Reid explains decision to close practices to the media

Andy Reid closed all practices to reporters for the rest of this season.

The Eagles typically allow reporters to watch most of practice on Thursdays and Fridays, but for competitive reasons, Reid said, he decided for the first time in his 14 seasons as head coach to close those practices.

Reporters will be permitted to watch the NFL-mandated first 10 minutes of practice as they always have on Wednesdays. That period is allotted mostly to allow television cameramen and photographers to shoot the team.

"My No. 1 priority here is to win football games and to put the best product on the field," Reid personally told reporters during a rare visit to the NovaCare Complex media room. "Just to minimize any of the competitive advantages that take place, I want to do this. I think it's best for the fans. It's best for our football team."

The Eagles said that 25 other NFL teams have the same practice policy.

The Eagles don't allow reporters to report off practice during the preseason or season. They do permit the reporting of injuries as long as the player vacates the field. The league directive is that every team must give daily injury reports after practice.

"It's changed over time," Reid said of media coverage. "Between Twitter, the whole instant messaging. Everything is right now. I just want to make sure that I'm staying up with that."

There had been some gray area in how reporters covered practice, however. For instance, if a player was promoted or demoted or changed a position there would be no stopping a reporter from going up to said player and asking him about the move after practice.

In the end, this loophole, which increasingly caused some friction between reporters and the Eagles' communications department, may have led to Reid's closing practice.