Cornerback Lito Sheppard is thrilled to have a new start with the Jets. "I'm happy to have a fresh start," said Sheppard. "I have a lot of football left in me, and I'm glad to have a fair opportunity to show that." Sheppard requested a trade from the Eagles last summer after the team signed Asante Samuel, but was only granted his request this offseason. He finished the season as the fourth cornerback on Philadelphia's depth chart in 2008. "After my second Pro Bowl season [in 2006], it started going downhill when I addressed the fact that I felt like I wanted a new deal," Sheppard said. "I truly believe that if they paid me and they paid Asante at the same time, and if I had a pretty good year, then people would have asked, 'Then why would you bring in Asante?' They had to keep me at a minimum in terms of play time."