Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie put coach Andy Reid on the clearest possible notice on Thursday. In a calm, matter-of-fact tone, Lurie made it clear that the 2012 season could be Reid’s final season in Philadelphia.
After Thursday night’s preseason game against the Jets, Reid took the remarks in stride.
“I’m not worried about it,” Reid said, via Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. “I understand the business. I have a very good relationship with Jeffrey [Lurie], so we go play. I’m not worried about all that stuff.”
Lurie’s comments came less than three weeks after Reid’s agent, Bob LaMonte, told reporters that Lurie has said Reid will coach the team as long as Lurie owns it. Reid reportedly disagreed with LaMonte’s comments, but we’ve reported the the Eagles believe that LaMonte was speaking for Reid when LaMonte said what he said.
“I don’t even care about that,” Reid said Thursday night regarding his contract. “I care about this football team and winning games now and playing well and working hard. That stuff, that’s not on my mind.”
What is on his mind is finishing better than 8-8, something Lurie said would have to happen in 2012 for Reid to return, barring possibly an extended rash of injuries.
“We surely wouldn’t be satisfied with 8-8,” Reid said. “I know we’re striving for far better than that. I think that’s the most important thing. I’m not sitting here and telling you that’s where I want to be.”
But if that’s where he is, Philadelphia most likely isn’t where Reid will be next year.