Two people familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press significant progress was made on a major sticking point - soaring rookie salaries. That's raised hopes an agreement in principle is in sight, though there are still some key issues to be resolved and any handshake deal would need to go through a significant approval process.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because details of the talks aimed at ending the NFL's four-month-long lockout are not being publicly announced.
NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith said he knows "our fans are frustrated" and want the two sides to get a deal done. He and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell are leading their respective negotiating
teams.
