It ended with a more upbeat report that rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin’s career was about to begin.

After Maclin missed the first nine days and 13 practices of training camp, the Eagles and his agent, Jim Steiner, agreed late last night to a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $15.5 million. The deal, according to Steiner, includes $9.5 million in guaranteed money.

The Eagles said it was not known when the first-round pick would report to camp, although it’s possible he could be here as early as this morning because he remained in Philadelphia as the sides negotiated his first NFL contract.

Neither side commented on what finally led to an agreement, but it probably didn’t hurt that the Denver Broncos signed defensive end Robert Ayers earlier yesterday. Ayers was taken 18th overall, one spot ahead of Maclin, and received $9.7 million in guaranteed money, according to the Denver Post.

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said after practice yesterday that the 21-year-old Maclin’s absence through the first nine days of camp was no big deal.

“He’s a rookie,” McNabb said. “You all act like he’s been in the league for five or six years. You don’t know what he’s going to do anyway. All we ask of him is to catch the ball and get up field and score. That’s all we ask. I think for him, at this point, it’s a business aspect of things that we’ve all been through. It’s not like he’s the only one who’s holding out. He’ll be here. We’ll be able to get some work and be able to see what we can get out of him this year.”