Staley's holdout could force trade

You would think that a team that had home-field advantage through the playoffs last year and entered the offseason in superb salary-cap shape would be free of controversy and position battles heading into training camp. But the Eagles' policy of not giving multi-year contracts to players with their best years behind them has led to some interesting situations.

First off, they never mounted a serious contract offer when star defensive end Hugh Douglas exercised an escape clause in his deal and became a free agent. He signed with the Jaguars, and the Eagles were forced to trade up in the first round of the draft to take a player at the same position.

Secondly, while the front office has gladly handed out contract extensions to 26-year-old WR Todd Pinkston and 29-year-old Brian Dawkins, 32-year-old Troy Vincent and 28-year-old Duce Staley (relatively old for a running back) enter the last years of their contracts without an extension in sight. That has prompted Staley to make one of the most daring holdouts in NFL history.

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