And -- denials aside -- they sent two more messages Sunday when they traded two fifth-round picks to the New England Patriots for cornerback Ellis Hobbs, and used another fifth-round pick (No. 157 overall), to select Virginia Tech cornerback Victor Harris.

quot;This gives us depth at cornerback,quot; Eagles coach Andy Reid said.

quot;Ellis [Hobbs] also led the [AFC] in kickoff return average and also has been a starting cornerback for the New England Patriots. You can't have enough corners in this league, so we wanted to make sure we addressed that and brought in a veteran.quot;

Then, before anyone could ask, Reid added: quot;This doesn't have anything to do with Sheldon's situation.quot;

quot;I feel I've got three solid starters now [Asante Samuel, Brown, Hobbs] and I know Joselio [Hanson] can step in there and start also,quot; Reid said.

Reid said he expects Brown will be at a minicamp that starts Friday, and he doesn't see any reason to have a chat with the player who has started the last 88 regular- and postseason games.

Brown reportedly is due to receive base salaries of $2 million, $2.5 million, $3.5 million, and $4.25 million from 2009-12. Brown is working under terms of the six-year contract worth a minimum of $25 million that he signed in November 2004. The deal reportedly included a $7.2-million signing bonus and has incentive clauses that could push its value to $30 million.

Not even Hobbs was likely to buy Reid's don't-connect-the-dots plea.

Hobbs connected dots earlier in a conference with reporters, minutes after learning of the trade from Patriots officials.

quot;Obviously, you bring me in for a reason,quot; Hobbs said. quot;One of my former teammates [Samuel] is there. I'm sure he spoke well of me. I know that situation there that they're dealing with Sheldon, and how that stuff is going.quot;

In an odd twist, Hobbs also is unhappy with his contract, which is in its last season.

But Hobbs sounded like he understands he will have to show the Eagles he deserves a new deal.

quot;I know it is not going to come easy,quot; Hobbs said of a long-term commitment.

Hobbs was a full-season starter the last two years with New England, and also for 17 of the 31 regular-season games he played in as a rookie third-round pick in 2005 and second-year player in 2006.

Hobbs also averaged an AFC-best 28.5 yards per kickoff return in 2008, and has three touchdowns on 105 career kick returns.

The addition of the cornerbacks came during a day when the Eagles executed five trades that resulted in the drafting of six players in the fifth through the seventh rounds and the stockpiling of three picks in next year's draft. They went into the offseason with 12 overall picks in the draft.

In addition to Harris, the players the Eagles selected were Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram (No. 153), Oregon offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou (159),

Washington State wide receiver Brandon Gibson (194), Arizona State guard Paul Fanaika (213) and Maryland linebacker Moise Fokou.

Those moves came a day after the Eagles traded up from No. 21 to No. 19 and selected Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, and later took Pitt running back LeSean McCoy at No. 53 over in the second round.

The Eagles also went into the offseason with rights to the No. 28 pick, but a week before the draft sent it to Buffalo for left tackle Jason Peters.

larry.orourke@mcall.com

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Eagles' 2009 DRAFT TRADES & PICKS

SATURDAY

Traded the first-round pick (No. 21 overall) and sixth-round pick (No. 195) to Cleveland for the 19th pick.

Drafted in the first round (No. 19) -- Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin

Drafted in the second round (No. 53) -- Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy.

SUNDAY

Traded third-round pick (No. 85) to New York Giants for a third-round pick (No. 91) and a fifth-round (No. 164).

Traded third-round pick (No. 91) to Seattle for a fifth-round pick (No. 137) and a seventh-round pick (No. 213), plus a 2010 third-round pick.

Traded two fifth-round picks (Nos. 137 and No. 141) to New England for CB Ellis Hobbs.

Traded the No. 164 pick to New Orleans for a seventh-round pick (No. 222) and a 2010 fifth-round pick.

Drafted in the fifth round (No. 153) -- Florida TE Cornelius Ingram

Drafted in the fifth round (No. 157) -- Virginia Tech CB Victor Harris

Drafted in the fifth round (No. 159) -- Oregon OT Fenuki Tupou

Drafted in the sixth round (No. 194) -- Washington State WR Brandon Gibson

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 213) -- Arizona State OG Paul Fanaika

Traded a seventh-round pick (No. 222) to Indianapolis for 2010 sixth-round pick

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 230) -- Maryland LB Moise Fokou.