PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard skipped the team's voluntary workout on Tuesday amid dissatisfaction with his contract and uncertainty about his role on the team.
Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowler, lost his starting position at left cornerback when the team signed free agent Asante Samuel, who agreed to a six-year, $57 million deal in the offseason. Sheppard is also unhappy with the five-year contract extension he signed in 2004, well before he was eligible for free agency.
A four-year starter with the Eagles, Sheppard has missed significant time with injuries in each of the last three seasons but is arguably the team's most explosive defensive player when he's on the field. He has a team-high 17 interceptions since 2004 and has returned three picks for touchdowns in his career.
Sheppard attended the mandatory post-draft minicamp last month and split time in workouts with Samuel and the other starting cornerback, Sheldon Brown. At the time, he said he was hopeful the situation could be resolved.
After the Eagles signed Samuel at the start of free agency, it was widely expected the Eagles would trade Sheppard. But a trade never materialized.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
