The Eagles cornerback arrived at 6 p.m. at the NovaCare Complex, a half-hour before coach Andy Reid's scheduled team meeting that preceded the start of this morning's post-draft minicamp.

It's no secret that Sheppard is not happy with his contract. Exactly what his decision to attend this camp means is not known, and it certainly wasn't clarified by Sheppard's brief comments before the meeting.

"We all know the situation at hand," he said. "It still stands unresolved, but I'm here and I'm here to practice, and that's what I'm focused on right now. That's pretty much why I'm here."

Sheppard, entering his seventh NFL season, said he decided to attend camp after a one-on-one meeting with Reid. He would not talk about the details of that meeting or even reveal when it took place. Asked whether he was satisfied with what Reid told him, Sheppard said, "Obviously, I'm here."

According to the NFL Players Association, Sheppard could have been fined about $8,500 if he had skipped this mandatory camp. Should he not appear at one of the voluntary camps later this spring, he would not be subject to any fine, so that may be the real test of how he feels.

Although the cornerback said he thought the situation could be resolved, he gave no clue as to how.

"That's for everybody to figure out, and we're working toward that," he said.

One solution, of course, would be to trade him, but the Eagles' efforts to do that before the NFL draft fizzled when they received only weak offers. Another solution would be to alter Sheppard's contract to his satisfaction, but the Eagles have never done business that way.

A team source said last night that there were no new trade talks concerning Sheppard and that the team had no plans to alter his contract.

Even if the Eagles satisfied Sheppard's contract concerns, the team has three quality cornerbacks and, unless defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is inventing a new scheme, only two can start. Free-agent addition Asante Samuel was anointed the starting left cornerback immediately after signing a six-year, $57.14 million contract two months ago, and Sheldon Brown has been the starting right cornerback since 2004.

This morning's workout will be the first clue as to what Johnson plans to do with his trio of talented corners.

Though Sheppard has been to two Pro Bowls - one more than Samuel - Brown has been the far more durable cornerback with the Eagles. Brown has never missed a game, and that includes a string of 69 straight starts since 2004. Sheppard, on the other hand, has missed 15 games over the last four seasons, including five last year.

Brown arrived shortly before Sheppard last night and had a cell phone to his ear as he walked by reporters and TV cameras.

"You all know who I'm talking to," Brown said with a smile.

A few minutes later, Sheppard arrived and broke his two-month silence, which started shortly before the Eagles signed Samuel. Despite the effort of an Eagles Web site reporter to put a happy spin on the situation - "Lito, talk about the defense and how exciting it is you have new guys and you have some punch" - it was obvious Sheppard was less than thrilled to be there.

The cornerback did not deny that he is unhappy about his contract, which he signed during the 2004 season. He has four years remaining on that five-year extension of his rookie deal and is scheduled to make $2 million this season.

Sheppard said it was not in his nature to cause turmoil.

"I'm probably the least-controversial person in the world," he said.

He did not cause any commotion last night, but only time will tell whether his early arrival is followed by an early departure before the start of the season.