Title: Mike Burns Interview - 12/3/2008

" We're only a couple in the off season already has been a little bit of -- roster shake up with the team's first of all it's kind of already been discussed the reasoning behind it a little bit in the media. How what was that thought process behind sending -- and Kansas City. Yeah I mean I think in the case of -- it wasn't the player that we were. Actively looking -- I mean you've been great for us a couple of years to all of us off the field. I'm was more situations it is. As everyone knows obviously with the expansion. Comes protected or unprotected left what you wanna we want to look at that in. In each year left -- maturity of more difficult than ever in terms of who were kind of protect. I'm in my don't want to do when it really came down to what Adam Owens was someone that we weren't going to protect. And we had an opportunity to move and we felt like he was going to get taken by Seattle we certainly can't prove that would we a good feeling. That was going to be the case. So having said that. An opportunity to spit at them. Losing to Seattle a -- well always it could have made a move and can't see -- show interest in apple last year so we were sending them somewhere. That we get some in return and obviously I'm going to a place that we as a team can really want so. That was and a a logic behind there rationale behind. Behind that move around."

" Very kind of along those same lines for the second straight season the -- lost a planned expansion draft with the new teams coming and that's kind of a yearly thing now."

" with -- being selected diet -- under the -- what are your thoughts on the expansion draft in general and I specifically losing compound to another team within a week."

" Yeah and in my thoughts in general are is that it's it's it's a great time and I don't mean a great thing to -- Connell to lose any player but. For synthetic human league now for Seattle the command on nine Philadelphia common intent and hopefully to my team and eleven. 11 and it says it would don't something right -- said we hope we don't something right. One of our guys in the case of Chandra late two years ago kind of this year. You know want to lose guys. But in the bigger picture in the global picture -- last. Expansion of the good thing. Which means that you're going to lose a player via I mean obviously what -- liked us and today. And Seattle to pass on our team yet the answer is yes that would like to -- James and -- yes but. My -- initially. It's it's prime morbid thing for us that that our players are I liked by other teams and and -- by other teams. But you know like a senate it would have been two guys -- what was -- have been with us. But again in the bigger picture for expansion to take place in the great thing from allies and you know if we can continue to -- little player but it it's the ultimate definitely and and that's that's important that stage apparently. Right now looking ahead a little bit to the 2009 season which is now really just a few short months away are there any specific areas that the team that's looking for in the turn -- seasons tressel. Yes but I don't like Japan and too often it's also confirm goalkeeper defender midfielder and forward wide players remain. You know it's that it not to joke about a -- It -- It's like everyone of the -- run we're trying to -- the best possible players to our team. You know I guess in the lineup I didn't say that it where would we look for another defender. Another midfielder. But. Any area we constraint -- that's that's what looked down. Now this also might be a little little on the same lines with seven draft picks heading into the 2000 and super draft. I'm -- of the thoughts heading into that having that many -- obviously in the past the -- draft is kind of you know one of the biggest areas for the revolution today to pick up a bit depth. And I think. You know if it was up to me this would be the strongest strapped in the deepest strapped in the history of -- stuff since we have 21 -- 22 round two thirds and fourth I mean I don't know if we're ever been as well position heading into a draft. I'm in terms of the number of Ericsson and probably the quality effects that we have as well. So as the number thanks have to go to the -- mind and look at what will assess how strong we feel the drafters and you know we have obviously -- seven -- We have options to trade trade Tex and doing a variety of different things so. We feel like we're well positioned right now from entering -- strapped to shore. Initially suckered."

" Perhaps most notably some alterations in and out of players I trust her and now a lot of our fans really have questions about that and what the what the implications will be. For the team for the week for our listeners can you just can't explain what changes were put in the place and I give her thoughts and how those changes could be beneficial. I think I think just."

" just so so everyone's aware I think the main reason that the roster sizes would decrease from a total number of 28 no way. To maximum 24 on nine was the elimination of the reserve quake and obviously with the elimination of the reserve league. Team won't be required or it really have been neat to carry 28 man roster as. Having said that -- the roster have been reduced to. Between eighteen. You have you have the options into the option of carrying a maximum of twenty senior roster players and four developmental players so. You know that's obviously. A big change. And some of the other. And in terms on the at a competition changes. The playoff format has gone back to the formats as it was an outside on. Two of the top two teams in each conference will make the playoffs in the next best for as opposed to this year with the top three and access to. So coupled with the fact that that was an extra team in the league. Teams will still play thirty games thirty game regular season schedule however. I felt a little more balanced this year just because you have the extra teams feel have 28. Games home and away it only two extra. Intra conference I'm games as opposed to four. So really it's getting closer to a more balanced level playing field in terms of which eight teams and make the playoffs. I think as a whole and -- why that's that's. It's it's better -- for all teams involved."

" And other major competition change it was perhaps implemented in part because of the revolution's scheduled situation in 2008."

" Was the separation next years of really got from the concacaf champions league with commissioner -- announcing that in 2009."

" Teams will be allowed to have been either super league or the champions league but not both of us obviously the -- in 2008. How with the -- once again in super league in 2009. What are your thoughts on that change."

" I think it -- I don't want to say that was inevitable but I think there was I can't believe occurred. Quite a few complaints to share from the -- at a participating in an awful and I don't wanna I don't want to make that sound like we weren't grateful or not appreciative of the fact that. We were in league play open cup place so belligerent and champions league but. Be perfectly on out it took that took its toll on not just around but all the teams that had to participate in -- four competitions so. I think it was a very intelligent decision. Two separate note 22. You don't have agreed to the degree that. He won't last teams to do that with a roster sizes and in my games -- playground and play. During the season tickets -- it was just it was too much it was a lot on the players. -- took it yet you can see it it took its toll on the team's that had just written off for competition so I think it's a very intelligent wolf."

" Enough finally one other change made for the 2009 season you're already touched on a little bit is the discontinuation of the reserve division which."

" Might have even been considered -- competitions it's a lot of the first team players would end up needing to play a reserve division games."

" One that was orderly kind of what -- the pros and cons of -- or division how do you think it was the correct moved it to take that out."

" And I personally feel at this stage and R&R and non league but it was the correct move I mean I can I can assure you and and all of our fans out there that's. There was an enormous amount of time spent on this topic. All levels that the team level of the league level. Conference calls and meetings and in I don't know there's necessarily right or wrong answer I think our feeling is is that. Com. The reserve -- hopefully at some point the future will have a place in this league. I'm however there was a lot of situations where there -- a lot of our guys were playing with guys -- called call up guys that weren't part of our team. And and that it and it became. It became an issue. On the became an issue for the guys in our locker room and and listen with a lot of great gotten error that helped us out and were were available for us to call up another great opportunity for them to be seen by our coaches and players but. It just -- it was a difficult situation I mean obviously. You know. Being in the market where and if we want to get a practice came against UConn RB UPC Harvard it's it's pretty easy for us to do that to get some are certain guys eight game. Whereas you know. The other side of the argument you look at maybe maybe select Columbus or Salt Lake or Kansas City they don't have access to as many. Teams are colleges in the area there so they may look at a little different -- I just don't know for our reserve week was to level yet that we would like to see in the true professional sense. But you know look at that I don't I wouldn't necessarily sit here today and says there is currently it's finished forever but at least in the short term."

" And last question Victoria how with the sound is becoming the fifteenth team in the league now the structure change a little bit from two that you actually talked about a little bit with the."

" In a Seattle now being in the extra team in the Western Conference and how that divides up."

" And as you said each team will play every other team -- away for the 38 base those additional two games will -- try to make count like games against conference rivals."

" How what are your thoughts on that continued attempt from -- kinda."

" Fortunately arrival is a little bit. I think it's great I'm sure our I'm sure we have a lot of fans out there and then and some folks there and -- also like our extra home game to be against LA. So limited back in the south they've but that's not going to be the case so. -- and I think any time we play in New York and DC or Chicago. You know peaks interest from our fan base and and and certainly. You know it's. He gets everyone analysts say extra motivated but you know those are our rivals they have been really from from day one and then. You know the fact that -- pledge kind of the last X number of playoffs. -- a year it's. You know there's definitely rivalries there and I think that. I think it bodes well for for us and and the team could play in the --"