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'ITC Live' whispers: Todd Gurley's progress encouraging

Football is in full swing. We were live from Dolphins' camp in Davie, Florida, this morning on NFL Network. Here are the highlights from the Network's coverage and insights from our reporters in the field.

» The day's biggest story: Baltimore Ravens WR Steve Smith will retire after the season. More on that here.

» NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport is on location at the St. Louis Rams' facility with an update on RB Todd Gurley: "He's going through individual drills, he's running. he's jogging, and because he's so athletically gifted he looks normal ... the issue now is strengthening the quad muscles and all of the muscles and everything around the torn (anterior cruciate ligament). At this point it's not 100 percent clear if he's going to start the season on the field ... The Rams love where Gurley is physically, but they've got to make sure he's 100 percent healthy."

» The Steelers need a new kicker: Rapoport reported Shaun Suisham is out for the year after an MRI confirmed he tore his ACL in Sunday's Hall of Fame game. 

» Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo will not practice this afternoon in Oxnard as coach Jason Garrett gives him another veteran's day off. NFL Network will broadcast the practice live at 7 ET. 

» We have a trade: per NFL Media's Rand Getlin, the Chicago Bears have moved guard Ryan Groy to the New England Patriots.

» The Bills have released their first depth chart. At QB1, find the three-headed monster of "Matt Cassel/Tyrod Taylor/EJ Manuel." There is no QB2. Matt Simms slots in at QB3.

» Per Getlin: DT Tony McDaniel has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Tampa Bay worth up to $2.5M.

» More on the Pats: Getlin reported New England will sign QB Ryan Lindley after releasing Matt Flynn, who had not practiced yet due a hamstring injury. Rapoport on the Patriots' QB situation and Lindley's coming arrival: "This is simply to get someone in camp who can come in and throw to receivers ... I wouldn't be surprised based on what I'm hearing if Flynn is back with the team once his hamstring heals." Lindley practiced on Monday and threw an interception in limited action. 

» Our man with the Cowboys is Desmond Purnell, and he updated Lewis on Dallas' running back situation and the pride of the physically unable to perform list, Darren McFadden. Purnell reported McFadden is doing more and more work on the side, but has not been activated from the PUP list. The word is he will not practice until after the team's Aug. 13 preseason game in San Diego, at the earliest. Meanwhile, Joseph Randle has impressed and Lance Dunbar, who showed early flashes, has not practiced in recent sessions due to an ankle injury. "It's no doubt Randle's job to lose," Purnell reported.

» Our coach Brian Billick on Ryan Tannehill :"The thing we've got to remember on Ryan Tannehill is how little he played in college. Typically we would look at in the fourth year and say, 'look, we should have seen that big jump from year one to year two,' but we've got to remember how little he played in college. So I think that's a legitimate perspective. Yes, they've got to get that big play down the field, but you have to have someone throw the ball to down the field, so that has something to do with structure and something to do with the talent around you." After Tannehill and Mike Wallace never connected on the deep ball, the 'Fins added DaVante Parker through the draft. Parker is dealing with a foot injury which is expected to keep him out of most of camp. 

» NFL Media's Jeff Darlington is posted up in Jacksonville, Florida, and he told Rhett Lewis and Jason Taylor what the word in camp is about second-year QB Blake Bortles. After a lackluster rookie campaign when he threw 17 picks and was sacked 55 times, Bortles worked with quarterback tutor Tom House on shortening his motion. "Players are already seeing those dividends pay off for Bortles," Darlington said. "He thinks his arm will be stronger for the duration of the season, something that also plagued him as a rookie."

» Panthers QB Cam Newton, like all NFL signal callers, wears a non-contact jersey during training camp. Today, though, Newton ended up on the bottom of a player pile after throwing a pick and getting into a scuffle with DB Josh Norman. Newton appeared to be the instigator and photos captured him grinning as he lunged for Norman.

» After completing two-of-six passes for 27 yards in a scrimmage this weekend, Matt Cassel will start for the Bills, basically by veteran default, in the team's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Friday at 7 ET, head coach Rex Ryan announced.

» Our Willie McGinest reported from Renton, Washington, about the situation in the Seahawks' secondary. The team is missing safety Earl Thomas as he tries to hit the practice field following offseason shoulder surgery, as well as safety Kam Chancellor, who is holding out. McGinest said the injuries give backup players and new faces a big opportunity for reps. He also highlighted third-year corner Tharold Simon as a candidate to compete with Cary Williams for one of the starting slots on the outside (the other to be filled, of course, by Richard Sherman).

» NFL Media's Gil Brandt had seen it all until he encountered a sideline DJ at Falcons camp this morning:

» Bengals LB Rey Maualuga has passed his physical and is now cleared for practice, moving off the non-football injury list.

» Kim Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson were in Florham Park, New Jersey for a Jets practice coach Todd Bowles described as "average." Geno Smithwas intercepted twice, and a beat writer had to ask a Jets official if the practice was full speed. Apparently it was. 

» Jones reported that Smith is shaking off a mediocre practice from last weekend, which happened to be in front of 10,000 fans. Smith had a fumble Saturday night and heard the boos from fans. "Geno said, 'I'm used to it, I understand,' and he said it felt like a road game hearing those boos," Jones said.

» Tomlinson weighed in on the Jets' running back situation, penciling in Chris Ivory as the starter but highlighting running back depth from Stevan Ridley, Zac Stacy, and Bilal Powell. "They're set in the backfield. They should give Geno Smith a ton of help coming from the backfield," Tomlinson said.

» Tiffany Blackmon reported from Flowery Branch, Georgia, that rookie LB Vic Beasley is impressing his coaches. Defensive line coach Bryan Cox told Blackmon that Beasley has shown quickness and added a toughness the coaches didn't expect from the first-round pick.

» Around The NFL's Marc Sessler is in Berea, Ohio, checking in on the Cleveland Browns, Johnny Manziel and, of course, Terrelle Pryor. We'll see you tomorrow. 

The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses Steve Smith's retirement news and predicts the training camp QB battles.

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