Uncertain future for Magee and other Fire veterans
He's 31 years old, injuries have limited him to 360 minutes of playing time so far this season and his contract expires at the end of the year, but Mike Magee isn't ready to talk about the future yet.
"I'm feeling really good body-wise," said Magee, a Long Grove native who began playing in Major League Soccer in 2003. "It's been a long couple of years. Not making the playoffs is more frustrating than you can ever imagine."
Part of the reason for Magee's uncertainty is that the club will have a new man in charge of the soccer side. Nelson Rodriguez assumes his duties as general manager on Oct. 19, and one of his first tasks will be to hire a new coach.
The likelihood is that Magee will have to take a substantial pay cut to remain with the Fire no matter who the new coach is. He made $467,500 guaranteed compensation this season, according to the MLS Players Union, and he's not the same player who earned the league MVP award in 2013.
"My health has been great the last month," Magee said. "The problem was with the injuries I had and the way they were handled. Once the playoffs were out of hand, my motivation switched to making sure I was healthy and fit and strong."
Magee is one of just three Fire players out of contract when the regular season concludes Oct. 25. Midfielder Matt Watson and oft-injured defender Ty Harden are the others.
The captain:
Another player whose future is uncertain is central defender Jeff Larentowicz, the team captain. He is 32 years old and made $271,000 during a season in which the defense was a big problem. The team has an option to pick up his contract.
"The choice is theirs," he said. "At this point I don't know whose choice it is, so that's a tough one. I feel like a lot of people project age on me, and I want to be a part of a team that wants me to be a part of it. If the new coach has other ideas, it'll be time for me to move on."
Larentowicz isn't the only member of the back line who could depart. Right back Lovel Palmer, 31, has been in and out of the lineup. Center back Adailton, 32, is recovering from abdominal surgery. Adailton is being paid $244,500, another big number by MLS standards.
"I just hope it doesn't drag on and the decisions get made quickly," Larentowicz said.
If all of those players do leave, Rodriguez and the new coach should have a lot of space under the MLS salary cap to work with, plus plenty of allocation money.
The old man:
Backup goalkeeper Jon Busch is 39, but he's not ready to call it quits yet.
"I feel great," Busch said. "I definitely feel like I can compete for another year, and I've been saying that for a few years now, but I feel great physically, and with these guys coming in (interim coach Brian Bliss and assistant Logan Pause) it's been like a breath of fresh air. It's got us all excited again."
Busch said he thinks he's entering his option year. It would be the team's option.
"Honestly, I don't even worry about it. At the end of the year, we sit and we talk," he said matter-of-factly.
The running man:
Former Fire captain Logan Pause became a team vice president when he retired after last season, then added interim assistant coach duties when coach Frank Yallop and his staff were fired last month.
Pause is having fun with his stint on the field.
"Under the circumstances, I have enjoyed it," he said. "Of course a trying year for the club and the players. Regardless I am enjoying it and hoping to help the team finish strong."
Pause didn't say he wants to be the new coach, but he didn't rule it out either.
Pause will take advantage of the bye week by running in Sunday's Chicago Marathon.
"I always said when I'm done playing, I'll run it," said Pause, who is running to benefit the club's charity arm, the Chicago Fire Foundation. "I'm looking forward to it."
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