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We Colts fans are destined to endure all sorts of speculation regarding potential NFL free agent signings between now and 4:00 PM ET tomorrow. The Colts have roughly $41 million dollars, a myriad of holes throughout their roster, and will be looking to upgrade. One spot that needs a boost is safety, and one of the people that Colts players like Reggie Wayne and Antoine Bethea have openly talked about coming to Indianapolis is Baltimore's Ed Reed.
Today, Reed did something interesting. He signed with an agent, David Dunn. He did this on the eve of NFL free agency. In case you didn't know, Dunn is Reggie Wayne's agent. Wayne and Reed are old friends from their days at the University of Miami... where current Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was once an assistant...
...Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Now, with all do respect to David Dunn, he does represent players like Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez, among others. So, it's entirely possible that Dunn could steer Reed to a place like New England, but that's not what he's been specifically hired to do. Dunn's job is to guide his client to the best offer. Reed's already won a ring and is a sure first ballot Hall of Famer. He's looking for one final pay day before he retires. At least, that's how it appears.
What makes this so intriguing for us who follow the Colts is the obvious connection between Reed and his former position coach at Miami and defensive coordinator in Baltimore, Chuck Pagano. Pagano is entering his second year as head coach of the Colts, and it is likely obvious to him that 2012 free agent signee Tom Zbikowski just doesn't have it anymore.
Plus, we've already written about the media consensus that is forming that the Colts will target Reed and his Baltimore teammate Paul Kruger in free agency.
I leave you with this quote that our own Nick Ragsdale got from current Colts safety Antoine Bethea. Nick asked Antoine to "play GM for a second" and tell him who Antoine would sign on defense:
He smiled. "Well, first, let me give you the political answer and say 'whoever can help us win'. If I was going to give you a name... I don't know. I love Ed Reed."