Quotes from Ed Reed

We have a bunch of American citizens who step up because that's what we do. We'll step up and go across the world to help people out. When it comes to our own backyard, it's always a different conversation.

You don't hear about tradition in the NFL, but we have a tradition in Baltimore. It was just an awesome place to be.

My time in Baltimore was awesome, every bit of it.

There's no place like Baltimore.

Baltimore is my heart. The fans are family.

Baltimore, I love that city.

The relationships I have in Baltimore will never change.

I've just been playing football for a long time. I've been playing football since I was a little kid, so it's just some natural blessings that God has blessed me with to get to the ball and understand what I've been doing over the years.

I always said I wanted to become a master of my game, like Bruce Lee. I mastered my art of football, because that's what it truly is when you understand it.

It wasn't about accolades, but showing that I was bred and predestined to be one of best football players to come into the league - and, every Sunday, to help my team to win.

I was very proud to hear that my friend Andre Johnson was like, 'Man, I'm going back to school.' I was so excited because, yeah you have great talent. You do everything on Sundays, you do everything on the field, but you went to college, and I'm not saying that you forgot about it, but that was on your mind when you first went.

To be playing in my first Super Bowl in New Orleans, it's special.

I don't want to be like these guys having neck surgery, then you got to go have another surgery just to continue to play this game. I love this game but I love myself more.

Now that I know the dangers? Yes, I still would do it again. Why? 'Cause look at me. Look at my family. They're able to eat, they're able to have food and shelter over their head. Would I play football again? Yes.

If you play NFL football, you play football, these are the consequences. There's choices and consequences in life for everything. There's consequences if you play football.

God has blessed me with the ability to play football.

Not every officer is a bad police. I work with police officers. I know first responders.

When I make a tackle or make a play and I have a slight pain or something, you're going to react the way you react.

I can't be lackadaisical when it's time for me to make any play, whether it's a tackle, fumble recovery, anything that it might be.

Not every game is going to be perfect. Not every game is going to be an interception or two or a big-bang tackle, so to say.

You've got to be smart about tackling.

Monday night, there ain't a better time to showcase your talent.

Everyone has their own greatness. Whether you reach your own greatness depends on your environment, your structure, the company you keep and your attitude.

I've been treated with the utmost respect by the whitest of white guys, and I've been treated bad by the whitest of white persons. I've been treated bad by the blackest of black persons and treated good by the blackest of black persons. So at the end of the day, I know it's about humanity - do you have a good heart or a bad heart?