Fire Heating Up the Trading Season

Author: Trey Feagles, Sporting News
Date: July 20, 1990

In the past several weeks, so much has been going on in the Chicago Fire locker room that much of the roster is feeling that their job is at risk. Veterans that looked to be solid building blocks for the team have now been deduced to trading bait for younger players. That’s the nature of this industry. GMs are constantly looking to modify their teams with the perfect pieces in hopes to build a dynasty. The Chicago Fire, however, have adopted a frenzied trading plan from the get-go, and hope to prove this year that they will come out of it winners.

Bill French, the owner of the Fire organization, has taken for the most part, the spectator role in all of this. But after some sloppy judgment calls, French decided to take matters into his own hands.

Within the past 24 hours, French has already made two transactions, quickly continuing the Fire tradition of roster rotation.

Chicago sent starters DE Eddie Warner and SS Ken Adams to San Diego in exchange for QB Vernon McDowell, DE Marcel Dozier, and a 5th Round Pick in the 1991 Draft. Warner and Adams plan to make a significant impact on the Express, who have been criticized all preseason for their weak defense. Express owner James Thompson hopes this transaction will catapult them into a leading contender position for the first AFL Championship. Chicago gets in return, two developmental projects. At 37, rumors of retirement have been circulating around starting QB Nolan Maynard. Should Maynard decide to hang up his sneakers, the Fire now have a legitimate and composed replacement in McDowell. They also receive Dozier, who is expected to contribute significantly next year.

In French’s second trade as acting General Manager, he shipped his 5th Round Pick in 1991 and WR Walter Bratzke to Nashville in exchange for DE Jermane Avery and a 7th Round Pick in 1991. Avery will fill the void left by Eddie Warner at Defensive End and Bratzke provides the Nightmare with a third passing option.

League insiders speculate that French’s reason to play the role of both owner and GM is due to the rumors surrounding Sanchez’s unjust treatment of his players and staff. Recently, Sanchez requested absolute control of the roster decisions and was quickly denied.

Two trades in one day may seem a little crazy for most, but the Chicago Fire have made it their legacy. So far, they have made 7 trades involving a total of 10 draft picks, and 16 players… all before Week 1.

French claims that the Fire are solid with their current roster and that he won’t deal any of his players unless an absolutely tasty deal comes along.

What does that mean for the rest of the league? Are the Fire really done trading for the season?

Fat chance.