Reid distances self from agent's contract ploy

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Despite his agent's obvious ploy to get Jeffrey Lurie to negotiate an extension, Andy Reid said that he was not concerned about his contract situation.

"I don't think about it," Reid said Saturday at Eagles training camp. "I can sit here and tell you that."

Reid, who is about to enter his 14th season with the Eagles, distanced himself from Bob LaMonte's attempts to get Lurie to talk, although he did not answer whether he knew his agent was planning to discuss his contract situation with reporters.

"I don't get into any of that," Reid said. "I'm a one-day-at-a-time kind of guy, one year, one play, the whole deal. So that's not how I operate. I don't worry about all that."

Reid has two years left on his contract, but he has never gone into the final year of any of his contracts with the Eagles. LaMonte, Reid's long-time agent, showed up at Lehigh University on Saturday, invited a few reporters to interview him, and then said that Lurie had always told him that as long as he owned the team Reid would be his coach.

"I'd say the proof of the pie is in the pudding," LaMonte said. "He's been here 14 years."

Lurie then issued a statement approximately two hours after LaMonte's comenmts, essentially refuting the agent.

"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," Lurie said.

The back-and-forth between LaMonte and Lurie appeared ill-timed six days after Reid's son, Garrett, was found dead in his Lehigh dorm room. Reid was asked if he had a problem with the timing of his agent's impromptu news conference and Lurie's response.

"I think the best thing that Bob said was if and when it ever came down to that, it's between Jeff and I," Reid said. "So I'm lucky, lucky to have him as an owner, and I respect that every day, but I don't even go there. That's not what this is about. This is about right now and getting this football team ready, and that's all I care about."

Still, Reid's future with the Eagles remains very much in doubt. In January, Lurie was very critical of the Eagles' performance in 2011, calling the season "unacceptable." Despite the 8-8 record and the fact that Reid hadn't won a playoff game in four seasons, the owner decided to retain his long-time coach.

After that news conference changes were made within the Eagles front office. General manager Howie Roseman assumed more control over player contract negotiations as team president Joe Banner drifted into the background. Reid, told to improve his relations with local media, became more accommodating and amiable to reporters and fans.

In June, Banner stepped down as president, leaving Reid and Roseman as the only decision-makers in football matters.

Reid's last extension – a three-year one -- came in Dec. 2009, right before the last year of his contract was to begin. Despite the awkwardness of the exchange between LaMonte and Lurie, Reid said he thought both sides remained positive.

"I don't even go beyond that," Reid said. "I didn't even go through and read all the stuff, but it seemed like both people were positive, and that's not even where I'm at."