It's the reporter circle jerk. Whenever you see 'sources close to the team/player/situation' instead of something like 'an official from the team who wants to remain anonymous' it means they got it from another reporter.
It usually goes something like this,
"I need to write something. Spin the wheel...Mario going to Chicago who already said they were out"
*call reporter for team that needs pass rush*
"yeah, the team feels he'd be a great fit and they've talked to him. They told him they would be interested if the Buffalo deal doesn't get gone and his agent said they'd visit first."
*write story Mario scheduled to leave Buffalo according to sources 'close to the situation'*