WASHINGTON (Reuters) – NFL owners and the players’ union were back at the bargaining table Wednesday as talks intensified over how to split $9 billion in revenues with a deadline looming over a new labor deal.

With a Friday deadline hanging overhead, the two sides returned after a 9-1/2 hour marathon session with a federal mediator Tuesday to whittle down differences over a new collective bargaining pact for America’s most popular sport.

“There is a long way to go, but as long as we stay at it, we have a chance to get an agreement done,” NFL general counsel Jeff Pash told the NFL Network.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II and owners John Mara of the New York Giants and Clark Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs were among those representing the league.

NFL Players Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith and union president Kevin Mawae led the players’ delegation.

The league, claiming costs have risen dramatically since the previous deal of 2006, wants to increase the amount it takes off the top by a billion dollars to $2.3 billion. That would shrink the players’ share, which currently is about 60 percent of remaining revenues.

League owners also want to increase the number of regular season games from 16 to 18 while cutting out two preseason games in order to raise more revenue.

A rookie wage scale was also being sought.

The current bargaining agreement was originally set to expire last Thursday. But that was extended twice, first by a day, then by a week.

Without an agreement, owners most likely would lock out players from team facilities and free agents would be in limbo, affecting about 400 players.

A potential lockout by owners was expected to be met by court action from the players.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, Editing by Larry Fine)