The Professional Lacrosse Players Association agreed earlier today to play the 2004 National Lacrosse League season under the terms of the previous collective bargaining agreement, which NLL owners had imposed earlier this week.

PLPA is demanding just one change, according to a report on The Lacrosse Journal -- the elimination of the non-dress pay scale, by which players are paid a flat fee rather than their contracted salary for every game in which they do not suit up.

"Simply put, we are prepared to play under the terms of the expired CBA, with the non-dress pay provision removed," PLPA president Peter Schmitz said. "All other PLPA bargaining proposals are being removed from the table."

The team owners were expected to meet this evening via conference call to discuss Schmitz's offer.

If they accept it, the 2004 season -- imperiled by a noon Thursday deadline for the union's strike to end -- would be played almost completely under the terms of the CBA which ran from 2001 to 2003 and expired on 31 July, with negotiations on a long-term deal to continue soon.

Aside from eliminating non-dress pay, the only other modification to the CBA would be the end of direct payments from the league to the union, which NLL commissioner Jim Jennings has contended are illegal under labor law. Those monies instead will be directed to an escrow account for the players' benefit.

A settlement on the CBA would end the union's eleven-day strike.

Meanwhile, out west, the Vancouver Ravens are close to crossing the PLPA's strike line completely. By this morning, 21 Ravens had signed contracts for the 2004 season, ignoring the union's orders not to sign.

"The desired outcome, on behalf of the players representing the Vancouver Ravens, is for a full roster of athletes standing together as a west coast unit," Ravens governor Tom Mayenknecht said. "The players expect to be at that point by [today].

"Our guys are performing a difficult task, balancing their respect for their fellow players and the union with their own practical assessment of the best way to preserve job opportunities and help the National Lacrosse League grow to the next level after a period of contraction."

The Ravens did not identify the players who have signed contracts.