IMHO, there is only ONE reason that article ever made the light of day: to make Bombardier and/or Embraer desperate. If UA simply had plans to order additional 737-700s we'd never hear about it until the deal was signed.

UA "wins" regardless of what is eventually ordered but in the interim all the players are putting their best deals on the table with wildly different strategic goals.

Besides, only the C-Series and E-Jets provide UA 76-seat RJ scope relief so negotiating in public means the deal is getting close and this leak is also undoubtably related to the stated reasons for removing the new small jet requirement from the TA.