Ed Reed Won't Pull a Merriman

Ravens safety Ed Reed is suffering from a "nerve impingement," which sounds really dang uncomfortable. It's a bad, bad injury for a bad, bad man; surgery to repair the nerve would end Reed's career, according to the Baltimore Sun. Playing now, with it in the condition it is in, would do the same. So in opposition to fellow defensive elite Shawne Merriman, Reed will sit until his neck is ready.

"Hopefully, I can get back, but health is more important right now," Reed said. "It's a long season, and I feel like the team is going to need me more down the line than earlier and having to get hurt and can't play again."

Sanity prevails in the NFL! How much, though, does this have to do with expectations? Baltimore, like most teams outside of the state of Georgia, hopes to challenge for a postseason bid; it's the NFL, anything can happen.

But Merriman's Chargers are on a "Super Bowl or Bust" type warpath. San Diego needs all hands on deck to acheive their goal. But when such a valuable, young player's career is in jeopardy, it shouldn't matter: the Chargers should step in and tell Merriman to have surgery. Luckily, Reed is sane. The Ravens don't have to play the tricky interference game.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.