Reports are surfacing that Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Jah Reid was arrested early Sunday morning following an altercation at a bar in Key West, Florida, resulting in a pair of misdemeanor battery counts.
Reid is now the third Ravens player to be arrested tis offseason, all on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Deonte Thompson was arrested for possession of marijuana, while running back Ray Rice was arrested for a simple assault domestic violence charge after a public altercation with his fiancé that left her unconscious.
Reid, a former third-round draft selection from 2011, played just 23 snaps last season in five different contests at both left and right guard. Originally drafted as a tackle, that is where he played in limited snaps as a rookie.
Reid was moved to guard in 2012, during which he experienced his most significant playing time by some stretch, playing nearly 600 snaps and making seven straight starts at left guard, though he did not play in the postseason when the Ravens won the Super Bowl.
The Ravens are currently dealing with issues surrounding their offensive line, and this news doesn’t help matters.
Both of their starting tackles, Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher, appear set to hit free agency, and there are reports that the former is expected to be playing elsewhere next season as arguably the most sought-after free agent.
Should the Ravens re-sign Oher and move him back to left tackle, which has not been his better position, Reid could be considered as an in-house option to play right tackle.
Or he could play left guard if the Ravens choose to move guard Kelechi Osemele to right tackle, where he started all 16 regular season games in 2012.
The Ravens moved Osemele to left guard that postseason, and that is where he played this year until a lingering back injury required him to have in-season surgery and landed him on injured reserve.
Reid is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and given the depth concerns along the Ravens’ offensive line, it doesn’t seem they can spare to lose him right now, even if they elected to play former Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick A.Q. Shipley over him last season.
Update:
According to Aaron Wilson, Reid “allegedly head-butted, punched and kicked another man”. He was released on a $2000 bond.
Jah Reid allegedly head-butted, punched and kicked another man, leading to his arrest in Key West, Fla., according to Key West police
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 9, 2014
Jah Reid was released today on $2,000 bond along with Benjamin Buxton. Both were charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 9, 2014
