NFL parties continue confidential talks

Talks between the NFL and its locked out players moved to an undisclosed hotel on Long Island Wednesday, and the two parties issued a joint statement that concluded with perhaps the most optimistic four words since the last CBA expired.

"NFL owners and players have engaged in further confidential discussions before Chief Magistrate Judge [Arthur] Boylan this week," the statement said, confirming the meetings that began Tuesday in New York and were a continuation of last week's talks in Chicago. "Those discussions will continue."

A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press the owners and players will meet again "soon and often. That means in the near future, not in a month or anything like that." The NFL Network cites sources calling the time spent in the last two days "very serious talks."

The two sides also confirmed those attending the face-to-face discussions. The owners were represented by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and labor committee members John Mara (Giants), Jerry Richardson (Carolina), Clark Hunt (Kansas City), Robert Kraft (New England) and Dean Spanos (San Diego).

The players were represented by the Jets' Tony Richardson, DeMaurice Smith, Kevin Mawae, Jeff Saturday, Mike Vrabel, and Domonique Foxworth.

Goodell also spent some time Wednesday on a conference call with season ticket holders of the Buccaneers.

"We are going to continue to work at it," Goodell told the fans. "I believe both sides want to find solutions. I'm hopeful we're going to be successful. It's the objective of everybody involved with the NFL to play a full 2011 season."