Reid's agent: Lurie said Andy's coach as long as I'm owner
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Bob LaMonte reiterated a story he's told many times whenever he's been asked about Andy Reid's future with the Eagles.
Reid's agent: Lurie said Andy's coach as long as I'm owner
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Bob LaMonte reiterated a story he's told many times whenever he's been asked about Andy Reid's future with the Eagles.
But it bears repeating as Reid enters his 14th season as Eagles head coach -- all still without a Super Bowl -- and off an 8-8 season that owner Jeffrey Lurie called "unacceptable" in January.
LaMonte, Reid's long-time agent, typically visits all the training camps of his head coaches every year. He was at Lehigh University on Saturday and sat down with several reporters. And the question was asked again: Is Reid on the hot seat?
Lurie "has stated again and again, any time that I’ve been with him, that was as long as he’s the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles Andy Reid would be his coach," LaMonte said. "And I’d say the proof of the pie is in the pudding. He’s been here 14 years.”
Lurie, it seems, will be the Eagles owner for sometime. He will maintain full authority over the team and a majority ownership after his divorce settlement, an NFL source said, confirming an NFL Network report. The report said that Lurie should own the team for years because of how he has "structured his affairs."
"Bob is a great agent who we have an outstanding relationship with," Lurie said in a statement. "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."
Lurie, though, delivered a scathing assessment of Reid's 2011 team in January. And Reid has only two years left on his contract and most surely won't go into the 2013 season as a lame duck and without an extension.
“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 that was simply something that got done … very quickly and very easily.”
Reid received a three-year contract extension when he faced a similar scenario in Dec. 2009. He had two years remaining on his contract. Since he signed that deal the Eagles have reached the playoffs twice, but they missed the postseason last season -- only the fourth time in Reid's 13 previous seasons.
“This man has earned the right to decide what he wants to do, and he may well decide he doesn’t want to coach 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," LaMonte said once again. "Now, if you know something else, tell me, because I should probably know."
LaMonte represents many head coaches, coordinators and executives across the league. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is one of his clients, as is offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. He is a powerful figure in the NFL, sometimes described as Machiavellian, and tends to make provocative statements.
Like this:
"Whenever Andy Reid leaves Philadelphia -- and you can definitely quote me on this," LaMonte said. "When Andy Reid ever leaves Philadelphia and the next person comes here, I want to come have a drink with you guys the following year and have you all tell me, 'Wow, we never realized how good we had it.'"
Lurie + Andy = No Super Bowls = Lurie, please sell the team— shawnmac- What a foolhardy thing to say. How long before Lurie cleans that up?
Banner said that Reid needed to win a Super Bowl to get a new contract. The two apparently had starkly different perspectives.
- Agents are garbage. "Wow, we never how good we had it." Really, no superbowls we never really had it good. Not putting it all on Andy but he has clear weaknesses as a head coach.
— Sidewinder7 - There's been no mention of the Demetress Bell demotion.
On the one hand, it's good know the Birds are willing to play their best players, despite status. On the other, it's disturbing that Bell looked so bad and is being replaced (at least for now) by a player who was released prior to Bell's arrival. 
Comment removed.- Belichick, Coughlin, Tomlin and more than a few others have got to be just a little jealous of Reid, but shouldn't it be the other way around?
- LaMonte = arrogance. He's apparently smarter than all the sports writers and fans combined.— Mr. Magee
- Great. So we've got that going for us....— Luriesucks
- so you would rather Lenard Tose. — eagle fan for life
- eagle fan - that is the stupidest non-sequitor post on this board. Why does someone disliking the fact Lurie and Reid are joined at the hip mean the only other alternative is Leonard Tose? A good owner keeps his options open, and the history of the NFL tells you that coaches have a shelf life which Andy Reid has already passed. — hairball
- Sounds good to me. Andy is the best coach this team has ever had, so I would just as soon he stay as head coach as least as long as Lurie owns the team.— Bobphxville
- Mr. LaMonte: if we have it "good" how would you describe how fans in NE, Pitts, and NY-G have it? here is a fact mr. lamonte: your client has never achieved the goal he publicly set for himself every year for 14 years in a row. Imagine if i failed at my stated goal for 14 years in a row at work?— jb99
- Blah blah blah. Win.
— eglftbl1 - This comment has been deleted.— GrindHouse
- Andy can always get promoted to his highest level of incompetence. put Andy in charge of either: (a) NFL Drug Policy, (b) NFL Criminal Background Policy, (c) NFL Nepotism Exception Policy, (d) NFL Public Relations Policy, or (d) All of the above. The time is yours.
- Congrats to Andy on the new contract extension.
- eglftbl1 - Did you forget Kolb? Was he football smart?
It was Reid who chose these QBs. So, how can you lay the blame elsewhere? - The true problem Andy has had is his qbs are never good enough. Good qbs cover a coaches arse.do you believe that belichek is a time out and 2 minute drill genius and is that much smarter than Andy or could it be that Mr Brady has something to do with that.mcnabb and vick aren't football smart. Now before you play the race card , tell me why what I just said is wrong.— eglftbl1
- You spoke of being a time-out genius. Did Belichick teach Brady to run a two-minute drill? After all, Reid always wasted time-outs with every QB he's had, including the likes of Garcia, Pedersen, Kolb, A. J. Feeley, Mike McMahon, and Koy Detmer.
Were any of these guys football smart? - I guess his unwillingness to have a balanced attack had nothing to do with it. Or his unwillingness to ignore getting talent at WR early on or LB and Safety recently had nothing to do with it. No need to throw out the clock management huh?
- Oh yeah Andy, please shave or at least trim that mustache. Thank you.— eglftbl1
- After all, he's earned it! How many coaches can you name with more championships?— Geno D
- Today's story about Andy's agent is just a continuation of the Big Red smoke screen by our accommodating media. Now let's see what Pope Rodger I and JL say about Andy when the autopsy shows GR (the Eagles UNfitness coach and Eagles Training Camp bed-checker) was found in his LeHIGH dorm room with ?# bags of dope and his dope needle sticking out of his neck or between his toes. Will the NFL Security investigate - NO. How about the PA State Police? - NO. Even check all the calls made on his cell in the prior 24 hrs - NEVER. Search GR's car? Forget it. Why hasn't the media obtained the police report and the 911 calls of this unsuspicious death??? The biggest cover-up by Philly Media since MOVE has only just begun.
- Speaking of dope, how are you,always wrong? — mike l
- what a disservice to the fans. what motivation then would reid have to be successful? this highlights why i am no longer an eagles fan, haven't cared in a while. why would i if this is the attitude?— jakeAZ
- That's called moral hazard, which is exactly what happened on Wall Street. As a result the world economy remains on the brink of total collapse.
- Lonewolf. No I never said it wasn't his fault just the why not the how. Kolb just isn't good.— eglftbl1
- You spoke of being a time out genius. Did Belichick coach Brady to run a two minute drill? After all, Reid has always wasted time-outs, with every QB he's had, including the likes of Garcia, Pedersen, Kolb, A. J. Feeley, Mike McMahon, and Koy Detmer.
Were any of these guys football smart? - Any owner or CEO who would say that any of his subordinates would always have a job REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE would be a incompetent moron. If Lurie feels that way, he should definitely not be the owner of a professional football team in a major market city like Philly with it's extremely passionate ( not to mention Super Bowl starved ) fan base. Please, Jeffrey, sell the Eagles now. Maybe you could buy the Jacksonville Jaquars or a similar team that has many fans that come to the stadium dressed as empty seats. They may not find your attitude as offensive. It doesn't fly in this town.— Bud Dry
- @Always Right, you honestly need a job, a hobby, or a woman. You clearly have way too much free time on your hands. I'm not sure if you have any children but I sure wouldn't wish anything as tragic as what the Reids have just gone through on you and your family.— joemotrucks
- Wait until Lurie's new main squeeze gets on the scene. A young thing that cannot leave her mother. She'll deep six the fat pig.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- How many Super Bowls have the Eagles won? You fans are nothing but suckes.— BearKodiak
- There are many who have suspected that Reid basically has a job for life here in Philly if he wants it. But this guy LaMonte has big ones. 'Wow, we never realized how good we had it.'Really. I seem to remember when McNabb was traded, the national media said "be careful what you wish for" and now Mcnabb is out of the league. I seem to remember this team sitting home last January as I watched the Giants win their 2nd Super Bowl while Reids been coaching the Eagles. These are the type of statements that turn fans anger toward the Eagles.
— watsonmr - bring back joe kuharik— howardfox1
- When AR decides to retire,his new office is besides JL`s.Maybe AR would be better suited in the front office.— bill the pill
- If he didn't fire him after last season, he'll never fire him!— cooperhawk
- Machiavellian? Really? Would Machiavelli announce having a position this strong or simply be very quiet?— Stallone
- I hate to say I told you so but, I told you so. When Andy decides he's had enough of coaching he will move upstairs to be the king of the Eagles and will promote his loyal and woefully incompetent boy, Juanderful, to be the head coach of our beloved Eagles.— coloradoeagle
- Here's what I'm getting from most of the comments: give the guy a few days to bury his son (only because comments were blocked) and then tear the guy apart. Stay classy, Philly.— Penfold18
- My God, what a freaking nigtmare.
First we hear that Lurie will have control of the team even from the grave, and now this. Isn't it bad enough that we've gone without a championship since I was three months old, only to find out that it may extend to at least when I'm in the grave with these two bozo's fouling up every golden opportunity?
The gods must have something against Philly.— Atomic Fury
