Here's a look at some of the top rumors for Thursday, July 23:
With time running out to sign Russell Wilson to a contract extension before training camp, it appears the Seattle Seahawks are trying to lock up middle linebacker Bobby Wagner to a long-term deal. According to NFL.com's Rand Getlin, negotiations between the team and Wagner are "very active," and both sides are "working to ensure he is in Seattle for the foreseeable future." An extension for Wagner would be no surprise considering the 2014 All-Pro is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and is a key part of Seattle's defense. However, the Seahawks' sudden focus on getting a deal done with Wagner could be a sign of little progress in negotiations with Wilson. At this point, it seems unlikely that an extension for Wilson will be done before camp, while it would be a shock to see Seattle sign both in that time frame. Wagner is likely looking for an average salary above $10 million per year in what has been a stagnant market for inside linebackers.
Sam Bradford has yet to participate in full-team drills with the Philadelphia Eagles as he recovers from his second torn ACL in as many seasons, but things are looking up as training camp approaches. According to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com, Bradford "should be ready to go when training camp opens," which will be a week from Sunday on Aug. 2. Being fully ready for camp has been Bradford's goal all offseason, and Eagles fans will certainly be excited to hear their new QB is on track. Bradford's fit into Chip Kelly's system should be one of the league's most compelling storylines leading up to the regular season.
We still don't know what New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's punishment for Deflategate will ultimately be, but Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that teams around the NFL want "the league to stick with the current penalty" of a four-game suspension. ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Thursday that a settlement offer from the NFLPA was "met with silence" by the NFL, and Maske's report suggests chances of a settlement are low. Clearly, the whole league is watching to see how this situation will play out.
We noted on Tuesday that an extension for Eli Manning could happen soon, but Manning's agent seems to be growing impatient with the New York Giants, according to Rob Guerrera of NBC Sports. Asked when fans could expect a new deal for Manning, agent Tom Condon responded, "We'd like to know that as well," according to Guerrera. Condon's response is probably more of a leverage ploy than anything, but it does show that there's still a gap to be bridged in negotiations. It still wouldn't be a surprise to see a deal struck soon.
Uncertainty about the future of Cincinnati Bengals tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith -- who are both entering the final year of their contracts -- surged when the Bengals drafted Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher in the first two rounds of the draft. Now, the Cincinnati Enquirer raises the question of whether both veterans will remain starters through the end of this season. Whitworth has started all but two games for Cincinnati since 2009 but will turn 34 in December, while Smith missed eight games (including playoffs) with a triceps injury last season. Ogbuehi was a top-10 prospect before tearing his ACL in January, and he could be healthy by midseason. Fisher was considered a first-round prospect by many (including Cincy, who would have nabbed Fisher at No. 21 if Ogbuehi was off the board) and hasn't been shy about wanting to be a starter. Fisher's development in training camp and Ogbuehi's recovery will bear watching.