Sources: NFL players review parts of deal

The NFL Players Association’s executive committee reviewed only portions of a proposed deal to end the lockout and not enough to warrant a vote Tuesday, two people familiar with the league’s labor negotiations told the Associated Press.

A full agreement in principle hadn’t been completed as of Tuesday night, and another person familiar with the talks said there was no guarantee a full document would be finished today, either.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the process is supposed to remain confidential.

While lawyers from both sides worked on contract language in New York with a court-appointed mediator for the second day in a row, the NFLPA’s leadership met for about nine hours at the group’s headquarters in Washington.

“Every day the last two years has been a long day,” NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith said as he left.

If the four-month lockout — the NFL’s first work stoppage since 1987 — is going to end this week, in time to keep the preseason completely intact, the best-case scenario is that the players OK a new contract today, and the owners do so the next day.

Player representatives from all 32 teams were expected in Washington today — when they could vote, if a settlement is ready for their consideration.