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Fletcher Cox, Jason Peters, Donnie Jones missing from Eagles' OTAs; Doug Pederson sort of OK with it

Pederson stressed that these sessions are voluntary and said he has spoken with the missing players.

Defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, punter Donnie Jones and offensive lineman Jason Peters were not present for the start of Eagles full-team organized team activities. Head coach Doug Pederson acknowledged it Tuesday as the first workout was about to begin.

Pederson's reaction seemed mixed. He stressed that these sessions are voluntary – there will be a mandatory minicamp in June – and that he has spoken with each of the missing players, thinks they will be here when they are required to be here. But Pederson also acknowledged that as a coach trying to put a team together, he would like full OTA participation. And the absence of Cox, his 26-year-old defensive fulcrum, the highest-paid Eagle at $103 million over six years, definitely is something Pederson would change if he could.

"No worries with them going forward. … Some of them were just personal reasons, and again, being on a voluntary schedule like this, it's a little bit out of my control," Pederson said. "These guys have also participated in our offseason program to this point, and (I) expect 'em to continue that way."

Jones is a punter who will turn 37 in July. Pederson can install his offense and defense without the punter. And Peters, the 35-year-old left tackle, has shown that rest seems to help him more than drill work he has done a million times before. But Cox, the 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft, wants to be a defensive leader. The Eagles want him to be a defensive leader. To lead, leaders need to be present.

Asked about Cox, if his reason for not being on hand was satisfactory, Pederson said: "The reason's satisfactory, but, again, it's a voluntary program. I would love for everybody to be here, you know? That's just me, personally. … I know it's not always going to work out that way. But Fletcher's one of the leaders on the football team, and guys like that, you do expect to be here. But I get the rules, we abide by the rules, and he's one of the guys, too, that at the end of the day I'm going to hang my hat on and go to war with."