Bull Market, Bear Down

The Bulls’ hopes of a championship run snapped along with Derrick Rose’s meniscus earlier this week. For the second straight season, the team is forced to look to the rest of their year knowing that their superstar, the face of the franchise, isn’t going to be returning any time soon.

Now the Bulls are faced with a decision. It has become clear that Rose is facing much more than simply physical deterioration. A meniscus tear does not require a player to miss the entire season, especially only eight or nine games in. To rule out the whole year means that Rose is dealing with an emotional, mental block that puts his career in far more jeopardy.

With Rose as no longer a viable option, the speculation has been that the Bulls tank their season in favor of drafting higher and getting more in return for the future. While this may put the future into perspective, it is not the kind of answer that Chicago fans are looking for. Bulls fans are accustomed to the big names, the Michael Jordans of the world, not the Anthony Davis model.

That leaves it to the Bulls front office to go out and get themselves a free agent or two. Luol Deng, the Bulls’ last real star left standing with Rose hurt and Carlos Boozer struggling to produce, is going to be on the market, but so will a few other big name options, including Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, and even LeBron James. If the Bulls want to return to form, they will find a way to bring in the big name that will immediately launch them into the upper class of teams in the league. Rose, it seems, will no longer be sufficient to lead the charge.

In a similar predicament, the Bulls’ football counterparts are having a similar challenge. Jay Cutler has played five seasons with the Bears, and only played a full season in one. While playing “often,” he has also experienced injuries each year, including concussions, sprained ankles, and a general beating. In the 2013 season, the pressure was on, as Cutler was in a contract year and was being evaluated both by the team and others as to the extent to which he deserved to be resigned. Yet again, the injury bug caught hold, and Cutler has missed parts of four games.  The Bears are 6-5 this season, yet another season that started strong and head into mediocrity after Cutler gets beat around.

Aside from Cutler, the Bears have a running back that is capable of being a stud, two of the best receivers in the game, and a defense that, while struggling this year, is known for being monstrous.

With Cutler’s contract coming to an end, the Bears have a similar identity crisis on their hands. Rather than resigning Cutler, though, it would do the team best to let the guy go and move on to the next play-caller.

While free agency may be the route for the Bulls, it is not for the Bears. In a draft class that has plenty of quarterbacks that run the gamut on playing styles, the Bears have several options. The trend right now is running quarterbacks, like RGIII or Russell Wilson, guys who can get out of the pocket and extend drives with their legs. This doesn’t really fit in with what the Bears have done in the past, or the way their team is built. Instead, there is one option that appears to be a QB-Team match made in heaven.

AJ McCarron is the most undervalued pick in the draft. To get him, it will probably take a mid-to-late second or early third round pick. A pocket passer, McCarron would fit into the Bears’ system, and wouldn’t require a top draft pick to do it. It would also greatly help his development as a player to be able to spend at least his first year throwing to receivers like Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, who have a way of making even the Josh McCowns of the world look good.

Both Chicago teams are looking to heal, but must go in very different directions. Retailers should celebrate, though, because either way, there will be some new jerseys hitting the Chicago market.