Two people familiar with the situation tell the Associated Press that negotiating teams for NFL owners and players are in Minneapolis and expected to resume talks aimed at ending a lockout now in its fourth month.

Although it is not known when the sides would meet face-to-face, representatives for both groups arrived in Minneapolis on Monday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no labor developments are being made public.

It was not immediately known who would be representing each side, although last week players were told the next set of talks would involve Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, several owners and players.

On Monday, a small group of players met with their attorneys in Minneapolis, where the players filed an antitrust suit against the league. The city also is where the sides met for court-ordered mediation in May.

Previous "secret meetings" between both sides have taken place in suburban Chicago, New York, the Maryland shore and last week in Hull, Mass., south of Boston.

Time is becoming an increasingly important factor in reaching an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears, scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7, are set to open training camp three weeks from Friday.

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