In another sign that we're nearing the end of the NFL lockout, the league sent a memo to all 32 teams on Monday telling them to send "key executives" to Thursday's owners meetings in Atlanta, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's believed that, if progress continues to be made on the minor issues remaining in the negotiations, a deal could be voted on by the owners at Thursday's meetings.
The presence of "key executives" -- likely including those from football operations -- is a sign that the owners very well could approve the new labor deal on Thursday.
Indeed, Judy Battista of the New York Times reports that, if the new deal is ratified on Thursday, there would be a labor seminar for those "key executives" shortly after that. This would presumably be a run down of the key parts of the agreement for those that haven't been inundated with the daily negotiations.
If this means what we think it means then it's very good news. All signs are pointing toward the next labor agreement being agreed upon at Thursday's meetings and, if they do that, the process of ending the lockout would begin.