NFL talks to resume next week

With training camps set to open in another month, NFL owners and players will resume negotiations next week, hoping to build on recent talks, two people familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Friday.

While each side has acknowledged progress in the four-month-old lockout, a new collective bargaining agreement isn't imminent. One of the two people who spoke on condition of anonymity said conference calls are being set up to discuss various issues, but not the major one of splitting revenues.

The person said that was being negotiated "face to face."

Once the owners and players can agree on how to divide revenues - $9.3 billion last year - other issues such as a rookie wage scale, benefits for retired players, and player health and safety could fall in line quickly. Still, it's almost July, and training camps are scheduled to open late next month. The first preseason game is Aug. 7 at Canton, Ohio.

Also this week, league owners were briefed on a plan that would give the players just under 50 percent of total income. An off-the-top expense credit of about $1 billion that went to the owners would be eliminated.