Nnamdi Asomugha, Da'Quan Bowers and NFL Draft Lead Saturday's NFL News

The 2011 NFL offseason is in full swing with current labor deals, upcoming draft and top free agents hitting the market in a few weeks.

I am going to avoid talking about the labor issue, since we will be hearing about it more in the next few weeks. I am going to stick to Saturday's top stories from around the NFL.

The NFL world is only two weeks removed from the Super Bowl, but that won't stop the media from providing 24/7 NFL offseason coverage.

There were plenty of rumors today, overtaking the Carmelo Anthony speculation and baseball spring training.

Here are the top NFL stories from the weekend so far.

I am an NFL Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. Follow me on twitter: twitter.com/MattMiselis

Denver Broncos Reportedly Targeting Defensive End Da'Quan Bowers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

I wrote an article on this subject earlier today, but figured I'd bring it up since it is newsworthy.

National Football Post columnist Wes Bunting reported via twitter that he has heard the Denver Broncos are leaning towards Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers with the second overall selection.

New head coach John Fox is in love with him as it reminds him of Julius Peppers, who was with Fox in Carolina.

The assumption for now is the Carolina Panthers will take Nick Fairley first overall, leaving Bowers on the board.

The idea of Bowers being on the opposite side of Elvis Dumervil should put fear into Philip Rivers and Matt Cassel.

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Nnamdi Asomugha Rumors Heating Up, Ravens and Eagles Linked

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders stands on the sidelines during the closing minutes of their loss to the Miami Dolphins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra S

There have been a lot of rumors over the past week about Nnamdi Asomugha's future destination.

Though the Oakland Raiders can't be ruled out of the sweepstakes, it seems likely Asomugha is taking his talents to a contender.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers have been rumored as possible destinations for the Pro-Bowl cornerback.

However, today's chatter is involving the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles showing interest.

The Ravens are in need of a true No. 1 corner who can be counted on to shut down the teams opposing top receivers.

For the Eagles, the future of Asante Samuel is in question, along with a secondary that did get beat badly at times throughout the year.

On Sunday, I will give my list of contenders/pretenders for Asomugha's services. This is only the beginning of the speculation involving this cornerback.

Andrew Whitworth Is Not Surprised By Carson Palmer's Trade Demands

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals calls a play at the line of scrimage while playing the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty

The drama that is the Cincinnati Bengals continues regarding Carson Palmer's demands to be traded.

This time, Bengals and left tackle and Palmer's good friend Andrew Whitworth is not surprised by the news.

Whitworth first told the Cincinnati Enquirer: “I knew he was really frustrated and knew it had been a tough year for him. It had to be, "That’s the nature of a quarterback but I think in a year in which he was so excited about the potential of our team and for everything to go so badly was tough on him.”

Whitworth's conversation got more interesting when he talked about the Bengals fan base: “Then it didn’t help that there were—and you say Cincinnati fans but the people who do stuff like they did to him aren’t real fans.

"You’ve got your real fans that will love and support you no matter what but having stuff thrown in his yard and stuff like that, just stuff that is uncalled for."

It has been a mess in Cincinnati for awhile, and its time for Palmer to move on.

He has grown out his welcome with the fans, and his demand to be traded won't help his cause either.

Nobody can blame him, though. Palmer only has a few decent seasons left in him and wants to go to a team in line to make the playoffs.

The 49ers and Cardinals seem to make the most sense out of any team in Palmer's case.

Chargers Do Not Plan On Giving Vincent Jackson a Long-Term Extension

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Vincent Jackson #83 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 33-28. (Photo

The relationship between Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson and general manager AJ Smith has gotten ugly over the past year.

It doesn't look like it will get better anytime soon.

Nick Canepa of the San Diego-Union Tribune asked Smith if an extension would be reached anytime soon:

“I’m comfortable with not giving him a long-term deal right now and we are not negotiating a long-term deal. We’ll see how the year goes, but not at the present time.”

Translation: The Chargers will either A. Keep the franchise tag on him and make him one of the highest paid receiver, or B. Finally trade him to a team in need of a receiver.

What could be the problem from Jackson's standpoint of not being able to get an extension? CBS Sports columnist Andy Benoit gave his thoughts:

"Smith could be keeping Jackson in a one-year deal because he doesn’t trust the receiver’s off-field maturity (Jackson has had multiple DUI arrests in his career). Or, more likely, he could be thinking that with a quarterback like Philip Rivers, wide receivers are more dispensable."

With a few teams in need of a number one receiver (Rams, Bears, Redskins), 2011 may be the year Jackson finds himself with a new team.

Blaine Gabbert Will Be Drafted By the Titans If He Falls in the First Round

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

As this year's NFL draft approaches, there are questions regarding which quarterback will be picked first in the draft.

Some draft experts feel a team will take a chance on Heisman winner Cam Newton.

If not Newton, the vast majority seem to believe Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be taken first.

John Glennon of The Tennessean believes if Gabbert is available when the Titans pick overall, he will be selected.

"Based on the reviews I’m seeing, I think the Titans would snap up Gabbert in a heartbeat if he was available at No. 8 overall. But with a number of teams drafting before the Titans interested in a quarterback—such as Carolina, Buffalo, Arizona and San Francisco—I have a hard time believing Gabbert will still be around."

I disagree with Glennon in the sense that it is more likely Gabbert may be around. With Andrew Luck returning to college, this year's quarterback is not very strong.

Carolina will most likely go defense along with Buffalo and Arizona. San Francisco may take a different route as well regarding the quarterback position, with quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb being available.