Here is a look at some of the top rumors for Friday, July 17:
It appears contract discussions between the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson are approaching a mini-deadline. According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, negotiations -- which aren't close, but should ramp up in the next two weeks -- will not continue into training camp. The Seahawks report to camp on July 30 and begin practice on July 31. A source who has spoken to Wilson tells Rapoport that while Wilson doesn't want to hit free agency, he wants to be paid as if he were a free agent, hoping to be the highest-paid player in the NFLby . Rapoport notes that the history that Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, has with big-money deals in MLB suggests that Wilson is less likely to sign an extension -- and more likely to force the Seahawks to use the franchise tag next offseason -- as time goes on. Wilson reiterated at the ESPYs that he is confident his contract situation will "all work out," but it sounds like we could be a long way from a resolution if an extension doesn't happen soon.
At least for now, Reggie Wayne plans to continue his NFL career with a team other than the Indianapolis Colts. The longtime Indy wideout -- who will be presented with a key to the city by Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard on Friday -- said he has received calls from teams and plans to play this season, according to ESPN's Mike Wells. Eric Cox of RTV6 quoted Wayne saying, "Ideal is playing one more year and hanging it up." There's no indication yet on which teams have called Wayne or where he hopes to land, but it's unlikely the 36-year-old would be looking to spend his final year playing for a rebuilding franchise. Wayne's role diminished in 2014 as he returned from ACL surgery, but the six-time Pro Bowler still had 64 catches for 779 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
One potential lifeline that would keep the Oakland Raiders from leaving town for Los Angeles is looking less promising. According to Matthew Artz of the Bay Area News Group, real estate developer Floyd Kephart's "Coliseum City" development plan -- which proposes the building of a mini-downtown around a new Raiders stadium in East Oakland -- has received "a chilly reception, especially from Alameda County officials." The two sides will exchange feedback over the next few weeks and the plan will be tweaked, but it appears to have far less momentum than the Raiders and San Diego Chargers' proposal for a joint stadium in Carson, Calif.
After plenty of recent news about contract extensions, another name to watch will be Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers would like to extend Kuechly's deal "this year." The Panthers picked up Kuechly's fifth-year option, which will pay him around $11 million in 2016, in April. Person doesn't expect Justin Houston's new contract to impact negotiations because Houston and Kuechly play very different roles in their respective defenses. However, the inside linebacker market is difficult to read at the moment, as the two largest contracts by per-year average -- Lawrence Timmons ($9.5 million per year) and NaVorro Bowman ($9.1 million per year) -- were signed more than 30 months ago. Considering Kuechly is the only player other than J.J. Watt to take Defensive Player of the Year honors since 2012, the young linebacker has reason to start negotiations well above the salaries of Timmons and Bowman.