NFL Lockout Nearing an End? Bookies Hopeful

The bookmakers, both in Las Vegas and online, are hopeful that the NFL lockout will end, and this week there are hopeful signs of this coming to fruition.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who has been actively involved in discussions, spoke today about the potential for an end to the NFL lockout.

"I think we've been fortunate that we've had two rounds of talks, and any time principals are talking in any deal that's complicated or has potential problems, I think that's a big plus," Kraft said. "I'm happy that we're talking, principal to principal."

He does believe the two sides still have many differences between them that need to be resolved, but he added they are further along than three months ago.

"I think so, because we're talking now," Kraft responded. "We're making progress, but there is a lot of work to be done. This is a very hard deal, with all the different variables in the end. The fact that principals who are going to be sitting down from one other 5 years, 10 years from now are talking about the problems is a positive thing. But there is a lot of hard work still to be done. The good news is we're talking."

There is at least one small New England media outlet a bit more optimistic.  (scroll down for more)

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The Eagle Tribune is reporting that the NFL lockout was much closer to an end than Kraft was portraying.

Some coaches and players have been contacted about returning to work probably early next week and as soon as this weekend.

The two sides were meeting secretly in Manhattan the last three days. Included in those meetings were Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Commissioner Roger Goodell, Judge Arthur Boylan and NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith.

The group reportedly met last week in Chicago.

This means that the season is expected to begin, as scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 8, when the New Orleans Saints play at Green Bay.

-       Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com