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Bill Belichick showed far more enthusiasm than usual when praising one Baltimore Ravens icon. The iconic head coach joined the ManningCast for Monday night's matchup between the Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Peyton Manning called Ed Reed "the best safety I've ever faced" before asking Belichick what made the Hall of Fame safety so special.
Fittingly enough, Belichick once gushed over the time Reed fooled Manning. Belichick had far more effusive praise for the five-time All-Pro. "Oh my god.
Everything. Where do you start?" Belichick said . "Run force.
Tackling. Man-to-man coverage. Blitzing.
Disguise. He was great, great in the deep part of the field. Great speed, range.
Then when he got his hands on the ball, he could score from anywhere." Patrick McDermott/Getty Images Belichick recalled personalizing a punt-protection package to double Reed regardless of whether the safety had tried blocking a punt anytime recently. "Luckily, he wasn't in there on every punt rush, and there were times where we played against him where he didn't rush a punt the entire season," Belichick said.
"But if he came into our game, we were doubling him. He had his own punt protection. Only player I've ever done that against in my entire career.
" Belichick told Tom Brady to never throw the ball without knowing Reed's whereabouts on the field. Two years ago, Brady called Reed the defensive back he hated facing the most. "I have so much respect for him as a player," Belichick added.
"He was so hard to play against. And he was so unpredictable. You think you'd know what he's going to do, but he was good.
He was really good." Related: Bill Belichick Rips Jerod Mayo For Postgame Comment After Loss Sunday.
