(Image source: NFL.com)

BY DAN CORNFIELD

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

One step closer to football? Maybe.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith are sitting down to talk in four days of meetings this week -- without owners or players according to NFL.com’s Albert Breer.  ESPN says things are moving in the right direction.

“This is the fifth consecutive week of talks between the sides, and it’s also the longest commitment to talks (four days) in those five weeks.”

Normally, the NFL in Minnesota means the Vikings in winter. But these summer meetings are taking place in the Minneapolis as well.  Breer also says the court-ordered mediator is a key reason things are finally getting somewhere.

“The obvious connection to Minnesota is that that’s where Judge Arther Boylan’ home chambers are. Judge Arthur Boylan of course has been present in overseeing the meetings over the last 4 or 5 weeks. Which the last month or so, they’ve made more progress on this front than they had in the two years previous.”

But back to that one key point. No owners.  No players. What’s that mean?

Pro Football Talks’ Greg Rosenthal says -- it could mean -- plenty.

“The obvious question: Why wouldn’t the usual suspects be there?  I’m not the legal expert around here and can only speculate.  But the location of the talks and those present could possibly indicate the two sides are working on settling the antitrust case between the league and the players.”

But almost everyone says, this is a little like trying to read a zone blitz. You know it’s coming.  You just don’t know where -- or to what end?

Football News Now says -- either way, it’s a good thing.

“The one thing that’s certain is uncertainty. However, with this misdirection, misreporting, and misguided attempt at journalism there is one cold hard fact that cannot be dismissed. The two sides are still talking.”

Either way, this round of talks wraps up Friday. And as the lockout nears the 4-month mark, all eyes are on the calendar.

“Time is becoming an increasingly important factor in reaching an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears... are set to open training camp three weeks from Friday.”