WASHINGTON — NFL owners and players agreed early today to the terms of a deal to end the lockout, and players were expected to begin their voting process later today, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had been made.

The NFL Players Association’s executive committee was to meet at its headquarters in Washington today so it could be presented with the finalized agreement.

Owners overwhelmingly approved a proposal last week, but some unresolved issues still needed to be figured out to satisfy players; the owners do not need to vote again.

The league’s old labor deal expired in March.

“We have every reason to believe it’s going to be a good day,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail to the AP.

If players sign off on the agreement today, NFL clubs would be able to start signing 2011 draft picks and rookie free agents on Tuesday. Conversations with veteran free agents also could start Tuesday, and signings could begin Friday.

Under that tentative schedule, training camps would open for 10 of the 32 teams on Wednesday, 10 teams on Thursday, another 10 teams on Friday, and the last two teams on Sunday.