NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director

DeMaurice Smith met for labor talks on Tuesday without

players or owners present, then flew to Florida together to speak to rookies after opening four days of labor talks in Minnesota.

Spokesmen for the league and the players' association confirmed Tuesday night that the two power brokers were on the same plane from Minnesota to address the NFLPA's rookie symposium.

SI.com first reported that both Goodell and Smith were on their way to the joint appearance. Smith asked Goodell to speak at the symposium on Wednesday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sarasota, Fla., and the commissioner agreed.

Both men are planning to leave Florida later Wednesday to fly back to Minneapolis and continue the labor talks.

The primary negotiators this week are staff and counsel for each side. They are working on some tedious components of a possible deal, including a rookie wage system. Their participation always has been considered a necessary part of a potential agreement.

A source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that it is possible that owners and players who have participated in the previous four sessions under the supervision of US. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan could return later in the week.

People familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that player representatives

planned a conference call Tuesday to discuss the negotiations.

On Monday, a small group of players met with their attorneys in

Minneapolis, where the players have filed an antitrust suit against

the league. The city also is where the sides met for court-ordered

mediation in May.