NFL, Players: We're Making Progress Toward Deal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By HOWARD FENDRICH

Noting that "progress has been made," NFL owners and players wrapped up a round of intensive talks Friday without a full agreement to end the league's four-month lockout, but determined to keep pushing over the weekend.

NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith expects to speak with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the next couple of days, possibly in person, while the two sides' legal and financial teams continue working. After about eight hours of negotiations in New York on Friday - tacked onto more than 25 hours across Wednesday and Thursday - the league and players issued a joint statement, saying: "The discussions this week have been constructive and progress has been made on a wide range of issues."

They did not reveal any details, citing a gag order imposed by the court-appointed mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.

"I wouldn't dare speculate on where we are," said Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, one of six members of the owners' labor committee participating Friday.

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