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Forte: "I won't come back till I am 100%." (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jackdubl
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two_dollars
Footballguy
I'm a Bears fan.. and I say good for you Matt!
Statcruncher
Footballguy
Shane Falco
Footballguy
good 
now as far as my one team....
now as far as my one team....
Wadsworth
Footballguy
He is no more than a decent RB anyways, right? RBs are easily replaceable and you do not need to pay them big money, right? The Bears should be fine while waiting for Forte to get back to 100%, it is not like he is talented enough to really worry about. 
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RUSF18
Footballguy
I'd come back with an agreement not to be franchised next year or with what I deem an acceptable long term contract.
Is there any precedent for a mid/late season holdout? Obviously you have the injury here but let's say he's healthy and tomorrow he says "pay me fairly or refuse to franchise me, or I won't play". He takes a hit on reputation but financially he's only losing a few weeks salary if they suspend him. I assume he's already played enough to be credited with the year towards ending his contract. It seems like there are so few opportunities where a player is really in control...end of season push seems like one of them.
Is there any precedent for a mid/late season holdout? Obviously you have the injury here but let's say he's healthy and tomorrow he says "pay me fairly or refuse to franchise me, or I won't play". He takes a hit on reputation but financially he's only losing a few weeks salary if they suspend him. I assume he's already played enough to be credited with the year towards ending his contract. It seems like there are so few opportunities where a player is really in control...end of season push seems like one of them.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Why? Forte is collecting a paycheck for playing this season. RBs are low on the NFLs food chain and Forte is not elite. Good..but not elite.RB is the pretty much the only position you can pull a guy off his couch in mid-season and he can produce. That is NFL teams are so reluctant to give big contracts to RBs.
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LargeMouthBass
Footballguy
I would do the same thing. Don't comeback this year for them cheap ### bastards.
Wadsworth
Footballguy
Forte is averaging 4.9 a carry and 9.4 per catch. He accounted for near 1,500 yards from scrimmage in 12 weeks of play. He might not be "elite" by your definition but be is certainly producing on an elite level. If you are on pace for 2,000 yards from scrimmage you are doing better than "good".
sho nuff
Footballguy
Why...because why risk another big injury and not getting anything at all next year for a team not willing to give you a long term deal?He proved himself this year as their best player on offense. What does coming back prove?BTW...Im not saying I disagree about how RBs are now treated and I agree that teams don't value them as much anymore.But if he does not come back...he gets franchised.If he comes back and doesn't get hurt...he gets franchised.If he comes back and does get hurt again...he might be screwed.There is no reason for him to come back. They are not likely to give him a long term deal...so he is risking it all to be franchised...which he will be anyway.
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rizzler
Footballguy
well, you see.... Forte was drafted in the middle of the 2nd round, so his talent is questionable, at best.
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SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
Yes and no. Last year the Saints lost Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Lynell Hamilton, and Chris Ivory at various times and sometimes altogether and yes Julius Jones, LaDell Betts and DeShawn Wynn filled in but "no" it was not nearly the same. If the goal is to go 5-11, or maybe go .500 for part of a season, and should you reach them not do anything in the playoffs, then yes just any potato off the couch will do.
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SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
He went to Tulane, not Miami.Now, Delone Carter, well, huge upside there...'rizzler said:
Warhogs
Footballguy
I too like to se this. The Bears have had every opportunity to extend him and they have chosen not to. At this point Forte is doing the right thing by saying he will not rush back and take a chance at injuring himself more. Maybe the Bears will step up and realize his value and offer him a fair extension so he will be more inclined to try to get back on the field? Then again...maybe not?
Yea id like to see who is elite according to "da guru" then compare fortes stats to theirs this year...
RUSF18
Footballguy
Except for the whiners.
⚡DEADHEAD⚡
Footballguy
I think the guy's making $600k this year. He doesn't deserve CJ money (even CJ doesn't deserve CJ money). He does deserve considerably more than he's making and he should protect his ability to make that. By not coming back before he's 100%, he's doing just that. Smart.
Hang 10
Footballguy
Not sure what you mean. I'm just wondering out loud, why the Bears wouldn't rework his contract now if they plan on doing so this off season. It wouldn't certainly seem like it's in everyone benefit to do so.
two_dollars
Footballguy
The Bears did make him an offer, it was 8-9 mil guaranteed on a long term deal. Forte didn't accept it because he's looking for 15-16 guaranteed. He's not asking for CJ money, and not even quite DeAngelo money. He wants fair money. I'd like to see him get it.
two_dollars
Footballguy
The locker room is 100% behind Forte. It's not going to change their opinion of Forte.
matttyl
Footballguy
I very much doubt it would "ruin his reputation in the locker room". Who's going to be upset at him for this stance? Lance Briggs who's formally asked to be traded only to have it fall on deaf ears (after signing a $36M deal 3 years ago)? Urlacher who's signed two (not one, but two) contract extensions and is currently making $8M a year (13x what Forte is). Cutlar who signed a $50M deal two years ago and sat out a game with the same injury last year? Roy Williams maybe?! HAHA.
GridironMenace
Footballguy
There is a lot of ignorance being spilled in this thread, including the above quoted post. The Bears offered Forte an extension of $15 million guaranteed and $2.5 million per year, for 4 years, before the seasons started. That is a VERY fair and generous offer considering the fact that Forte is still under contract.'LargeMouthBass said:I would do the same thing. Don't comeback this year for them cheap ### bastards.
GridironMenace
Footballguy
This is wrong. It would absolutely sway his teammates opinions, for the same reason why the players in Philly are hating on DeSean Jackson. You want to hold out, then feel free. But once you decide to accept a paycheck like everyone else, you better put forth 100% effort and stop whining. If you decide to pout and let your performance on the field dwindle because of your attitude over your contract situation, your teammates will quickly lose respect for you. Again, just look at DeSean Jackson.
Forte has honored his obligations to his contract and done more than anyone could expect for his team. There is no reason he should come back before he is completely healthy. You don't hear the Bears arguing either.
This is one of those situations I think you can't point fingers- Forte has behaved professionally and lived up to his contract, and the Bears haven't done anything wrong by deciding they aren't going to pay him a big long term contract. Their football judgement is open to question (but they may well have the historical numbers on their side), but they clearly aren't obligated to offer him a contract. The franchise tag may be a lousy thing but the player negotiated it and its a big payday for one year, the Bears have every right to use it... they'd be at a competitive disadvantage not to. Forte has no reason to rush back and risk further injury and I think the Bears will respect that.
This is one of those situations I think you can't point fingers- Forte has behaved professionally and lived up to his contract, and the Bears haven't done anything wrong by deciding they aren't going to pay him a big long term contract. Their football judgement is open to question (but they may well have the historical numbers on their side), but they clearly aren't obligated to offer him a contract. The franchise tag may be a lousy thing but the player negotiated it and its a big payday for one year, the Bears have every right to use it... they'd be at a competitive disadvantage not to. Forte has no reason to rush back and risk further injury and I think the Bears will respect that.
How does this apply to Forte? Is he required by his contract to play hurt? Sometimes (often in fact) guys play hurt, but they aren't doing it because their contracts force them to, they do it for their own reasons. Forte has a family to consider, he'd be crazy to play hurt to give this team an outside chance to get their asses handed to them in the playoffs.
bonesman
Footballguy
I'm not talking about Forte. I'm talking about a hypothetical player that's a healthy holdout over halfway through the season after having a career day on a potentially playoff bound team. There's no doubt a bout it, that player's rep would be irreparably tarnished.
jackdubl
Footballguy
Doubt they'll lose much respect for him since he was half their offense for two-thirds of the season, then almost blew his knee out while not having a long-term deal. Plus, what good did that respect get him if that injury had been as bad as it looked?
two_dollars
Footballguy
Big difference. DeSean quit on the football field.also, check your numbers, and my sources say 15 is what Forte wants and he was offered 8 to 9.
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GridironMenace
Footballguy
Your sources are wrong. Forte wants $21+ million guaranteed. He was offered $15 million guaranteed. Basically Forte wants DeAngelo Williams money, not Frank Gore money. The difference? DeAngelo was out of contract and used that leverage to strike a payday. Gore was under contract and got an extension. If Forte was out of contract, he could easily break the bank. But he isn't out of contract. When you are under contract and ask for an extension, the team doesn't have to do it. If they are willing to do it, they would like to get something back, which is always less guaranteed money than they would have to pony up if the contract was expired. Forte would get more money than he is currently making and the team would get him signed at a little bit of a deal. Forte wanted his cake and wanted to eat it too. Selfish. Wish he tore his ACL.
GridironMenace
Footballguy
You should read the post that I was quoting to answer your question. But I agree with you, it doesn't. I was just responding to someone else that was making that comparison.
RUSF18
Footballguy
Note to Hang 10: here's what I meant by whiners.
Shutout
Footballguy
The question becoems why would he want that contract? He has shown how productive he can be. Someone will pay him very well if he is allowed to walk. If he is franchised, he will get more money because of the crazy contracts signed this year. Keep in mind the new agreement has different rules for franchised player compensation now. In a nutshell, he has seen what his peers have been paid and he thinks it is fair to get a likewise paycheck..Can't blame a man about that when he is right.Now he is in a good spot. He can control when he plays without risking the significant injury and get paid as he should because a lot of others have already mentioned what is 100% correct: If the Bears really were willing to pay him what he should make, they would have done it but they didn't and if he gets hurt now they wouldn't pay him..I guess that's why guys like Rodgers gets paid early and he doesn'tThere is a lot of ignorance being spilled in this thread, including the above quoted post. The Bears offered Forte an extension of $15 million guaranteed and $2.5 million per year, for 4 years, before the seasons started. That is a VERY fair and generous offer considering the fact that Forte is still under contract.'LargeMouthBass said:I would do the same thing. Don't comeback this year for them cheap ### bastards.
Chaka
Footballguy
Good lord that is a horrible thing to say. In football it really doesn't get much worse than that. Sorry if your feelings got hurt because he may not be available to your fantasy team or if you're a Bears fan but that doesn't justify such a spiteful stance. You should be ashamed of that comment.He is in the last year of his rookie deal that he as dramatically outproduced. If he blew out the ACL the Bears would kick him to the curb without a second thought. He young, his best years are ahead of him, and most importantly he has earned a new contract.PAY THE MAN!
GridironMenace
Footballguy
Well we can talk about the numbers. If he gets franchised next year, the tag will bring him $7.75 million. If he gets tagged again in 2013, the number is going to be about $8.75-$9.25 million. So it will net him about $16.5 million (on the high end) in guaranteed money before he hits unrestricted FA in 2014. The Bears were willing to give him $15 million. That is a $1.5 million difference that Forte is giving up. What risk is Forte taking on over that $1.5 million and why should Forte have signed that deal? That he will stay healthy in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The fact that Forte will be 30 when he is unrestricted. The fact that he will have 3 more years of wear and tear on his body. That is why Forte should have taken the contract. Forte got dumb advice.The question becoems why would he want that contract? He has shown how productive he can be. Someone will pay him very well if he is allowed to walk. If he is franchised, he will get more money because of the crazy contracts signed this year.There is a lot of ignorance being spilled in this thread, including the above quoted post. The Bears offered Forte an extension of $15 million guaranteed and $2.5 million per year, for 4 years, before the seasons started. That is a VERY fair and generous offer considering the fact that Forte is still under contract.'LargeMouthBass said:I would do the same thing. Don't comeback this year for them cheap ### bastards.
GridironMenace
Footballguy
The Bears offered to 'pay the man'. $15 million. I have no sympathy for those who turn down such a ridiculous amount of money and then blow their ACL. None. Sure that would suck, but he can only blame himself if that were to happen.I just love it when players outperform their contract, they want a raise. But when their contract clearly overpays their production (ala CJ2K, Jamarcus Russell etc...) no one ever gives it back. Must be nice to drive down a 1-way street.
matttyl
Footballguy
Wish he tore his ACL?!?! I think you're taking this WAY TOO FAR! Forte is and has always been a team player. I personally believe he deserved a long term contract a year ago. They sign Roy Williams this offseason to a $1.5M (up to $2.5) and don't give Forte the kind of money that he deserves and has earned? I hope the Bears don't make the playoffs because of it! They made the same mistake that the Chargers made with Vincent Jackson, and it may end up costing them more money in the end. When a guy is that big a part of your offense, you do what it takes to keep them on your team for the period of time that they are productive. At 25, that could very well be another 5 years for Forte. Should they franchise him next year (which will likely happen) and he has another great year (yeah, I said great, not "good" like someone above, but also not "elite"), what then? You going to sign him to a long term contract after the 2012 season? It would likely have been cheaper to sign him long term earlier this season than to franchise him and then give him a deal a year later. A year from now Forte is going to say, "remember that big deal that D Will got? I vastly outperformed him, I want a bigger deal than that." What will Chicago do then?
Yeah, reports say that he was offered $15M guaranteed - D Will got $21M guaranteed and CJ got $30M guaranteed the same week. Doesn't seem fair to me in that Forte has done more than D Will and is younger.
Yeah, reports say that he was offered $15M guaranteed - D Will got $21M guaranteed and CJ got $30M guaranteed the same week. Doesn't seem fair to me in that Forte has done more than D Will and is younger.
ShaHBucks
Footballguy
Wow your a hater to wish that on a man making a honest living. He basically told the bears I'm worth more than they offered him. As a man I can respect that, you don't let someone determine your worth, he wrote the check and told the bears to sign it. This is the risk he took playing, the downside it he does tear his acl and never be able to max his earn. If these owners conduct their teams like a business so should the players because the risk far exceed the reward. Some people get caught in the dollars NFL players make and ignore the principles. Matt Forte has one maybe two contracts left in his life... he will be in his 30's and likely never have a chance to make the money he leaves on the table throughout his entire life! I wish there was a way the NFL could come up with insurance for these players threw arbitration or something. Fred Jackson and Desean lost millions this year and it will likely happen every year. smh
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