NFL owners are hoping to vote on the new CBA on Thursday in Atlanta. For that to actually happen, the two sides need to first come to an agreement on the new deal. After that happens, the players then have to vote on it. If everything goes according to plan, that vote will take place on Wednesday.
Some 225 miles to the south, in Washington, members of the NFL Players Association's executive committee began arriving in advance of a Tuesday meeting. That will be a precursor to a larger meeting Wednesday, which is scheduled to include player representatives from all 32 teams.
Those voices won't be enough to re-certify the union -- a vote of all 1,900 players is needed for that -- but the 32 reps could vote to recommend a settlement of the Brady et al v. National Football League case. The settlement to end the lockout then would be in the hands of the 10 named plaintiffs in that antitrust lawsuit against the league.
At this point I would be stunned if a new CBA isn't ratified on Thursday considering both sides are working to get everything settled. Obviously there could be some bumps in the road with so many different people being involved in helping end the lockout, but both sides appear to be ready to put this all behind them.
Hopefully by the time Wednesday is over, the only thing standing in the way of a new CBA will be the vote at Thursday's owners meeting. If we get to that point, I'd say we are in the clear and football will finally be ready to resume.