BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Superagent Bob LaMonte, who represents Andy Reid and numerous other NFL head coaches, visited Eagles training camp at Lehigh University Saturday and said owner Jeffrey Lurie has assured him that Reid will remain head coach of the Eagles as long as he wants to.
Soon after LaMonte told a group of reporters, ?As long as [Lurie is] the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy will be his coach,? Lurie released a statement shooting down those remarks.
And later Saturday evening, a team official who is very close to Reid said Reid was uncomfortable with LaMonte?s remarks and disagreed with LaMonte?s contention that he had ?earned the right to decide what he wants to do.?
Reid for the first time since he became head coach in 1999, is beginning a year with only two seasons -- this year and next -- remaining on his contract.
The reclusive LaMonte, who rarely grants interviews, spoke for over 20 minutes to five writers following the Eagles? afternoon practice.
?This man has earned the right to decide what he wants to do,? LaMonte said. ?And he may well decide he doesn?t want to coach [beyond 2013] and Jeffrey may decide he doesn?t want to hire him, but I can just tell you Jeffrey Lurie has told me on any occasion I?ve ever been with him, as long as he?s the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy will be his coach. Now, if you know something else, tell me, because I should probably know.?
LaMonte?s comments seemed odd, especially considering Lurie?s press conference after last season, when he admitted he considered firing Reid after the Eagles went 8-8 and called the season ?completely unacceptable,? ?dismal,? ?unfathomable? and ?ludicrous.?
Has his perspective changed that much during the off-season? Apparently not.
Not long after LaMonte?s remarks were published, Lurie responded with a statement distancing the organization from the ?Coach for Life? concept, adding that Reid will be evaluated at the end of the season, just like every other employee of the organization.
"Bob is a great agent who we have an outstanding relationship with,? the statement read. ?As much respect as all of us have for Andy Reid, it is the nature of the profession that all coaches, executives and players are evaluated each year. That?s the way we have always operated. But our focus right now, and I know Andy feels the same way, is solely on the upcoming 2012 season.?
A team official who is very close to Reid said Reid did not know LaMonte was planning to address his contract status with reporters and said he was unhappy with the characterization of himself as somebody who believes he?s earned the right to determine how long he keeps his job.
?He doesn?t feel that way,? the official said. ?He believes he should be accountable, just like everybody else. He feels like he has to earn it every year, every day, every practice.?
LaMonte had also said he believes a contract extension at this point is just a formality and something that he, Reid and Lurie will agree on at some point in the future.
?When someone?s been at a place for 14 years, that?s almost getting to a degree where that?s between he and the owner,? LaMonte said. ?It isn?t like they don?t know each other. In all honesty, the last time (2009), that was simply something that got done ? very quickly and very easily.
?Unless there?s something unforeseeable that I don?t see happening, I don?t think it will be an issue.?
Reid, now entering his 14th year as head coach of the Eagles, is dean of NFL coaches and fourth in tenure among all professional coaches behind Gregg Popovich of the Spurs (1996), Lindy Ruff of the Sabres (1997) and Barry Trotz of the Predators (1998).
Reid has taken the Eagles to the playoffs nine of the last 13 years and reached five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. Only 14 coaches in NFL history have reached the postseason more than Reid, and only 11 coaches have won more playoff games.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.
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