"The NFL and players groups have agreed to meetings during the next four days in Minnesota -- with a twist.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and his staff and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and his staff will meet without players or owners there.

This will be the fifth round of "secret talks" between the players and the league.

Minnesota is home to Arthur Boylan, the U.S. magistrate judge assigned to run court-ordered mediation and who has been present for the previous talks. Constants in the room during past talks have been Goodell, Smith, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, New York Giants owner John Mara, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, New York Jets fullback Tony Richardson, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth and Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday."