By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – In their biggest new acquisition of the offseason thus far, the New Orleans Saints awarded seven-year safety Justin Reid with a three-year contract to return to his home state. An opportunity that Reid, who was introduced via press conference with the local media on Friday, said took some time to sink in.
“It really takes a day,” Reid said during his introductory press conference. “Like, that second day when I woke up the next morning and I knew I was being a Saint, is when it really hit home”
Reid said that he spoke with seven or eight different teams this offseason, including his former club the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite having appeared in three consecutive Super Bowl games with the Chiefs, the finalists in the running to land the two-time champion were the Saints, Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.
For Reid, the decision to come back to his home state of Louisiana seemed like an easy one. Especially with the backing and encouragement of his family members, who were in attendance on Friday.
“I was talking to them, and I was letting them know that, ‘Hey, there’s a possibility (I) end up signing with the Saints,’” Reid said. “And then my text message thread with the family chats just start blowing up like. ‘Sign with the Saints! Sign with the Saints! Saints, Saints, Saints!’ You know what I mean? So, (I) definitely had that push there. And then we were able to get a deal put together on the table and got it worked out, and (I) think both sides are really excited about it.”
The safety certainly shared his excitement about the opportunity that lies ahead of him in New Orleans. From pairing up with former teammate Tyrann Mathieu in the defensive backfield to defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense, Reid is clearly ready to take the field donning the Saints’ fleur de lis.
“Guys want to come down the hallway with me,” Reid warned. “You’re gonna have to pay the toll for it.”
Physicality and versatility have been the brand for Reid throughout his impressive career thus far. He now brings both of those elements of his game with him to a team that will stand to benefit from both elements.
Additionally, one thing you easily pick up about Reid as he speaks is his ability to be a leader. He’s a clear culture fit for what the Saints’ most successful locker rooms have been known for and his ability to communicate, set examples and generate togetherness in the meanwhile are things that should quickly have a positive impact.
“I never believed in the guy that just wants to talk about something and doesn’t go out and do it himself,” Reid said of his role in cultivating accountability. “So first and foremost it’s about doing it myself, setting an example, so that guys can see what it looks like and what to follow. And then from setting that example, once you earn your respect with the locker room, then you can start bringing guys along and start working on things and you spend time with them. The answer is really time. That’s why you have to build a brotherhood. Because when you build a brotherhood, you build a family. You can have those conversations with guys, help them be the best version of themselves.”
