Now Brian Westbrook has a new agent, too.

One day after Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard fired his agent and hired Drew Rosenhaus, The Inquirer has learned that Westbrook, the team's superstar running back, has fired agent Fletcher Smith, who also represents quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Smith and the Eagles had been in negotiations for the last nine months in an attempt to upgrade the running back's current contract, which has three years remaining. It is believed Westbrook fired Smith Monday, which means he cannot officially hire a new agent until Saturday.

A source close to the situation indicated that Westbrook may end up hiring All Pro Sports & Entertainment Inc., the group that includes agents Peter Schaffer and Lamont Smith. That is the same group that represented Sheppard before he hired Rosenhaus earlier this week. Agent John Rickert is also part of the All Pro group and represents Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter, another former client of Fletcher Smith.

Westbrook, in a recent interview with The Inquirer, made some strong comments about how dissatisfied he was with his current deal.

"When I signed my contract with the Eagles 2A½ years ago, they paid me for the level of play I was playing at the time," Westbrook said. "I'm not at that level no more. I'm at a higher level of play. There's no question about that. The numbers don't lie. My numbers have steadily increased from that point until now. Now, I'm at the point where I'm one of the elite backs in the NFL, and I should be compensated that way."

It's difficult to argue that point. In the two full seasons since Westbrook signed his extension, he has compiled 4,020 yards from scrimmage, including a team record 2,104 last season when he led the NFL. Only San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson has more yards from scrimmage (4,272) in the last two seasons. Westbrook wants to be paid like Tomlinson, who received an eight-year extension worth $60 million, including $21 million guaranteed, before the 2004 season.

A team source said the Eagles agree that Westbrook should be better compensated for his services over the final three years of his current deal and that they initiated the contract talks with the running back late last season.

Fletcher Smith, during an interview yesterday, confirmed that he was in negotiations with the Eagles, but he did not reveal that he had been fired by Westbrook.

"We haven't been able to come to a meeting of the minds," Smith said.

And now, another agent will take a shot at getting something done with the Eagles.

All Pro Sports & Entertainment will be the third agent representing Westbrook during his seven-year career. Anthony Agnone and Eastern Athletic Services of Hunt Valley, Md., negotiated Westbrook's rookie contract but were fired by the running back and replaced by Smith in 2005. Smith negotiated a five-year, $24.9 million contract extension for Westbrook during the 2005 season but only after the running back staged a holdout from training camp.

Asked last week if he would consider holding out from this year's training camp, Westbrook said, "to be honest with you, I don't know. I don't foresee me holding out of this training camp, but . . ."

Fletcher Smith said he didn't think it would be a wise move for Westbrook to hold out of camp, but he, of course, is no longer the running back's agent.

Westbrook and most of the Eagles veterans are scheduled to report to training camp a week from today.

Two GMs from other teams say the Eagles are actively trying to move into the top 10-15 picks in the draft.

Their sights are believed to be on Pittsburgh OT Jeff Otah. The Birds may have to get into the top 11 to snare Otah, who could go as early as No. 12 to Denver. Philly apparently isn't sold on 2006 second-rounder Winston Justice.

Source: Hashmarks Blog

Related: Eagles

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that Tampa Bay has become the frontrunner for Lito Sheppard.

Glazer reports that Sheppard was visiting with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, and that a trade could go down by Saturday. He speculates that it will take at least a second round pick to get a deal done, and the Bucs have the 21st (52nd overall) pick in the second round.

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports Anquan Boldin has requested a trade.

The Cardinals have reportedly informed Boldin that they will not deal him, but as always a team like Dallas, Washington, or Philadelphia might blow them away with a draft-day offer. Arizona has not set aside the idea of extending Boldin's contract, which is assuredly what he truly wants in the end.

Though it now seems that the Minnesota Vikings are the favorites to land defensive end Jared Allen from the Chiefs, the Eagles apparently were one of the teams that at least kicked the tires regarding the possibility of acquiring the NFL's 2007 sack leader.

Per Bob Grotz of DelcoTimes.com, the Eagles offered cornerback Lito Sheppard and draft picks, but not a first-rounder, to the Chiefs for Allen.

Even if a deal could be struck with the Chiefs, the Eagles would still have to work out a jaw-dropping contract with Allen, less than two months after signing cornerback Asante Samuel to a big-money deal on the first day of free agency.

Our guess at this point is that Allen has decided he wants to play for the Vikings, and that the only question is whether the move happens via a trade or the signing of a post-draft offer sheet that the Chiefs opt not to match.

The Washington Post hears that Chad Johnson's "magic number" in a sign-and-trade deal would be $20 million in guarantees.

Johnson wants to be traded, but certainly would want a new deal from the team he's dealt to, complicating matters some. Larry Fitzgerald was guaranteed $30 million, so in comparison Chad's demands aren't too unreasonable.

After days of silence regarding the possibility of the Miami Dolphins doing a deal with offensive tackle Jake Long that would make him the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and put him under contract before his name is called out on Saturday, there are now indications that an agreement could be coming.

Tom Curran of NBCSports.com, citing an unnamed source, reports that a deal between the Dolphins and Long is "nearly in place."

Citing the same source, Curran says that the other Long â€" Virginia defensive end Chris Long â€" would then be the prime target of the Rams, with the No. 2 selection.

If/when the Dolphins have a contract in place with the No. 1 pick, the Rams would then be permitted to negotiated with one or more players at the second overall spot.

At this point in the process, however, it's impossible to know what's true and what isn't. Perhaps the Fins are actually pursuing defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston, who now must face the reality that he'll slide to No. 3, at the earliest, if he doesn't do a deal with the Fins.

The other odd dynamic here is that Jake Long and Gholston are represented by the same firm, CAA.

If it's true that the Fins intend to pay less money to the No. 1 pick than the No. 1 pick from a year ago received, we'd be shocked if Jake Long is the guy, absent a change in agents. If Tom Condon wouldn't allow his name to appear on a six-year deal for late first-rounder Benjamin Watson of the Patriots several years ago, there's no way that Condon would attach his Hancock to a contract that represents a reduction in the value of being the first overall selection in the NFL draft.

So we tend to think that this is a ploy from the Dolphins to get Gholston to tell CAA's Ben Dogra that whatever the Fins are offering had better be accepted. Now.

It is true that New York Jets defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson visited the Eagles for a series of medical examinations, but, according to a league source, the visit took place nearly a month ago and it is "a long shot" that he will be dealt to Philadelphia.

Robertson, the fourth overall pick in the 2003 draft, is on the trading block and, like Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, is likely to be dealt before or during Saturday's NFL draft. Robertson, 6-foot-1 and 317 pounds, has been a five-year starter for the Jets, but he has not lived up to the expectations of a fourth overall draft pick. He has 141/2 career sacks.

A trade is "a long shot but not dead," the league source said. - Bob Brookover

PHILADELPHIA â€" With the NFL Draft around the corner, Eagles coach Andy Reid is still seeking options to continue building his team.

Jets defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, a No. 4 overall pick in 2003, visited the NovaCare Complex recently to meet with the Eagles and take a physical, according to two league sources.

The Eagles can't comment on Robertson, who is still property of the Jets but became trade bait when New York switched to a 3-4 defensive alignment this off-season and signed Kris Jenkins to play nose tackle.

Robertson, listed by the Jets' Web site as 6-foot-1, 317 pounds, was also in conversations with at least four other teams, said one source, who couldn't confirm if the Eagles had made an offer to the Jets. The Eagles have 11 picks in the draft, which starts next Saturday, and could pick up more if they deal cornerback Lito Sheppard. The Denver Broncos are also reportedly seeking the sixth-year Jet's services.

It's unknown how Robertson would feel about competing for a starting job in Philadelphia. The Eagles already have two young first-round picks at defensive tackle in fourth-year left tackle Mike Patterson and third-year right tackle Brodrick Bunkley. A source also said Robertson's contract would have to be restructured.

Robertson, who signed a seven-year, $54 million rookie contract, is slated to make $6.8 million in 2008, with a $3 million roster bonus due in June and is reportedly costing the Jets $12 million against the cap.

In 2003, Robertson became the first Jets rookie defensive lineman to start every game since Marty Lyons in 1970. He has started 60 regular-season games and three playoff games. The former University of Kentucky standout has 14.5 career sacks and has never made a Pro Bowl.

Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, whose last workout was the subject of much scrutiny, had another workout today in Norman, Oklahoma.

According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com, Kelly ran 40-yard dashes timed at 4.63 seconds and 4.65 seconds "on what the scouts considered to be a fast track."

Kelly had previously run in 4.68 seconds and 4.75 seconds on what he felt was a slow track.

Today Kelly also did the short shuttle, finishing in 4.15 seconds, the three-cone drill, finishing in 6.83 seconds, and the 225-pound bench press, completing 14 reps.

Brandt reports that three teams â€" the Browns, Packers and Giants â€" had representatives on hand. In addition to running the 40, Kelly caught passes from former Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch, and Brandt reports that he "looked good catching the ball," grabbing 21 of the 22 catchable passes Crouch threw him.

As the agent for Michigan tackle Jake Long continues to negotiate with the Miami Dolphins regarding the possibility of working out a contract before the time comes for the Dolphins to make their pick, there's a report that Jake isn't all that juiced about playing for the Fins.

John Czarnecki of FOXSports.com reports that "[t]he word on the street" is that Long doesn't want to play in Miami. But talks are continuing between the team and Long's agent because of the "special honor" of being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. (Yeah, those Steve Emtman rookie cards are going for about 100 . . . yen.)

Czarnecki says that, if/when the talks with Jake Long break down, the Fins won't move on to defensive end Chris Long. The Virginia product, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, has been presumed for several months to have the inside track because he's the safest pick on the board.

The Fins apparently then would look after Jake Long to defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston. With talk of Gholston slipping in the eyes of other teams, he'd be very wise to take the best deal he can get, if/when he gets an opportunity to negotiate with the Fins.

It's two hours until the sheet is pulled off the 2008 schedule, and the leaks continue.

One comes from Eagles' web guy Dave Spadaro, who writes of rumors that Philly will host a game on Thanksgiving night.

Based on a recent report from Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who wrote on April 1 that the Browns will play on Thanksgiving night, and given the fact that the Browns and Eagles are due to play this year in Philadelphia, it looks like the Turky Night game will be Cleveland at Philly.

The Browns lead the all-time series, 31-14, with one tie. The Eagles last defeated the Browns in Philadelphia in 1967, and the Browns have since won four straight there, with the last win coming in 1994.

If, of course, we pretend that the pre-1999 Browns are really the post-1999 Browns, and not the Baltimore Ravens.

SI.com's Peter King reports that the Dolphins have given Jake Long a deadline to agree to a contract that would make him the No. 1 overall pick.

King says Long is the only player Miami has seriously negotiated with so far. If Long lets the deadline pass, the 'Fins are expected to turn their attention to Vernon Gholston. Long is seemingly at very little risk of falling out of the top three, so he has some leverage.

With efforts to sign Randy Moss and trade for Larry Fitzgerald flat-out failing, the Philadelphia Eagles apparently are considering the possibility of using their first-round pick in the draft on a field-stretching pass-catcher.

On Tuesday, Cal receiver DeSean Jackson visited with the Eagles. Though on the smallish side at five-foot-ten and 169 pounds, his 4.35-second speed in the 40 could be the kind of thing that helps unlock the team's West Coast attack, by drawing the safeties deep and opening up the underneath stuff.

And so what about Jackson's size? Remember, this is the team that once relied on Todd Pinkston, the human pretzel rod. Besides, Steve Smith of the Panthers is listed at five-foot-nine, which means he's more like five-foot-seven.

Though there's a chance that the Eagles are only blowing smoke, they clearly want to upgrade at the receiver position. With all options via trade and free agency likely exhausted (unless the Lions opt to move Roy Williams), Jackson might be the best bet.

In an attempt to strengthen their wide receiving corp, the Philadelphia Eagles are bringing back Todd Pinkston. The Eagles and Pinkston have agreed on a one year deal worth $765,000. Granted Pinkston still has to make the team in August, but he has fully recovered from his Achilles heal injury he suffered in 2005. Yes, it took three years, but this is Todd we are talking about.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pinkston and McNabb are teammates again.

When asked if he was happy to be back Pinkston was quoted saying, "I'm happy for the opportunity and hopefully I can make a difference on the field." He continued, "I understand the offense here and have always felt like this was my home. McNabb has been a great help to me in my career and I look forward to reestablishing our relationship."

An announcement will be made later today. Furthemore, OTR does not understand this signing.