AP Sources: Reps for owners, players in Minnesota

Negotiating teams for NFL owners and players are in Minnesota and expected to resume talks aimed at ending a lockout now in its fourth month.

Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday that representatives for both sides arrived Monday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no labor developments are being made public.

It was not immediately known when the sides would meet face-to-face, or who would be present. After last week’s labor talks outside Boston, though, players were told the next set of negotiations 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 Bears, scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7, are set to open training camp three weeks from Friday.