There weren’t many Patriots talking at their lockers on Wednseday morning but when they did, they echoed Bill Belichick’s sentiments about one of his favorite players, Ed Reed.

“He’s a rare, rare player that that (safety) position,” Belichick said, calling Reed “a great football player…I don’t think there’s anybody better, probably anybody, who can disguise his ability to read the quarterback and make plays.”

“I was hoping he’d take this week off,” Pats quarterback Tom Brady said. “He just makes some spectacular plays.”

Also beware Sunday of former Patriots receiver Kelly Washington, who after three weeks has a dozen catches for 167 yards and one touchdown. Belichick said he hated to see Washington, whom the Patriots released in February, go, but had no choice.

“He’s made some big plays for (the Ravens),” Belichick said. “I thought he did well here…It was just one of those things where you can’t keep everybody. He didn’t have a lot of opportunities, but when he did get in there…”

We’ll see what he does against the Patriots on Sunday.

– TOM KING