Andy Reid's agent is confident his client will be a mainstay of the Philadelphia Eagles, citing what he calls repeated insistences from owner Jeffrey Lurie that the coach will always have a place with the team as long as he remains in charge.
But Lurie quickly responded that no such arrangement is in place.
Agent Bob LaMonte told The Philadelphia Inquirer that 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. And I'd say the proof of the pie is in the pudding. He's been here 14 years."
Lurie, who criticized the Eagles in January after an 8-8 performance, refuted that he had given Reid any long-term guarantees.
"Bob is a great agent who we have an outstanding relationship with," Lurie said in a statement, according to the Inquirer. "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."
NFL Network and NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Saturday that Lurie will maintain full control of the Eagles as part of the terms of his divorce settlement to ex-wife Christina Weiss Lurie.
Reid has two years remaining on his contract, and LaMonte is confident the coach won't enter next season without a new deal.
"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."
