Everybody in Chicago is trying to figure out how the Bears acquire the next Aaron Rodgers…. and that’s why they’re all fans. The truth is, players like Rodgers are incredibly rare, like once in a lifetime rare. His physical skill set combined with his photographic memory is truly unique.
However, players like Tom Brady are much easier to find. The goofy looking white boy drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft has arguably become the best player to ever put the pads on. Something many people don’t realize is just how close he became to not being that player. Had Atlanta kicked a field goal and Seattle chosen to run the ball on the goal line, EVERYTHING could be different. That’s why it’s fascinating.
Elite Quarterbacks Need Good Teams
As Bears fans continue to guess away at who next year’s quarterback will be there’s something everyone seems to be forgetting, football is a TEAM game. No one quarterback is going to come into Chicago and light the world on fire, that quarterback needs a quality coach and capable pieces around him to be successful. Exactly what Brady has.
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Let’s look at the last few Super Bowl champions. Tom Brady won it this year and in 2015. He’s grown into an elite talent but most would attribute a lot of his success to the pieces around him. Peyton Manning won it last season relying heavily on an elite defense. In 2014 the Seattle Seahawks rode their historically good defense to the title. In 2013, it was the Baltimore Ravens and Joe Flacco. I could keep going, but all of these championship quarterbacks have something extremely common about them, they had very good teams and coaches. Manning was the only elite quarterback scouted when these players were drafted, that’s even further proof that balanced TEAMS win championships not elite quarterbacks alone. Sure, the man plays great but he’s also been surrounded by top-tier talent for YEARS. He’s isn’t some diamond in the rough, son of a virgin mother, he’s a fucking Michigan game manager that grew an extreme amount of confidence when he was put into the right situation.
There’s an interesting theory that a lot of people subscribe to, coaches and teams are actually what make quarterbacks great. Isn’t that a bolt of lightening out of left field?
Take Dak Prescott for example. The fifth-round quarterback won Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after his elite offensive line protected him and paved the way for Ezekiel Elliott to lead the league in rushing. Dez Bryant, a perennial Pro Bowl player, also had a lot to do with it. That’s why it makes me sick to hear “Bears should have taken Dak,” no they shouldn’t have. Prescott was a fit in Dallas, he wouldn’t have fit the same way in Chicago.
Finding the “RIGHT” Guy
With the most important off-season of recent memory upon us, Bears fans have to temper their fixation with the quarterback position. The quarterback, even though he touches the ball almost every play, is only one of eleven people on the field. As important as he is he can’t do shit without the other people on his team protecting him and paving the way for his success.
That’s why the large amount of salary cap space Chicago is carrying into 2017 shouldn’t be allocated towards finding that “elite quarterback,” instead management needs to focus their time on finding the “right quarterback.” Historically, the Bears are not a high-flying type of team, they aren’t going to score 50 points a game, they never really have. They tried to become one under Marc Trestman and look how that turned out….
The Chicago Bears are a run-first, defensive minded, franchise that is expected to line up on the field and punch opponents in the mouth. The blue collar mentality of this city is what drives the fandom and it’s been reflected in the image of the football team for decades, do not change that now.
When you sit around and debate who the best quarterback of the future is, remember Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Ben Rothelisburger all have rings and they’re all ranked in the top five for career interceptions for active QBs. The idea of winning a Super Bowl and eventually hoisting the Lombardi Trophy is only possible with the combination of SEVERAL FACTORS and only one of them is the quarterback. This is the part where the Bears have been messing up for years.
Same Problem For Years
Chicago has extensively searched for that one player to come in and change their franchise. Throughout the 90’s and most of the 2000’s they’ve searched and they’ve failed to get it right. The reason for the failure is somewhat clear. Instead of fixating yourself on one person, bring in groups of people until you find the right fit. The franchise’s attempt to label Jay Cutler the savoir of the future has now set the team back a few years. They failed to bring in any real competition for him and are now left pissing in the wind because they’ve finally realized he isn’t the guy. Let’s not make that same mistake again.
Here’s an example, take the number one pick Jared Goff and put him on the Cowboys for 2016. Think they’re still as successful?
Of course not.
If Ryan Pace wants to win, he’s going to need to find the right guy. That’s much different than simply going after who appears to be “the best” guy.
History has already taught us that.
