According to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, some key figures did not show at the Eagles non-mandatory workouts yesterday. Most notable was the absence of Donovan McNabb, who is currently surrounded by a swarm of trade rumors. Also missing were Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, who have both been mentioned in rumored trade talks involving a potential deal to send McNabb to the Oakland Raiders. The disgruntled Brown has also been mentioned in trade rumors of his own, as Andy Reid confirmed that a few teams had made inquiries during this year's annual coaches meetings. One thing to keep in mind though, is that both McNabb and Brown are part of Andy's traditional "30 and Over" club, which means that they have a slightly less strenuous offseason workout schedule than the rest of the team. Samuel is brushing the age limit, having just turned 29 this January. While this is not necessarily an excuse, the absence of these three players is not yet enough to throw up any red flags.
On the other hand, punter Sav Rocca, a restricted free agent who hasn't signed his low-tendered offer yet, was also absent. The Eagles have already signed free agent Durant Brooks as a younger option to explore during training camp, so the inconsistent Rocca could very well be shooting himself in the leg by not attending the voluntary workouts.