[Note by JasonB, 06/04/08 5:17 PM EDT ] promoted from fanposts

Another year, another pre-training camp hissy fit in the works.  Disgruntled Eagles CB Lito Sheppard skipped the first day of voluntary OTAs...now bear in mind, my fellow birdbrains, that these OTAs are optional (hence the word "voluntary"), and therefore players don't have to show up, but one cannot help but wonder if this is the start of a planned holdout by Lito.

Personally, I'm not alarmed by it.  But the question remains: what should be done about him?  The ESPN talking heads have said that having three starting-caliber, Pro Bowl-caliber cornerbacks is simply untenable, especially given Lito's apparent dissatisfaction with his contract.  Eagles personnel, Cap'n Andy chief among them, have said that keeping all three CBs would give them a plethora of options on pass defense, as well as give them a real pool of talent that has the potential to lead the league in takeaways.  Who is right?  Reid and Co. make valid points, but keeping Lito will most likely mean having to pay him more money, and I'm not so sure the Eagles brass will be willing to throw a big heap of dough at a guy who has a history of in juries as well as a history of recovering slowly from those injuries.  Plus, we all know how Andy, Joe and Jeffrie feel about players who cause disruption from within the ranks (like a certain headcase down in Dallas that shall remain nameless). 

Andy is acting as if things are peachy, but it's early.  If training camp rolls around and Lito is nowhere near Lehigh, be prepared to see the same hard-nosed treatment that #81 got back in '05, which means deactivation and eventually being cut from the team.  I just don't think the organization is truly willing to rework Lito's contract for the amount he wants, especially considering they've already spent the defecit of a small country for Asante Samuel's services.  They've dangled him in front of other teams, and there was word that a deal with Jacksonville would go through on draft day...but it wasn't to be.  And both Lito and Sheldon will not like being relegated to splitting playing time if Lito is in fact kept.  In a perfect world, I'd love to have Asante, Lito and Sheldon all on the team, as they would  probably be (if all were happy and healthy) the best group of CBs in the NFL.  But this ain't a perfect world.  This is Philly.  And so, Iggles Nation, what is to be done?  Do we cut him if he becomes a detriment to the team?  Do we try to package him in a trade deal, even though earlier attempts fell flat?  Or do we completely take leave of our senses and pay him his money?  I have a feeling all will be resolved by training camp, and that the Eagles will eventually jettison Lito via trade or cutting him, but what are your thoughts?