National Football League

Ed Reed: Seau 'signed up for it'

Published Jan. 29, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

If anyone should be an expert on safety, hits and the NFL, you'd think it'd be Ed Reed.

Well, at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday, Reed not only noted the dangers that he and all players face, but also raised some eyebrows with comments about a deceased player.

According to ESPN, when asked about former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, Reed said, "Did he sign up for it? Yeah, he signed up for it.

"Junior gave everything he had to football. I'm sure he's looking down and has no regrets."

Seau was found dead in his home in May of last year, having shot himself in the chest according to police. He also reportedly suffered from brain damage, and his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL last week.

During Media Day, Reed left no ambiguity that players understand the dangers of their chosen profession. He was asked several questions regarding concussions, and left no doubt of the realities of their effects. Reed even noted that he's already feeling some of the downside that comes with playing football for a living.

"I feel effects from it," Reed said. "Some days, I wake up and I'm like, 'Where did my memory go?' But I signed up for it."

Ravens safety Bernard Pollard, who delivered a devastating hit to Patriots running back Stevan Ridley during the AFC Championship Game, echoed Reed's thoughts. When asked about his recent statements that the NFL wouldn't exist in 30 years, Pollard absolutely did not back down.

"I stand by what I said. I'm entitled to my own opinion. I play this game and I understand it," Pollard said. "For me growing up, to see where the game has gone from then to now. … Guys are getting bigger, stronger, faster. It's not the equipment."

Moreover, Pollard also questioned whether he and his wife want their 4-year-old son playing football eventually, noting that he's already showing an interest in playing.

"My son will be 5 in a couple days," Pollard said. "He wants to throw football and be tackled. I see it in him. My wife and I talk about it all the time. I know concussions can happen anywhere. I don't want to see my son go through that."