Chicago Fire, Da Bears, and the Spectre of the Third Overall Pick
The Chicago Bears, similarly to the Chicago Fire just a few weeks ago, own the third overall pick of the upcoming NFL Draft.
What da Bears do with that pick has yet to be seen while the Chicago Fire effectively mortgaged their third overall pick into Dax McCarty. This trade capped off a series of high-level imports that have been hailed as potentially franchise altering.
The Bears, all too symmetrically, are also exploring flipping their pick for a player that could be potentially franchise altering.
Report: #Bears plan to make trading for Jimmy Garoppolo top offseason priority -- https://t.co/9SQarQGMW4#BearsTalk pic.twitter.com/lNhuWGy1la
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) February 2, 2017
As with any risky move, there is certainly opposition. Just weeks ago, I was wondering why the Fire had felt differently than I did about transfer target Jonathan Spector.
Take a look at the similarities between the two players:
- From Arlington Heights
- An Eastern Illinois University product, a.k.a. The Local Boy turned Hero
- Well-regarded as a draft prospect
- Drafted by and received training from the one the best teams in the league via the New England Patriot’s system, for 3 years
- Coached by legendary coach in Belicheck
- Mentored by legendary player in Brady
- Who also plays the position that the Bears require the most in QB.
- From Arlington Heights. No joke, same town.
- Ex-Chicago Fire product, a.k.a. The Local Boy turned Hero,
- Well-regarded as an academy prospect
- Signed by one of the biggest clubs in the world in Manchester United
- While at Manchester United, received training and coaching from arguably the greatest soccer coach of recent times in Sir Alex Ferguson
- Mentored by legendary defenders Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville
- Who also plays the position that the Fire arguably need the most help at in RB.
Sounds like a match made in heaven for the Chicago Fire, but alas, the homecoming wasn’t to be. Regardless, the team still needs help at right back. At least supporters and pundits seem to think so:
What position do you think the Fire desperately need ATM (I know everyone's complaining about a #10) think our current roster . #cf97
— Fire Talk (@Firetalk97) January 31, 2017
Guessing salary/budget restrictions. Both on high numbers. Can't play with interior wingers & not have quality attacking FBs
— Kevin Patrick Egan (@kev_egan) February 4, 2017
So if not Spector at outside back, then who?
Currently, Michael Harrington, Boyd Okwuono, and Drew Beckie are competing for right back. GM Nelson Rodriguez’s recent pressers indicate he is aware of the need to for increased competition in the back line but since acquiring Dax McCarty in a trade on Jan 16, Chicago Fire transfer news has been hard to come by.
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There is a myth about Cesc Fabregas on Reddit, but that has since turned into a whisper. Beyond that dream signing, I have a few ideas on who could help remedy the outside back situation:
- Another Illinois native, Eric Lichaj, RB playing for Championship side Nottingham Forest, valued at €1.5 Million according to transfermarkt
- Paul Aguilar, Mexican International RB for Club America, coming back from injury, valued at
€1.8 million via transfermarkt - And the wistful fan in me wonders if Sporting KC would be willing to pass the Graham Zusi-at-right back experiment onto a new soccer scientist in Coach Paunovic.
Perhaps using a max salary spot on that position is seen as undesirable. That is understandable, but personally, I don’t see it that way. I believe that a top flight right back would be the coup de gras for the Chicago Fire: the difference between a playoff and cup contender, and, mid-table mediocrity .
At any rate, there must be something up Nelson’s sleeve for at least one of those five remaining roster spots. However, we may not see a major move until next transfer window.
if I were to put odds on that, I'd say summer window more likely
— Guillermo Rivera (@FireConf) February 3, 2017
Until then, I remain convinced that something special is being lined up for the following reasons: The All Star Game being awarded to Chicago, the difficulty of the schedule, the amount of Saturday games they were given, their being scheduled to play both of the newest expansion teams at their respective home stadiums, and, finally, a concerted push by MLS media to hint that more is indeed coming.
Here’s a glimpse of Nemanja Nikolic training down in sunny Florida from the Chicago Fire’s webpage below.
Next: Chicago Fire: Three Takeaways from the Union
Nelson Rodriguez’s last few moves have been stunning to this fan base in a surprisingly good way; he’s earned the benefit of the doubt, for now. Results still need to come in the form of regular season wins, but hardcore fans can sleep easier knowing that the current MLS transfer window doesn’t close until May 8. There is still time to add.