INDIANAPOLIS -- The threat of an NFL lockout is still a reality, but the signs continue to be positive that maybe the NFL owners and the NFLPA have found some middle ground.

Today (Wednesday) was their sixth straight day of meeting with a federal mediator in Washington, D.C. There is a news blackout on the talks and obviously both sides are living with that. The fact they continue to meet is news they cannot hide.

A mediator’s decisions are not binding like in arbitration, but the fact that he’s kept both sides at the bargaining table for six days has to be a good sign. They are under no obligation to sit there, if they thought it was a waste of time they would have blown town days ago.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the day on March 3. Perhaps if an agreement has not been reached but is close they will extend that agreement for a few weeks.

The NFL will meet with general managers, coaches and excecutives from all 32 teams here in Indianapolis on Thursday.

I’ll be covering the NFL Combine through Sunday, with updates throughout each day.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)