Hometown advantage
Soldier Field hasn’t been the biggest help to the Bears over the past few years, but that doesn’t mean sweet home Chicago doesn’t still have that draw. Garoppolo was born under her shadow, an Arlington Heights native who went to high school in Rolling Meadows. He was also a graduate of Eastern Illinois University. This city and state run through his veins and he grew up watching the Bears. Why wouldn’t the idea of playing for him be exciting.
In fact he has some potential sway over whether that can happen. Though the Patriots have a choice which teams they can negotiate with, Garoppolo can torpedo any such deal by making a simple ultimatum as NBC Sports pointed out.
“BUT GAROPPOLO CAN FLATLY REFUSE TO DO A NEW CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER TEAM, WHICH WOULD MAKE HIM FAR LESS ATTRACTIVE IN TRADE. LET’S SAY THE BROWNS WANT HIM, AND THAT HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE THE NEXT NAME ON BACK OF THE SHIRT OF SLAPD–KS. IF HE SAYS (THROUGH HIS AGENT), “I’M NOT INTERESTED IN PLAYING FOR YOU AND I WILL NEVER SIGN A LONG-TERM CONTRACT,” WHY WOULD THE BROWNS DO THE DEAL?
SO, YES, GAROPPOLO HAS PLENTY OF SAY.”
Not only do the Bears represent his home state, it’s a chance to return a conquering hero. The native son rides in on a white horse to pull a listless franchise out of the Dark Ages and back into the light. A little over-the-top but no less true. Plus the Bears have more to offer from a personnel standpoint as the next reason illustrates.
