Of all the Eagles veterans in the midst of contract disputes with the team, Brian Westbrook appears the most likely to reach a resolution in the near future. In a hopeful sign for Eagles fans, Westbrook has fired agent Anthony Agnone and is set to replace him with Fletcher Smith, who has a more cordial relationship with Eagles? management. Smith represents quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Correll Buckhalter. The team's next minicamp for veterans starts June 1. To be able to attend the camp, Westbrook would have to sign the 1-year, $1.43 million restricted free-agent offer the Eagles tendered. However, the tender may be just a formality. It?s believed that Smith and the Eagles will negotiate for Westbrook to sign the offer and then negotiate a long-term contract. Westbrook, a product of Villanova University, can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2005 season. Agnone said last month that Westbrook would likely hold out of the June 1 minicamp, but sign the one-year offer by June 15. That?s the date under the NFL?s collective bargaining agreement with the Players? Association that the Eagles could withdraw the offer and replace it with a lower one, if they so choose. The Eagles will be finished with minicamps by June 15. Eagles management was reportedly upset that Westbrook missed the mandatory minicamp the weekend after the draft and skipping the June 1 camp would not bode well for long-term negotiations. Additionally, many questioned how a holdout from the June 1 camp could help Agnone gain leverage for Westbrook, given their intention to sign the one-one tender two weeks later. Even with Smith aboard, coming to a long-term agreement may not isn't going to be easy. Smith wants Westbrook to be paid like an elite running back. Westbrook led NFL running backs with 73 receptions last season, and has been a strong fit in Andy Reid?s west coast offense. Nevertheless, running backs traditionally get paid top dollar for their rushing yards. Westbrook gained 812 yards on 177 carries last season; hardly elite numbers. However, her typically runs the ball extremely well in the second half of games, once the opposing defense has been worn down. Meanwhile, it has yet to be seen how 2005 draft pick Ryan Moats and veteran Correll Buckhalter will fit into the picture. Last season, Westbrook and Buckhalter were slated to split tailback duties. That plan was scrapped when Buckhalter suffered a torn patella tendon in the preseason and missed the entire 2004 campaign. Intriguingly, Smith negotiated a 2-year deal for Buckhalter this spring, selling him to Philly as a viable replacement for Westbrook. Now Smith has to convince the Eagles that Westbrook is indispensable after all. Ah, the joys of the NFL offseason.

The Philadelphia Eagles extended the contract of highly regarded defensive coordinator Jim Johnson four more years through the 2008 season yesterday. "I'm very happy to stay with Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles," Johnson said in a statement. "I love the city of Philadelphia. We've had a great run here and we want to keep it going. We're focused on getting back to the Super Bowl and winning it.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have come to terms with veteran free agent linebacker Nate Wayne and are expected to finalize the agreement on Monday. Wayne has spent his past two seasons in Philadelphia and became a free agent after being released by the Eagles last February.

Free agent linebacker Nate Wayne agreed to a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday. Wayne is expected to sign Monday and begin offseason conditioning. Wayne spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before he was released in February. In nine games last season, he finished with 38 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. He also started one postseason game.

Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeff Lurie grabbed the attention of the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFL?s teams, players and agents this week when he adamantly said no to receiver Terrell Owens' contract demands. Owens is one of four NFL players who recently have hired high-profile agent Drew Rosenhaus and then boycotted mandatory minicamps in their quest for new contracts from their teams. Packers receiver Javon Walker is another. Lurie this week was adamant that he won?t negotiate a new deal with Owens and declared the prospect a ?non-issue? after the receiver skipped a recent minicamp in protest of the seven-year contract he signed last year. Walker similarly hired Rosenhaus and skipped the Packers? minicamp in early May in an effort to upgrade his contract, which has two years remaining on it, after going to the Pro Bowl last season. General Manager Ted Thompson has the final call on whether the Packers will extend Walker?s contract, and Thompson won?t comment on contractual issues. So far, though, there are no signs the sides have commenced talks or that Thompson is considering renegotiating. The Packers also read about Lurie?s stand and know that many eyes within the team and around the league are watching what they do with Walker this offseason. ?Without discussing this instance specifically,? Thompson said, ?every time you do something, every move you make from a personnel standpoint, from a contractual standpoint, you have to think about, ?OK, what does this mean for the future at this position, on this side of the ball, going forward???

The NFL has imposed a penalty on the Philadelphia Eagles for apparently starting workouts too early this off-season. As a result, the Eagles will not be allowed to workout the week of May 16 to 23. A league release said, "NFL executive vice president Harold Henderson and players association executive director Gene Upshaw have determined that the Eagles violated rules pertaining to the scheduling of on-field activities." "We take a lot of pride in the doing things the right way at the Philadelphia Eagles," coach Andy Reid said, in a statement that was part of the NFL-NFLPA announcement. "We didn't intentionally break any rules and we will get this matter resolved right away."

The Philadelphia Eagles will not renegotiate the contract of star wide receiver Terrell Owens, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday. Owens fired longtime agent David Joseph in April, hired Drew Rosenhaus and started asking for a renegotiation just one year into a seven-year deal worth almost $49 million. The Eagles have intimated they wouldn't redo the contract, and owner Lurie told the newspaper, "It's not even an issue." "It's a non-issue," Lurie said. "There are a lot of things I spend time thinking about, but that's not one of them." Lurie criticized Owens' new agent for giving him "self-destructive advice." "I know I'm a top player in the game, and my current contract doesn't justify that," Owens had said after hiring Rosenhaus. "Every player is both fragile and talented," said Lurie, who was traveling Wednesday with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue to a conference of chief executive officers in Beijing.