With the clock ticking toward a Nov. 12 deadline, after which Minnesota Vikings first-round offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie would be precluded from playing at all in his rookie season, the sides are suddenly on track and working diligently toward a contract agreement.

Sale, move not imminent

Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs continues to look at his options for selling or relocating the team, but he said Sunday that "nothing is imminent.'' McCombs, who bought the Vikings before the 1998 season, announced in May he had asked a New York brokerage house -- J.P. Morgan Securities -- to help find a buyer. "We're still looking at options,'' McCombs said at the Metrodome before the Vikings' game against Chicago. "We've had numerous inquiries, but there's nothing imminent there.'' -- The Associated Press

League sources told ESPN.com on Sunday night that substantial progress has been made since Friday and one source said that "if things continue the way they've been going," an agreement could possibly be consummated by the middle of the week.

"There's been a lot of discussion with (Vikings owner) Red McCombs and the momentum certainly is there right now," said a source with knowledge of the negotiations. "It's never over until it's over, but things are headed in the right direction."

The progress came even as officials from the NFL Players Association were poised to take depositions from Vikings management staffers on charges the team may have colluded with the Kansas City Chiefs in negotiations for the two teams' first-round selections. Vikings officials will be deposed Monday in New York by NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen.

McKinnie's holdout reached 93 days on Sunday. The former University of Miami standout blocker, who did not allow a sack during his career with the Hurricanes, has now missed seven regular-season games. McKinnie was the seventh overall player chosen in the 2002 draft.

According to the collective bargaining agreement, McKinnie cannot play this season if he is not signed by Nov. 12, just two weeks from Tuesday. If the deadline passed without an accord, it is likely McKinnie would never play a single down for the Vikings. He almost certainly would be traded next spring or permitted to go into the 2003 draft.

The mammoth blocker is the last player in the league, veteran or rookie, who is unsigned. The last rookie to sit out his entire debut season was Bo Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in '86. Minnesota has been offering a five-year deal worth $13.1 million, including an $8.1 million signing bonus.

McKinnie, 23, started 22 games at Miami and graded out at an 86 percent rate for assignments carried through.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.