Weekend Poll: Bring back Van Den Bergh!

By: Dave Martinez | December 22nd, 2008

As Ives so eloquently detailed, Van Den Bergh’s salary was partially paid for by the KC Wizards since the time he was traded over in 2006. If the Bulls are to re-sign Van Den Bergh, they must pay the full salary, which would equal to roughly a 110k hit on the salary cap. With the cap as constrictive as it is, a 100k salary cap investment can be the difference between a quality player and a risky one. On the other side of the coin, no one was more the leader of this team in 2008 than Dave Van Den Bergh. And no one is more highly deserving of a raise on this team.

So I put it in your hands. And the response was the most highly one sided votes in “weekend poll”s short history. Overwhelmingly, Red Bull fans not only believe Dave needs to be resigned; they think its a top priority. 62% call him a top priority signing, while 34% feel he should be signed, just so long as it doesn’t spend the team out of contention. That is 96% of our overall readers, nearly unanimous in their outcry that Van Den Bergh must return. Wow. I should have just asked people if eating is necessary to life – would have gotten the same reply.

If his agent is looking for leverage, point him this way.

Dave Van Den Bergh is on the verge of that lovely age of 33 this coming season. It is an age of worry for many. But Red Bull fans see things differently. DVB has shown a tremendous growth and leadership the past two season, and players like Schelotto and Blanco will tell you, MLS is the fountain of youth for certain older players. It is possible that the Red Bulls lock into DVB for 2 years, and still reap the benefits of his skill, without incurring too much damage. And if you read into Ives analysis, it seems that he is looking for a similiar deal to his previous one.

All things considered, the readers and fans have spoken; Sign the Dutchie to the Red Bull Side!