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Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are arguably the greatest quarterback-head coach duo in NFL history. The pair rarely struggled for two decades together with the New England Patriots. However, there was one player that gave them quite a bit of trouble -- Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed. In a video, Brady and Belichick explained just how difficult it was to play against the Baltimore Ravens star.
Tom Brady commented that "Ed Reed's Ed Reed." Yet, the then-Patriots quarterback explained more in-depth how Reed played the game.
Brady said:
"Everything he does, he does it at, at an exceptional level. Yeah. He looks like he's guessing more than he ever does. You're always so aware of where he is. It's almost, you know, it's not like he sneaks up on you or he can't sneak up on you."
Belichick also took the time to talk game-planning against one of the best safeties in NFL history. The head coach explained how Reed looks at the quarterback as a safety.
Belichick said:
"He's got a burst, he's crouching down low back there, you know, playing, playing real low. Um, but, you know, he changes it up. You can't, I mean, it's just so obvious when he's reading the quarterback. Those receivers will run right past them and he never flinches. He doesn't even acknowledge him. And he's just reading the quarterback."
Reed was no stranger to either Brady or Belichick as the safety faced them in the regular season and playoffs on several occasions.
Ed Reed versus Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in his HOF career
Ed Reed faced the New England Patriots seven times in his career while with the Baltimore Ravens. In four regular-season meetings versus the Patriots, the five-time All-Pro had a total of 26 tackles, five passes defended and four tackles for loss. He also picked off Tom Brady once in their Week 13 meeting in the 2007 - 2008 season.
Reed and the Ravens faced off three times in the playoffs, including twice in the AFC Championship game. In total, the Super Bowl-winning safety had 11 tackles, two passes defended, and an interception.
Overall, Reed played 11 seasons with the Ravens and 13 seasons overall (one each with the New York Jets and Houston Texans). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Without question, Reed is one of the best to ever play the safety position. Just ask Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit @shannonsharpeee and H/T Sportskeeda.
