The last true superstar to captivate the city of Chicago was Derrick Rose. When he ascended to his MVP former in 2010, it was clear to many that the Bulls had a genuine chance to win an NBA championship. The problem was for all his brilliance; he was still only one player. History shows a team needs at least one other star to make a proper run. Chicago had chances to land one that year, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all being available. They failed to land any of them, and some blame fell on Rose. Why? He never made a strong pitch to any of those free agents to join him. This is a situation Justin Fields may soon find himself in.
The Bears quarterback is starting to garner similar vibes to Rose. He is a dynamic individual talent that is carrying his team to success. Offensively, at least. It’s apparent Chicago is a few more good players away from competing. They’ll have a big chance to achieve that goal when free agency opens next March. They’re projected to have over $100 million in cap space. Yet money alone won’t sway the most prominent names to come. Sometimes a team’s best player must be willing to do some recruiting. Rose openly admitted he never took that part of the job seriously.
In the end, it may have cost him a championship.
“It’s a stance Rose always has maintained, and one that could be a detriment to the Bulls building an elite team. ‘I don’t think so,’ Rose said when asked if he would start looking for help from another superstar to lighten his load. ‘I don’t think I will ever recruit. If you’re a hooper and you know as a basketball player if you can play with someone, I don’t think it’s a problem with just coming to a team. . . . I’ll play with anyone. And I think I can play with anyone. But I’ll never recruit.’”
Justin Fields has to embrace his budding star power.
As reserved as he can be in public, the Bears quarterback is a known commodity in NFL circles. Players are aware of him. They’re at least intrigued by the idea of playing with him. The best way to make that happen is by sending out messages that he’d love the idea of teaming up. Rose’s stubbornness led to James, Wade, and Bosh teaming up in Miami. That trio knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs three times in the 2010s. Fields faces similar risks. He risks good players going to his rivals by not least taking opportunities to recruit.
That is what sets Tom Brady apart. The all-time great might be known for his play on the field, but people often forget how aggressive he is with free agents. He was instrumental in landing guys like Leonard Fournette and Antonio Brown. Both were key to their eventual Super Bowl championship victory in 2020. Justin Fields may not have his track record, but his success this year will give him some sway in the Bears’ recruiting pitches for any free agents they want. Particularly on the offensive side. Even something as simple as a phone call can change the course of a team’s fortunes.
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