With the rookies and selected veterans scheduled to report to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. a week from Sunday, the biggest question facing the Eagles is when will they get first-round draft pick Jeremy Maclin under contract. Maclin, the 19th overall selection and the team's top pick, is the only one of the Eagles' eight draft picks who has yet to be signed to a contract.

Well, it certainly appears that the negotiations will last well into next week. Adam Caplan from Sirius NFL Radio and Scout.com reports that discussions between the Eagles and Maclin's agents, Ben Dogra and Jim Steiner, will "pick up next week." According to Caplan's report, the two sides have already been talking about a deal.

There was one part of the report that was somewhat concerning. Caplan wrote that the "anticipation is that Maclin will be signed on time by the day the veterans and rookies have their first practice in pads on July 31." What about the practices that begin on July 27th?

Caplan also reported that the Eagles recently had former defensive tackle Hollis Thomas in for a physical. That would give credence to the report by Garry Cobb in mid-June that Thomas was brought to Philadelphia for a physical. A rookie free agent signing of the Eagles in 1996, Thomas played with the Eagles through the 2005 season before signing with New Orleans which is where he played the last three seasons before he was released earlier this off-season. The 335-pound run-stuffer would provide veteran experience and depth at the position behind Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley and Trevor Laws.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 10:41 p.m., July 18