Season Back On? NLL, Players Reportedly Agree To New CBA
NLL Chicago Shamrox GM & coach Jamie Batley said a CBA agreement has been reached between the league and the Professional Lacrosse Players Association (PLPA), just over a week after the '08 season was canceled, according to Bob Feaver of the Peterborough EXAMINER. Batley said, “After the talks broke off earlier in the day ... an e-mail campaign was started and an agreement was reached about 8 pm.” Batley added that the agreement “contains raises for players and was for seven years with an opt-out after five, although ‘all that has to be agreed upon by the governors (today)’” (Petersborough EXAMINER, 10/25). NLL Calgary Roughnecks GM Kurt Silcott said of a possible deal, “We’re under a gag order, so I can neither confirm nor deny that. I asked the league if there was anything I could say and they said no” (CALGARY HERALD, 10/25). NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings said in an e-mail to players during final negotiations, “There would be a number of significant challenges in creating a new 2008 season. Many arena dates have been released.” Jennings added, “I must tell you that this is the one and only opportunity to bring back a 2008 season” (TORONTO SUN, 10/25). Sources said that raises for the players would be 5-6%, but it is “believed that the league and the PLPA will still go to arbitration on the PLPA’s claim that more than $800,000 is owed them under the previous CBA for the 2006 season” (INSIDELACROSSE.com, 10/24). Meanwhile, even if the ’08 season is played, the expansion Boston Blazers will not begin playing until ’09 (INSIDELACROSSE.com, 10/24).
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