On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles apparently used the release of the 2008 regular-season schedule as a way to drum up trade interest in veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, Eagles president Joe Banner addressed Sheppard’s status, suggesting that the Eagles might end up keeping Sheppard, after all.

Banner says that there is “significant interest” in Sheppard, but that, as of right now, “the best thing to do is keep him.”

“You don’t see many 26-year-old Pro Bowl players who there is even a possibility of acquiring,” Banner said.  “If you look at the history of player trades, you’ll see a very short list of players that age, that caliber of player, that kind of character.  There is significant interest, but the reason there is interest is because he’s a good player, which is a compelling reason, also, to keep him.  We’ll just have to weigh the options of keeping him or whatever else is available, and in the end [head coach] Andy [Reid] will make a decision as to which he thinks is better.”

It was a foregone conclusion (or so we all thought) when the Eagles pounced on Pats cornerback Asante Samuel that Sheppard would be traded.  In the weeks before the launch of free agency, the Eagles vehemently denied rumors of a possible trade of Sheppard (who actually is a bit younger than Samuel), presumably in an effort to ensure that their interest in acquiring Samuel would remain concealed, sort of.

We’ve heard rumblings about some teams offering a second-round pick and the Eagles holding out for a first-rounder.  It could be that some team that doesn’t get a corner in round one throws a 2009 first-round pick to Philly after the first day of the draft, like the Drew Bledsoe trade from 2002.

Despite the puffing from Banner, there’s no way that Sheppard can play for the Eagles in 2008.  The cat is out of the bag, and spraying all over the furniture.  Sheppard wisely has kept quiet during these efforts to get him traded (which, presumably, will entail a new contract).  If it doesn’t happen, Sheppard eventually will sound off.