When Will the Players Vote?

Let's hope for sooner rather than later.

The NFL owners passed a resolution Thursday to end the lockout, but the sport continued to be in a state of suspended animation yesterday.

However, sources with the owners and players said they are optimistic the NFL will be back in business within a week, hopefully much sooner.

Executives with the NFL Players Association spent yesterday going over the full proposal owners approved by a 31-0 vote (the Oakland Raiders abstained).

“Player leadership is discussing the most recent written proposal with the NFL, which includes a settlement agreement, deal terms and the right process for addressing recertification,’’ NFLPA president Kevin Mawae said in a statement.

Despite a report saying players would not meet until Monday, the NFLPA will work through the weekend with the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell to finish the deal.

With every day that passes without an agreement, time will continue to be a pressure point.

The NFL canceled the Aug. 7 Hall of Fame exhibition game on Thursday, 18 days before it was to be played. (Considering the lockout, it seemed unfair to give the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears an extra week of practice over other teams.)

Monday would mark 17 days before the first full slate of exhibition games are to be played on Aug. 11, when the Patriots are scheduled to host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Those games could be pushed back, possibly up to four days.