarkable 210 passes and 30 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. His 4.54-second 40-time suggests he may have enough speed to complement his impressive size, but to consider him to be anything more than a long-term project would be too ambitious.

The Ravens have thrown out many compliments for the likes of Tandon Doss, Deonte Thompson, and David Reed as it pertains to the slot receiver spot, but to expect any of the aforementioned names to step up in a dramatic way to replace Boldin’s production is asking to be disappointed. Maybe Mellette or Streeter can be a diamond in the rough, but there were reasons why so many teams — including the Ravens multiple times — passed on these tall and speedy receivers.

For now, the burden falls heavily on Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta as well as Flacco to overcome the absence of the safety net Boldin provided when the vertical passing game was struggling.

As they will at the offensive tackle position, the Ravens will keep their eyes open to other teams potentially releasing veteran receivers or dangling them in trades as a result of what they fetched in this weekend’s draft. Newsome has used future draft picks to acquire veterans before and certainly wouldn’t hesitate if the right opportunity were to come along.

Perhaps another veteran receiver or left tackle drops into the Ravens’ lap between now and the start of the season, but it’s impossible not to feel uneasy about each position with the draft now coming and going.

And as good as this draft might ultimately end up being in other areas, it did very little to answer those two major questions.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Speaking to the media following the Ravens’ first-round selection of safety Matt Elam, general manager Ozzie Newsome was asked about troubled linebacker Rolando McClain, who was arrested in his hometown of Decature, Ala. last weekend.

Newsome’s answer was short when asked where McClain stood with his new team, but that’s to be expected at least until after the conclusion of the draft. McClain was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, two misdemeanors, and was released on $1,000 bond.

The Ravens signed McClain to a one-year contract worth $700,000 on April 12 and had said recently in an interview that he would avoid visiting his hometown as often due to his past legal problems. Many have speculated that Baltimore will part ways with the inside linebacker since they did not guarantee any of his contract, which also includes $400,000 in incentives based on playing time.

“I knew he was going back to Decatur, but that’s still a process,” Newsome said. “We’re still working our way through it.”

As of earlier this week, it was believed that McClain had yet to participate in the Ravens’ voluntary offseason conditioning program. Newsome reminded media that McClain has no obligation to attend workouts that are “all voluntary” during this phase of the offseason program.

In Thursday’s first round, the Ravens had their choice of Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o, LSU’s Kevin Minter, and Kansas State’s Arthur Brown at the inside linebacker position but elected to select Elam with the 32nd overall pick to conclude the first day of the draft.

Meanwhile, McClain is now saying police arrested the wrong man and he was simply trying to help his brother, who was involved in an altercation at Pines Park.

“The situation could have been avoided on my part,” McClain told the Madison Weekly News,” but I was at the park in an attempt to keep my brother out of trouble as he said he was going to the park because some guys had spit on his car and had harassed him. The police were already at the park when I arrived. I tried to get my brother to calm down. Police thought I cussed them. It wasn’t me. They arrested the wrong guy.”

At the very least, McClain is now acknowledging this latest run-in with the law may cost him the second chance afforded to him by the Ravens just two weeks ago.

“This probably could end my chance to play football,” McClain said. “I haven’t cried in years, but I had tears in my eyes. I wasn’t going to let my brother get into a fight.”

It remains to be seen whether any amount of tears will prevent him from being kicked to the curb in Baltimore.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Addressing one of their biggest needs with the final pick of the first round, the Ravens chose Florida safety Matt Elam with their first selection the 2013 NFL Draft.

Elam played strong safety as a two-year starter for the Gators but is considered versatile with his ability to play close to the line of scrimmage in run support as well as the necessary agility and speed to match up in pass coverage. General manager Ozzie Newsome said Elam not only addressed a need but was the highest-remaining player on the Ravens’ draft board.

“I think I’m going to bring a lot of competitiveness,” Elam said in a conference call with local media. “I’m going to bring a lot of energy. I know they’re expecting me to do great things. I’m going to work hard.”

Elam says he’s admired the Ravens over the years while following the Hall of Fame career of Ed Reed, who signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent earlier this offseason. However, he admitted he didn’t expect to wind up in Baltimore after the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals showed plenty of interest in the weeks leading up to the draft.

The 21-year-old told reporters he met with the Ravens’ brass at the scouting combine in February but did not have a private workout or visit with Baltimore. The Ravens had extra knowledge of Elam as current secondary coach Teryl Austin served as the Gators’ defensive coordinator during the safety’s freshman year in 2010.

Despite inside linebackers Manti Te’o and Kevin Minter both being available, the Ravens tabbed Elam as their first-round pick shortly before midnight on Thursday evening. Newsome told reporters following the first round that the Ravens had some conversations earlier in the evening about moving up or even trading out of the round, but the phones were silent when they were on the clock and they ultimately stayed put after trading their original first-round pick in two of the previous three drafts.

“The thing that we all like about Matt is the speed,” Newsome said. “He’s probably one of the better tacklers that we’ve seen play the position. The other thing is he enjoys practicing and enjoys playing football.”

He is the second safety to be taken in the team’s first-round history — Reed was selected with the 24th overall pick of the 2002 draft — and both hailed from schools in the state of Florida.

At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, Elam does not possess great height, but his physicality and instincts caused many draft experts to link him with the Ravens as a good fit. His 4.54-second 40-yard dash time suggests he has enough speed to match up against tight ends and receivers lined up in the slot as well as to play effectively in deep zone coverage.

“I just feel like my size really doesn’t matter, because when you turn on the film, I’m a great competitor,” Elam said. “I am flying around, I am hitting guys, I am hitting guys bigger than me, so I feel like size really doesn’t matter. I feel like [if] you turn on the film, it tells it all. I feel like I competed well, and I will compete well because of the heart I have and how I work.”

In his final two seasons at Florida, Elam collected 154 tackles, including 22 behind the line of scrimmage, and six interceptions. He became only the second safety in school history to be named first-team All-American by the Associated Press in 2012, joining Reggie Nelson (2006). Elam was also a unanimous first-team all-SEC selection as a junior last season.

Elam was regarded by most as a mid-to-late first-round selection with his slight stature being his only clear drawback. He is used to the limelight after being recruited by the Gators as the top high school safety in the country in 2009.

“I talked to my wife this afternoon and she said, ‘Who do you hope to get?’ and [my answer] was Matt Elam,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I couldn’t be more excited about it. He’s just a good guy who loves ball and he just can’t wait to get started.”

Safety became one of the Ravens’ greatest positional needs following the decision to release strong safety Bernard Pollard and the free-agent departure of Reed. Elam is expected be paired with free-agent pickup Michael Huff as the starting safeties for the Baltimore defense.

While the departures of Reed and Pollard were unpopular, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the Ravens have upgraded their pass coverage in the back end of the secondary, which was considered a priority despite winning the Super Bowl. Elam may not bring an intimidation factor to the same degree as Pollard, but his skills in pass coverage could mean an immediate upgrade with more upside for the long haul.

The story of Elam’s journey to the NFL is heartbreaking but inspiring as the Florida native has overcome the tragic murders of two siblings — his 12-year-old sister when he was only 8 and an older brother in 2008 — as well as the death of his father in 2011. He wore No. 22 at Florida because it was his late sister’s favorite number.

Elam’s older brother Abe has played in the NFL with Dallas, the New York Jets, Cleveland, and Kansas City.

Perhaps the Ravens should thank troubled linebacker Rolando McClain for not waiting until after this weekend’s draft to show his true colors yet again.

After meeting with general manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh less than two weeks ago to learn what was expected of him in receiving an opportunity to join one of the model organizations in the NFL, McClain found trouble once again by being arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in his hometown of Decatur, Ala. on Sunday night. The former Raiders linebacker — released earlier this month with his old team carrying $11 million in dead money this season just to be rid of him — showed how much he thought of the second chance awarded by the defending Super Bowl champions.

Even if the move appeared to go against everything the Ravens try to do in adding high-character players, the financial risk was minimal and Newsome made it very clear where McClain stood when asked about the 2010 first-round pick last week. A $700,000 base salary that included $400,000 in incentives based on playing time — none of the money guaranteed — reflects that the Ravens weren’t expecting much.

“Rolando is just getting an opportunity to come and make our 53-man squad,” Newsome said bluntly. “That’s it.”

To this point, all the Ravens have invested in the 23-year-old is time and an opportunity; he’s already proven to be unworthy of either.

But the timing of McClain’s latest run-in with the law reaffirms the Ravens’ need to address their inside linebacker position. By no means was it a position Newsome and the front office planned to neglect after McClain’s addition, but his projected status to man one of the Ravens’ starting inside positions in their base 3-4 system would have made it easier to focus on other positions of need such as offensive tackle, wide receiver, and safety.

The temptation would have been there to forgo an inside linebacker if players of similar stature at other need positions remained on their draft board, but not anymore.

“You always look at need. We say best player available, but you have to factor need into the equation,” assistant general manager Eric DeCosta said last week. “If the best player available is a quarterback in the first round, we’re not going to take him. You have to look at the best player available based on need. Obviously, if you have three players that are next to each other in your sequence and one player is a big need and the other players aren’t needs — even if the other players may be ahead of that one player that is a need — you’re going to flip your list because they’re all close.”

The Ravens shouldn’t waste any more time on McClain after he spit in the face of the gift handed to him by Newsome and Harbaugh. Details of his Sunday arrest remain vague and McClain is certainly entitled to due process as it relates to his legal standing as a citizen, but the fact that he even put himself in such a position again is enough reason to warrant the termination of his contract.

After veterans such as Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed exited amidst speculation that their opinionated locker-room presence was at least partially the reason why they were jettisoned, allowing McClain another chance sends a message to the rest of the locker room that such off-field conduct will be tolerated. The Ravens shouldn’t expect all players to be perfect — the prize of their free-agent class, Elvis Dumervil, doesn’t have a spotless reputation — but a headache like McClain who’s proven to be no better than a solid two-down linebacker to this point in his career simply isn’t worth the hassle and sleepless nights spent wondering what he’s doing.

Supporters of McClain’s signing pointed to the dysfunctional atmosphere cultivated by Oakland over the years, but that doesn’t provide an excuse to be a bad citizen. Newly-signed safety Michael Huff spent the first seven years of his career with the inept Raiders, but you didn’t see him build such a rap sheet or receive a suspension for conduct detrimental to the organization like McClain did last year.

The Ravens spent their offseason adding solid character veterans such as defensive ends Chris Canty and Marcus Spears to help complement a locker room that lost a significant amount of leadership following Super Bowl XLVII. A marginal player like McClain only threatens to disrupt a winning culture by sending the wrong message to the rest of the team already assembled in Owings Mills.

He simply isn’t worth the headache, a possibility the Ravens acknowledged with such a small investment in the former Alabama standout and confirmed by his inability to stay out of trouble before even taking part in his first practice with his new team.

Anyone’s deserving of a second chance, but McClain wasted no time in showing he’s not committed to the Baltimore Ravens.

That’s why Newsome will focus this week on finding the inside linebacker who is.

And he can thank McClain for the ungrateful reminder.

As first reported by WHNT in Huntsville, Baltimore Ravens LB Rolando McClain was arrested again Sunday night in his hometown of Decatur, Ala.

McClain was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanor charges.

According to the WHNT report, McClain was arrested at Pines Park. Police forced a large crowd gathered in the park to leave when the troubled former Crimson Tide LB refused to and began cursing at the police.

McClain’s arrest is the latest in a disturbing track record over recent years. He was arrested in 2011 and charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, third-degree assault and firing a gun in city limits. A conviction was overturned in circuit court when the victim declined to testify. He was arrested again in 2013 for a window tint violation and gave arresting officers a false name.

McClain was suspended two games for conduct detrimental to the Oakland Raiders in 2012, the suspension was reportedly separate from the off-field issues. He said he was “mentally done” as a Raider via a Facebook post during the course of last season, adding “looking forward to playing for an actual ‘team.’”

The Ravens signed McClain two weeks ago, giving him a deal worth as much as $1.1 million. General Manager Ozzie Newsome told reporters “Rolando is just (being) given an opportunity to make our 53-man roster, that’s it” last week. He added ”I think the guys in the locker room will be able to provide him with the proper guidance as to the way John (Harbaugh) wants his football players to be.”

McClain purchased a home in Madison, Ala. earlier this offseason and vowed to clean up his act off the field prior to signing a one-year deal with the Ravens.

That included an admission that he needed to distance himself from his hometown in order to get his career back on track.

“I love my friends and my city and I won’t turn my back on them,” McClain told the Madison Weekly News in March. “I just need to make better decisions in my life. I won’t be making as many visits to Decatur.”

As of late Sunday night, the Ravens had not offered public comment about the arrest.

WNST will continue to monitor and update this story throughout the day Monday via AM1570, WNST.net and @WNST on Twitter.

Four weeks ago, everyone outside of Baltimore was skeptical of Ozzie Newsome. First, Anquan Boldin was traded to the 49ers. Shortly after, Paul Kruger signed with the Browns and Dannell Ellerbe left for Miami. Ellerbe was viewed as the top priority for the Ravens but the Dolphins were willing to pay more for his services.

But that was just the beginning. Other key players including Carry Williams Ed Reed also joined other teams. Bernard Pollard is also no longer part of the team. Pollard was released and has since signed with the Tennessee Titans.

All of these players were critical to the Ravens regular and postseason success. Despite that, I believe the defense will be better. But then again, it’s not difficult to improve when the Ravens ranked in the high teens and low 20’s in most defensive categories.

Despite these losses, can the Ravens defense improve in 2013? The short answer is yes. The reason? Versatility.

All of the free agents the Ravens have signed this offseason have the ability to play multiple positions. Chris Canty and Marcus Spears can play almost every position on the defensive line and Michael Huff can play any position in the secondary.

The additions of Canty and Spears give the Ravens a scary rotation along the defensive line. Pernell McPhee and Arthur Jones will also be vital parts of that rotation. Even Deangelo Tyson could get playing time.

With Canty, Spears, McPhee, Tyson, and Jones in a rotation at the 3-4 defensive end and defensive tackle spots, Haloti Ngata can play more nose tackle, which is his favorite position.

Add Elvis Dumervil to that equation and I would be shocked if the Ravens don’t come close to leading the NFL in sacks. Dumervil and Suggs will consistently command attention on the outside. In turn, opportunities will open up for Ngata, McPhee, and the rest of the Ravens defensive lineman on the inside.

The only question mark for the Ravens defense to me is the secondary. With Carry Williams departure to Philadelphia and Lardarius Webb’s return from injury, Jimmy Smith and Corey Graham might have to play larger roles this season.

Inside linebacker could be viewed as another area of need but the additions to the defensive line should help the middle of the defense. The Ravens could also look to the draft for a young inside linebacker. Candidates would include Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, LSU linebacker Kevin Minter, or Florida linebacker Jon Bostic in the later rounds.

This blog will be short and to the point. I trust Ozzie Newsome and his band of merry men to take this gutted Super Bowl Champ team and turn it into a winner. I guess this is the price of success in the modern NFL; you win a world title and everyone wants your guys. Of all the players that left, I think Bolden will leave the biggest void. God bless you Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard but I have no patience for people who lead mutinies.

I jokingly tell people that if somehow the 2013 Baltimore Ravens make the playoffs; John Harbaugh will be the first ever post Super Bowl winning coach to get “coach of the year.” I hesitate to criticize Ozzie for all he has done in his 17 year tenure is bringing winning football to Baltimore.

Even if the Ravens have a hiccup this year and fall on their collective faces, Ozzie deserves one bad year.

Case & Point:
17 Seasons:
9 Postseason Appearances
4 AFC North Titles
4 AFC Title Games
2 AFC Championships
2 Super Bowl Championships

150-121-1 .595 Winning %

ENOUGH SAID: Ozzie I trust you!!!!

Ravens General Manager & Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome:

“Our hope is that the Hall of Fame players we drafted could play their entire careers with us, but we understand why Ed is moving on to the Texans.

“He’s not the first Hall of Famer to move to another team. Tony Gonzalez is playing with the Falcons. Joe Montana played with the Chiefs. Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson played for the Ravens.

“How fortunate we were to have Ed with us for 11 seasons. He is one of the Ravens’ and NFL’s all-time greats. Words cannot measure what he did for us, including helping us win a second Super Bowl. We thank him for all he did for Baltimore. Ed will always be a part of the Ravens family.”

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh:

“Ed has had a major impact on our organization and our community. He is a great player and a great friend. We will always be thankful for what we accomplished together.”

After a brilliant 11-year run that finally culminated with his first Super Bowl title in February, future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed is leaving the Baltimore Ravens to join the Houston Texans.

One of the best players in franchise history, Reed has agreed to a three-year contract to join Houston, leaving behind a legacy in Baltimore that included nine Pro Bowl selections and the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The decision comes almost a week after Reed was courted by the Texans in a full-court press of wining and dining.

Reed traveled to Houston after being picked up from his Atlanta home in Texas owner Bob McNair’s private jet, an unprecedented move in that organization’s history of courting free agents. The veteran safety met with team officials and coaches before leaving Houston without a contract despite numerous reports that a deal would be finalized last Friday.

After the temporary hiccup in the Texans’ bid to bring Reed to Houston, general manager Rick Smith continued to negotiate with agent David Dunn at the league meetings in Phoenix this week. Meanwhile, the Ravens continued to wait out the process as reports came out about Houston’s offer. Owner Steve Bisciotti and coach John Harbaugh both expressed optimism earlier this week that Reed would remain with the Ravens.

The Ravens’ first-round pick in the 2002 draft expressed his desire to finish his career where it started, but the sides did not agree on fair compensation for the 34-year-old’s services as Baltimore gave no indication of matching the $4 million per year the Texans were offering. Aside from remaining in touch with Reed throughout the process, the Ravens never jumped into a bidding war for the longtime safety’s services as it became increasingly clear Reed would need to take less money to remain in Baltimore.

Reed cited Houston’s proximity to his home state of Louisiana has a plus in making a potential decision to leave the only franchise he’s known as a professional. The Ravens and Texans are scheduled to play in Baltimore during the 2013 regular season.

The free-agent loss of the ball-hawking safety is especially difficult for Baltimore fans with the retirement of inside linebacker Ray Lewis after the Ravens’ 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII. Many hoped Reed might follow Lewis into retirement after tasting championship glory for the first time in his brilliant career, but the former University of Miami star made it known he had more football to play in his career.

“I always said when I came into the league and got drafted that I didn’t want to be one of those guys jumping from team to team,” Reed said in New Orleans prior to the Super Bowl. “If it was up to me, I would be right in Baltimore. If it happens to be somewhere else, I can play football on the moon.”

Instead, he’ll play in a city famous for facilitating lunar missions as Reed will attempt to push Houston over the divisional-round mountain they’ve been unable to climb in the last two seasons. Those postseason failures included a 20-13 loss in Baltimore to end the Texans’ 2011 season.

General manager Ozzie Newsome addressed Reed’s future at the Ravens’ end-of-season press conference by acknowledging there would likely be opportunities on the open market as his six-year, $44.5 million. Further complicating matters at the time was Reed’s lack of an agent, but Dunn was hired to represent him before the start of free agency, a surefire sign that the longtime Ravens was poised to depart for the right deal.

“I think he realizes there may be some other options out there, but I think if you watched him and watched his body language over the course of the last eight to 10 days, that he loves being here in Baltimore,” Newsome said on Feb. 7. “I think we can use that to help make that relationship last a little bit longer.”

In recent years, Reed’s performance has declined due to a nerve impingement in his shoulder and neck suffered at the end of the 2007 season as well as various other ailments, but opposing quarterbacks continued to account for the free safety on every play. Reed’s tackling ability appeared to decline rapidly over the last couple seasons to the point of some wondering how much longer he can stand to be an every-down player, but his ability in pass coverage remains steady.

Reed has hinted at retirement on a few occasions over the last few offseasons while also dropping cryptic hints that he was dissatisfied with his current. However, Newsome and the Ravens would simply bite their tongue, knowing the mercurial safety would report to training camp. In his final season with the Ravens, Reed skipped a mandatory minicamp in the spring before ultimately reporting on time for camp in late July.

Despite the appearance of that rift, Harbaugh expressed Tuesday how much his relationship had grown with Reed in what would prove to be their last season together.

“He was a great leader. Our relationship has just blossomed,” said Harbaugh, who has exchanged text messages with Reed during the offseason. “It’s been good, but this year with Ed especially, we really just got close. The leadership he brought to the team through [the Ray Lewis injury] was really fantastic.”

Through his various physical challenges, Reed played in all 16 regular-season games in each of the last two seasons.

In 11 seasons in Baltimore, Reed tallied 61 interceptions, a franchise record and the most in the NFL since his 2002 rookie season. In addition to being the NFL’s active leader in interceptions – ranked 10th all-time — Reed has an NFL-record 1,541 interception return yards in his career.

In his younger days, Reed was the most dangerous punt blocker in the league and considered the Ravens’ biggest playmaker when his hands touched the football. He is the only player in NFL history to return scores off a blocked punt, interception, punt return, and fumble recovery. Counting the postseason, Reed has scored a remarkable 14 touchdowns in his career.