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Asante, LeSean at first day of workouts

Despite being the subject of trade rumors, Asante Samuel was at the NovaCare Complex for the first day of the Eagles’ off-season workout program. Also in attendance was running back LeSean McCoy, who could be a potential training camp holdout if the Eagles don’t extend his rookie contract.

LeSean McCoy could be a potential training camp holdout if the Eagles don’t extend his rookie contract. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)
LeSean McCoy could be a potential training camp holdout if the Eagles don’t extend his rookie contract. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)Read more

Despite being the subject of trade rumors, Asante Samuel was at the NovaCare Complex for the first day of the Eagles' offseason workout program on Monday. Also in attendance was running back LeSean McCoy, who could be a potential training camp holdout if the Eagles don't extend his rookie contract.

Samuel typically spends most of his offseason working out in South Florida. He has skipped a number of the nonmandatory sessions during his previous four seasons with the Eagles. So his presence came as a bit of a surprise.

"This is my home," Samuel told philadelphiaeagles.com. "I've never been to a place I love more than Philly. It's up to management. I want to be here."

The 31-year-old cornerback has been on the trading block since last summer after the Eagles traded for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and signed free agent Nnamdi Asomugha. While still productive, Samuel's salary - he's slated to earn $9.5 million this season - and his style of play (he often plays an off corner) make it all but likely that the Eagles will trade him sometime before or during the draft.

The Titans, Lions, Buccaneers, Chargers, and Browns are teams that could be in the market for the veteran cornerback. The Eagles' asking price is unknown. In fact, the team has not publicly stated that Samuel is up for sale, but a third- or fourth-round pick would seem to be a fair swap for the four-time Pro Bowler.

Still, Samuel would be willing to restructure his contract to make a trade possible, a source close to the situation told The Inquirer last month.

"I'm not going to dwell on it," Samuel said of the trade rumors. "I know the Eagles' main focus is to win a Super Bowl, and I think I'm an important part of that."

The NFL's workout programs are starting about a month later than usual. The players had lobbied for less offseason practice time and had won that right in the new collective bargaining agreement. The next two weeks of workouts - titled Phase I - are not mandatory, but many coaches frown upon absences.

McCoy was always expected to attend. He and the Eagles have been negotiating on a new contract since the end of last season. The Pro Bowl running back is slated to earn about $600,000 in base salary in the final year of the four-year contract he signed as a rookie.

The practices are limited. Quarterbacks can throw to receivers on non-contested routes under coaching supervision. The rest of the team can meet with coaches and participate in strength and conditioning programs.

Schedule due Tuesday. Dates and times for the NFL schedule are set to be announced Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Eagles will play home games against Atlanta, Carolina, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Detroit; and road games against Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Arizona, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. They'll play home and road games against NFC East opponents Dallas, Washington, and the New York Giants.