The NFL's owners agreed upon the global settlement to end the lockout by a 31-0 vote Thursday night, meaning the players' vote is the only step in the way of labor peace.
For unknown reasons, Raiders owner Al Davis abstained from voting. The owners needed 24 approval votes for the settlement to pass.
There will be a conference call with the league's player representatives Thursday night, though the details of that call are still unclear, even to some who will be on the call.
It appears that the final snag in the process on the players' side is the issue of recertifying the union, which decertified in March in order to sue the NFL for antitrust violations.
The players have yet to decide whether or not they will recertify, but the owners will not lift the lockout and approve the settlement until the players decide to recertify the union.
One player rep told NESN.com the recertification process is a serious one, and it's not simply about ending this very lockout this week. Rather, it could have a major impact on labor negotiations in the future.
"We don't want to give up our antitrust rights," the player rep said. "Furthermore, [the owners] want us to become a union again, so in 10 years [when the approved CBA would end], if we decertify, they can call it a sham in court."
Because decertification is a strategic movement that gives the players leverage in labor disputes, the owners would ideally like to strip that tactic from the players' side.
Once the players approve the settlement, the process to launch the season will begin. Players would be able to report to team facilities Saturday, and the new league year would start July 27. But again, this is conditional upon a timely agreement by the players' side.
