1.   After an unproductive exchange Monday over how an escrow system would work, the two sides are concerned that talks may break off soon after they start Wednesday.

2.   Instead, internal negotiating teams will meet at a midtown law firm Wednesday morning with the intention of trying to work out details of a proposed escrow system.

3.   The administration has backed away some from earlier efforts to get a so-called escrow system, in which the key would be given to a third party.

4.   The first, which will go into effect this season, is the escrow system.

5.   The most difficult hurdle may be whether the escrow tax system can be saved.

6.   There is no agreement on how the much-discussed escrow system would work.

7.   Union officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the divide was over the mechanics of an escrow system proposed by the owners.

8.   While both sides are close on other issues, the league and the union cannot agree to the percentage at which an escrow system would be triggered.

9.   After trying each system for an equal number of years, there would be one more year under either the tax system or the escrow system.

10.   There also were doubts about whether an international key escrow system was even technically viable.