This past weekend, the Professional Lacrosse Players Association was taking heat, including in an Outsider's Guide commentary, for being practically invisible throughout the current player strike.

By Monday afternoon, that changed completely.

The union released a lengthy statement today, repeating its unconditional rejection of the owners' latest collective bargaining agreement proposal.

"The PLPA received the NLL's 'last, best and final offer,' which the [players association] deems nonsensical," the press release stated. "The owners have presented a complete re-working of the expired CBA that seeks substantial concessions from the players which are unacceptable."

"The offer is approximately 38 percent less than what was available last season in total compensation to the players," the union continued.

PLPA proceeded to rebut NLL commissioner Jim Jennings' claim that the owners' proposal includes a 54 percent increase in the salary floor.

In other strike news:

PLPA regional attorney Richard Furlong has been designated as the union's strike coordinator. Furlong, based in western New York, has coordinated strikes for numerous unions in the past.

PLPA intends to file unfair labor practice charges, challenging the unilateral imposition of the owners' final offer. In a letter to players last week, Jennings stated that if a new collective bargaining agreement is not agreed to by tomorrow, the owners will declare an impasse in negotiations and begin signing players.

However, late this evening, the league extended the impasse deadline to Wednesday, based on assurances that the union would submit a counter proposal by then.

PLPA vice president Dave Succamore told the Canadian Press today that "it would be very difficult" for teams to begin the season with replacement players, because "we'd be picketing."

Jennings and PLPA president Peter Schmitz will meet for another negotiating session this weekend, in Newport, Rhode Island.