The NLL has "completed a deal" for a new CBA with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association, with a seven-year contract that "goes into effect immediately, and either side can opt out of the deal after five years," according to Budd Bailey of the BUFFALO NEWS. Per the agreement, the active roster for each team "has been reduced from 23 players to 20; 18 players can dress for each game." A luxury tax "will be imposed on teams that spent more than $400,000 on salaries, bonuses and promotional considerations in a given year." The rate starts at 25% and "goes up in steps from there." In addition, the qualifying age for unrestricted free agency "has dropped from 32 to 30," while any player older than 34 "has the right to reject designation as a 'franchise player.'" NLL Commissioner George Daniel said, "We laid out the direction we needed to make changes. The players listened. Everyone wants to cut a bigger piece of the pie, but the pie needs to get bigger" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/23). LAXMAGAZINE.com's Neil Stevens noted player salaries "stay the same for the first two years: rookies get $9,207, the maximum for veterans stays at $27,177, and those given a franchise player tag by teams can earn $33,971." A "cost of living increase" of 3.5% annually begins in '16 (LAXMAGAZINE.com, 10/22).
