The National Lacrosse League reportedly took its first step toward salvaging the cancelled season by presenting the players' union with a revised contract proposal on Tuesday. 

But the NLL declined to comment on the report heard on The Fan 590, a Toronto all-sports radio station.

The 2008 NLL season was cancelled Oct. 16 because of a labour dispute.
(D. Kadlubowski/Associated Press)

League commissioner Jim Jennings cancelled the upcoming season last Tuesday, after failing to reach terms on a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association. 

The NLL ceased operations when union negotiators rejected its latest offer by Oct. 16 — the deadline imposed by the league to strike a deal.

"We have not reached accord on a new collective bargaining agreement," Jennings wrote last Tuesday in an e-mail. "As such, the 2008 NLL season is cancelled."

The union reportedly rejected a five-year pact that guaranteed a pay increase of three per cent over the previous deal, which expired July 31.
 
Under the old agreement, each veteran player could earn a maximum of $21,294 US and each franchise player — limited to two per team — received $25,552 US.

Rookies were paid $6,880 US, second-year pros earned a minimum of $9,282 US and the veteran's minimum was $10,221 US, putting the league's average salary at $14,500 US.

The NLL features 14 teams, including the Calgary Roughnecks, Edmonton Rush and Toronto Rock.

The season was scheduled to begin Dec. 27.

With files from the Canadian Press