Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union MLS Players Union reps Brian Carroll and Danny Cruz spoke with reporters via conference call on Thursday. Below is a transcript of the teleconference. Questions have been paraphrased.

Opening statement from Brian Carroll

I just wanted to say that we’re proud of the work all of the representatives put together in this process. It wasn’t easy for anybody but everyone put their best effort into it, and we’re happy that a deal is done, it’s been reached, and now the focus is turned to the season starting, and trying to be successful and win. I just wanted to thank all of the fans and everybody for their support through the entire process.

What does it mean to have finally gotten some form of free agency?

Brian Carroll: Obviously, going in, that was a goal of ours, and in order to get that we would have to stay firm and stay together, stay behind that ideal that we wanted to achieve. It took a lot of effort, and it took us not getting the perfect deal that’s going to make everybody happy, but that section is in the agreement now and, obviously, we would hope that in the next negotiations that the players union will be able to improve upon that.

Danny Cruz: This wasn’t an easy decision. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. I told my teammates that, and I stand by that.

That being said, the fact that at some point in our careers as players we’re going to be to chose where we want to live and what’s best for us — in my eyes, it’s huge. And it puts a lot of responsibility on the clubs now to really treat their players well while they’re there. I think that’s a key note that shouldn’t be lost in this entire thing: It’s responsibility.

This CBA was a big deal, and it wasn’t easy to come to the conclusion that we did, but did, it’s a decision we made. We stand by it as a union. Our players believe in us and we’re proud of the movement that we’ve made.

Was the union close to striking? Did you see it as a realistic possibility?

BC: Good question. I would say that, internally, we did come to a strike vote at some point during the process. Only after some last second feelers were placed out from both sides did we come back to the table and eventually get something that both parties could agree upon. So, it was very tense and very trying and difficult, stressful at times for, I’m sure, both sides. I don’t think there was any chance that we would have been able to achieve some sort of free agency without getting to the point that we did, and without the other side knowing how strong and unified we can be.

DC: I would just echo what he said. I think we (unintelligible) and people believe.

Can you describe what it was like preparing for the start of the season was like with the negotiations going on and the possibility of a work stoppage?

BC: Almost every single player involved in the negotiation went straight from a preseason game to a plane, train, or car to get to DC and enter into these negotiations. And they were long, exhaustive process each and every day from about 8 in the morning til 2 or 3 in the morning the next day. It’s just about trying to stay focused mentally the entire process, and take emotion out of it, and stay together and keep a cool head, and understand that it’s OK for a team or two to have their opinion, and for representatives from another team or two to have a different opinion, as long as we come to a sound judgement as a group on what we wanted to decide on how to proceed through the process, and stick to that. I’m really proud of all of the effort and work the guys put into this entire situation. They were just long and exhausting days, but it was something that needs to be done, and I’m proud of the work that everyone put in.

DC: I would say that from our team’s standpoint, I think our guys did an amazing job when stepping on the field focusing on the sport, and laying the game and training hard. That’s something that made me real happy to see.

That being said, when we got off the field, we certainly were having conversations because, at the end of the day, BC and I represent our team, we represent our players, and our job is to get as much feedback from them as we can. And we did that. I would say on the field, as far as the end product, I would like to think that from a mental perspective, our guys are strong enough to focus, and I think the results show that, as well. We had a good preseason, and hopefully we can carry that on to this weekend.

Now, turning to BC and I’s standpoint, I mentioned earlier when I said it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. From a physical standpoint, my brain, the mental side of things has been extremely difficult. I worry all the time with my job, and I worry all the time when I’m representing players — that’s just the type of person that I am. I want to make the right decisions. So, it’s taken a toll on me, I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t. I was warming up today still thinking about it, and I’m going to try to move on like everybody else, but it’s certainly been difficult.

How do you compare the reaction among the players to what it was five years ago with the last CBA?

BC: I’d say one of the big differences between this negotiation and the last one is five years ago, we didn’t have as much leverage as we potentially had this time around, and the amount of vote taken this time around on multiple different subjects — even the one to actually ended in a strike before coming back to the table hours later — it was just a lot more tense, a lot more…guys listened through the process correctly, but there was a lot more sort of back-and-forth and discussion about more serious topics this time around.

So, I would say everyone was prepared to do the negotiations last time. This time around it just seemed like guys were dialed in even more. I think in both negotiations, guys honestly put forth into the process a ton of energy, a ton of thought, and a ton of work. It just seemed like this one there was a lot more pressure packed, huge decisions being made because we had more leverage this time around, and the topics that we were able to try and get in this negotiation were a little bit more serious than the last time around.

So, I’m proud and respect how the process played out in each one. I would just say this one’s fresher and newer and we were able to achieve some more things and, inherently, it was a little more pressure packed, in my opinion.

Is there a difference you’re seeing in reactions to the new CBA given reports of dissatisfaction among some players?

BC: I would say that it was harder this time around because the votes on things weren’t… they were a little bit more divided. It’s not to say that everyone was happy last time, and that everyone is happy this time, it just seems like if we achieved a better deal but everyone is going to be completely satisfied. It’s not the perfect deal, but it’s a better deal than we had and the best deal that I think we could have achieved given the leverage we had, and the process we went through. I don’t know if I’m fully answering your question; if I’m not you can ask another one, but it’s kind of what I have for you.

DC: Any time you have a group of guys in a room, at the end of the day there’s going to be disagreements, and if anybody’s under the impression there wasn’t, that’s crazy — not to say that you think that there wasn’t, I meant speaking in general.

There’s disagreements in everything, and you try to come to a conclusion based on all the information that you’re given — you talk it out with everybody. So there’s certainly going to be players that are unhappy, you can see those reports that you’re talking about. For me personally, the whole point is us sticking together and it sucks for me to be able to see reports like that because we put a lot of time in this, and a lot of effort, and a lot of heart, as well, and it’s hard to see that stuff, if that makes sense.

To Danny Cruz: Reports say the free agency criteria is 28 years old with 8 years in the league. You’ll have more years in the league then required when you’re 28. What are your thoughts on that?

DC: My feelings are, like you said, I’ll have been in the league for ten years before I’m able to make a move to where I want, or where I want to be, what state I want to be in, whatever it might be. That being said, and I know we use the word a lot, but I’m extremely proud of the fact that we were able to get it into the CBA. If you look at everything they’ve always said — “there’s no way the players (unintelligible) — and we were able to get it in the CBA a five year deal that there’s going to be players choice. And I thought about the guys that came into the league when I came into the league at a young age. I don’t think it should be — the fact that clubs are going to be held responsible now for treating their players well — should be taken for granted, because now it’s going to be important that players feel as if they’re treated well. So, to answer your question from my standpoint, while I know that I’m going to be in the league for ten years before I’m able to do it, I’m still proud of the fact that we were able to get it in.

How well do you feel you did in balancing the immediate needs of the players you represent and your beliefs in how the league should grow for the future?

BC: Five years ago we had a lot of veteran players involved in the negotiations. This time around while, yes, there were veteran players involved, I feel like we had a lot more players around the 25-year-old benchmark, and some guys who were a lot younger too and very new to the league, or just have a couple of years in. So, it was amazing to see not only more people involved in the room during the negotiations but that the age and experience throughout the group came down a little bit, which was nice to see because those guys are going to be the ones heavily involved in the next negotiations in five years. So, I think it was invaluable that those guys be involved and have a voice. But, the idea and the goal is to get the best deal possible that covers the largest players pool and, at the same time, you have to understand that you’re doing this for the players in the future and you might not see the full benefit or any benefit from this deal, but it’s for the good of the sport and the good of the players that are coming along down the road later on.

DC: That’s a good question. I would say BC and I’s immediate needs never came into our minds, and I think that should be known. Obviously, our job, as I’ve said numerous times is to represent our group. So it wasn’t, “How is this going to benefit me,and how is this going to benefit BC.” So I think that’s important, first off.

Second off, the reason I got into this in the first place, or wanted to at least be involved, was because of the last CBA deal, as a younger guy I wanted to have a voice. Ans I feel like that in the room this time there was a lot more younger guys, as BC just alluded to. That’s not to say we feel like the last deal wasn’t done the right way or anything like that, I just feel like it was good to see a younger group in there, getting experience, and learning how this whole process plays out. I’ll tell you, it was eyeopening for me, it was absolutely eyeopening for me, and I’m exhausted just thinking about it. So, to know that those voices were in the room is important, it’s an important, key aspect of this entire thing. And ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we got the best deal that we feel we could possibly get.

What does raising the minimum salary to $60,000 from $36,500 mean to you?

BC: I think it’s a step in the right direction, and it’s something that we needed to achieve in this deal. But to see where that minimum is going to raise to by the end of the of this five-year term, I think it’s a big deal and something we were happy to be able to achieve for that type of player in our league. And, I’m confident that the group going forward in the negotiations in five years will be able to improve upon that even further. But certainly those guys are excited to get a bump, and they deserve that bump.

Do you know the number the minimum salary will end up at at the end of the new CBA?

BC: Yeah, it’s in the 80s.