By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

NEW ORLEANS -- Ravens safety Ed Reed clarified the statements that he made on Wednesday about possibly playing for the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick.

"Of course I want to stay in Baltimore," said Reed, who will be an unrestricted free agent. "I was asked, would I play for Bill Belichick? Yes. What football players wouldn’t play for Coach Belichick? Will I be in New England? Most likely not. It’s just terrible that people get half the story. It’s even more bad when you hear the comments that they make towards you. But it comes with it, man."

The day before, Reed told the Boston Herald: "Yeah, oh yeah, man, I could definitely play for coach Belichick. He is a great coach. I’m sure he can help me to expand my football knowledge even more as a player and as a coach, so if I’m ever able to be around him, just like I was at the Pro Bowl, it’s huge."

Reed also said today that he has long envisioned himself playing for one team, but circumstances can change.

"I always said when I came into the league and got drafted that I didn’t want to be one of those guys jumping from team to team," he said. "If it was up to me, I would be right in Baltimore. If it happens to be somewhere else, I can play football on the moon.”