NFL owners updated on labor negotiations

NFL executives convened Tuesday at the owners' meetings in Rosemont, Ill., and were updated on the status of talks toward a collective-bargaining agreement.

The mood and vibe were described as positive, feeding the growing speculation that a deal could be reached between the owners and players within the next few weeks to end the lockout, which began March 12. But commissioner Roger Goodell cautioned there's still a ways to go.

"We have a lot of work to do and we've got to do it right,'' he said after roughly five hours of meetings. "The agreement that we are negotiating has to address several issues. Those issues are complex, and it needs to be done in a way that's fair to the players, fair to the clubs, and most importantly allows us to continue to have that full 2011 season.

"That's what we want, that's what the fans want. They want football, and that's our job to try to make that happen.''

Some details of the latest proposal, which Goodell unveiled to executives Tuesday, have trickled out.

A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the players' share would be near the 50 percent the NFLPA has said it received in the past 10 years.

ESPN, citing sources, reported that in the proposed agreement, players would pocket 48 percent of total revenue. That, the report said, would even include the more than $1 billion credit off the top of the total pie the owners initially requested.

The report also said players with at least four years' experience whose contracts have expired will be unrestricted free agents. Additionally, the owners' proposal included a rookie wage scale and a new 16-game Thursday night television package, which could be sold to the highest bidder.

Talks are expected to continue Wednesday, reportedly in Boston, but Goodell wouldn't confirm that. "We've done a very good job of keeping our meetings focused on the issues, and not any distractions,'' he said. "So we are going to try to do it in a confidential way.''

With training camps scheduled to start in late July, the sides will need to strike a deal relatively soon for the preseason not to be affected.

Goodell said: "Time is moving quickly and we are fast approaching our training camp period. I think there is an urgency for everybody to get this deal done.''