The entire Eagles’ roster reported for Optional Team Activities (OTA’s) Tuesday, with one notable exception. Disgruntled cornerback Sheldon Brown did not attend the first day of the eight day optional camp.

Brown is unhappy with his current contract and has demanded that the team either renegotiate his deal or trade him. Despite claims that the Eagles would not trade him, they apparently tried to include him in a deal for Cardinals’ disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin, but the deal never progressed beyond the initial talks.

Coach Andy Reid said that while he would obviously prefer that Brown attended the camp, he knew ahead of time that he would be absent.

“If you’re not here, you give other people an opportunity to show. I remember Jon Runyan saying that over and over for the last 10 years — ‘I’m not going to miss one snap, because it gives another guy a chance to step in there,” said Reid. “I think that’s really how our guys think, and really, I think that’s the truth. It’s an obvious statement, but it’s the truth.”

One of those players that has more of an opportunity to prove his stuff as a result of Brown’s absence is the newly acquired Ellis Hobbs, whom the Eagles traded for from the New England Patriots on Draft Day.

Several players attended the camp but saw little or no action. Right guard Stacy Andrews (knee), RG Max Jean-Gilles (ankle) and wide receiver Kevin Curtis (groin) “all did a little today. They got in a few of the ‘install’ periods and went through a few of the individual periods … we’ll just gradually bring them back,” said Reid. Tight end Matt Schobel also saw minimal action.

The most notable player held out of action Tuesday was running back Brian Westbrook, due to a sore ankle.

“I don’t have a report for you there. We’ll just see how that works out,” Reid said.

Westbrook is coming off knee surgery in January. He attended the camp but did not take the field. The team is evaluating his ankle, but did not say which ankle or what doctor was performing the evaluation.