Sheppard reports for minicamp
5/2/2008 6:10 PM
By ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Lito Sheppard reported for a mandatory minicamp Friday night, ending speculation that he might hold out until the Philadelphia Eagles trade him or give him a new contract.
The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback landed on the trading block this offseason because he's unhappy with his contract. After the Eagles signed All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel to a megadeal in March, it was assumed Sheppard would go elsewhere.
However, the Eagles didn't get an offer they liked for Sheppard and coach Andy Reid said after the draft that keeping him is a possibility. That would give the Eagles perhaps the best cornerback trio in the league with Samuel, Sheppard and Sheldon Brown.
``We all know the situation at hand,'' Sheppard told reporters Friday. ``It still stands unresolved, but I'm here. I'm here to practice and that's what I'm focused on right now. That's pretty much it.''
Sheppard is signed through 2011 and the Eagles generally don't have patience for disgruntled players. But Reid didn't rule out restructuring Sheppard's contract.
``I think it can get resolved,'' Sheppard said. ``That's one of the reasons why I'm here working toward that.''
Sheppard decided not to boycott the team's first minicamp and subject himself to fines after speaking with Reid earlier this week.
``In the situation I'm in, you have to look at the positive side of it,'' Sheppard said. ``That's just my nature. I'm probably the least controversial person in this world. I just want to continue to do that.''
Sheppard got an $8.7 million signing bonus when he signed his current deal - a five-year extension of his rookie contract - in 2004. The total value would be more than $30 million over 10 seasons if Sheppard played out his contract.
Samuel signed a $57.14 million, six-year deal on the first day of the NFL's free-agency period.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb was the only player not to report Friday. He was excused because he was being inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame in Chicago.
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