Leftovers From LaMonte
Bob LaMonte, agent for Andy Reid and many other coaches and executives around the league, stopped by Eagles training camp Saturday afternoon.
Tim has a story up with LaMonte’s comments about Reid’s future, along with Jeffrey Lurie’s ensuing response.
Below are some of the other things LaMonte had to say.
On Reid’s desire for a new contract: “When someone’s been in place for 14 years, that’s almost getting to a degree where that’s between he and the owner. It isn’t like they don’t know each other. It’s not like these things don’t go on. Even in all honesty the last time, that was simply just something that got done and got done, as you remember, very quickly and very easily. At that point, you have people that want to work together, and they’ve been together. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But it isn’t like when you first go in and try to satisfy a contract with a new organization and get a guy a four-year contract… But it’s unusual in that this is the only place in North America where you have a coach that’s been here this long in any sport. … Here, he’s got a contract. He’s happy, they’re happy.”
On how Lurie factors in Reid’s production: “I’d say that the most important thing is to be able to be in a position where by you’re always showing progress and always being a team, as Andy has had them, that goes far. Last year was an anomaly. I mean, it hasn’t happened many times. I mean, he’s already the winningest coach in the history of the Eagles. He’s virtually an icon in the National Football League. There’s maybe a couple – two, three guys like him. And at the end of the day, I don’t think there’s any pressure for him to do any more than the year before or the year before that. His production speaks for itself, and I think the Eagles have a chance to have a good team this year.”
On Reid’s future, and whether he needs a break: “I really see Andy as a person in my mind that’s always been a rock. He’s one of those people, he is really so strong, and I would say it starts with spirituality. He has tremendous spirituality. And I think people that have strong spirituality, and also have tremendous confidence in what they’re doing and have had great success… he’s arguably one of the greatest success stories in the National Football League. In not too easy a city, I might add. I really think that he will do this as long as he wants to do it. I could see him though at some point – he’s not that old of a person – maybe going into administration. He could certainly become a president of a team. He’s been a general manager and a vice president.”
On the dynamic of representing both Reid and Howie Roseman: “It’s the same thing we’ve had in many, many places. …I think the dynamic is, the most important thing, and I’ve always believed this, is that if you have a relationship that is a healthy one between the general manager and the head coach, that is the perfect model for the National Football League. …I think the opposite is true if you have the juxtaposition where everyone is at everyone’s throat. For me, personally, it’s nice only because they seem to always be doing the things together. It would be very difficult, as an example, if I had a GM who didn’t see eye to eye with the head coach. To me, that would be very, very hard… because then it would be in constant turmoil. I find it to be a benefit, and you can talk about the same things. During the season, normally the football coach is the voice. In the offseason, the way we think it’s important, is to then have the GM be the voice because it takes some pressure off. But I think the perfect model is always GM-head coach, same page, period. You have a great chance to win.”
On letting Reid go into the offseason without a new contract: “It’s a common thing with coaches of this quality that when they get to that point in their career, they are making a decision every much as part as the owner’s making that decision, because they’re entitled to that…
“That’s not an issue you guys should worry about from the standpoint of Andy Reid. He’s earned the right to decide what he’s going 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, that as long as he’s the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy’ll be his coach.”
On why client Marty Mornhinweg hasn’t gotten another head-coaching shot: The most important thing I think you can say about coaches today is there is always a new group, and if you’re not part of that new group, it’s very hard. …The thing is, these new group of guys come in and they quote-unquote become the new hot guy. And you guys know as well as I do, that’s just how it works, and it’s always going to be that way.”
On client Sean McDermott: “I think he’s brilliant. Had he taken the Denver job instead of going to Carolina, who knows? Maybe he gets a job. I think he’s fantastic.”