Matt Forte (1 Viewer)

[Blackjacks]

With the signing of Michael Bush and Forte seeming very pissed about it do you think a team will offer a pick to the Bears for him and could the Bears be willing to let him go?

I am sure Forte would love to get out of Chicago and have a long term deal signed elsewhere.

This seems like the bullcrap side for the players and I agree with Forte. He didnt sit out last year and gave it his all and not this year he is sitting there waiting to be rewarded and isnt getting squat.

I could see the TB Bucs making a phone call about now to see his availability.

 

[twistd]

Forte is going nowhere. The Bears probably wouldn't give him up for a first. No one is going to offer even that much. Forte will continue to whine, but the Bears will get a long term deal done.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I could see the TB Bucs making a phone call about now to see his availability.

Why would TB call about Forte coming off a season ending injury when Trent is their for them to draft?

 

[Da Guru]

Vet RBs are low on the NFL food chain.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Denver must be interested...win now

 

[rizzler]

I could see the TB Bucs making a phone call about now to see his availability.

Why would TB call about Forte coming off a season ending injury when Trent is their for them to draft?

The Browns are on the phone.They said, "think again"

 

[Slapdash]

Denver must be interested...win now

Forte would be a great fit for Manning I think. I hope he gets out, they treated him wrong.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I could see the TB Bucs making a phone call about now to see his availability.

Why would TB call about Forte coming off a season ending injury when Trent is their for them to draft?

I don't expect the Bucs to call - but Forte's injury was minor. He played in the Pro Bowl.

 

[Crazysight]

I'm sure my Pats would love to add him.

 

[Crazysight]

I could see the TB Bucs making a phone call about now to see his availability.

Why would TB call about Forte coming off a season ending injury when Trent is their for them to draft?

I don't expect the Bucs to call - but Forte's injury was minor. He played in the Pro Bowl.

Somebody actually played in the pro bowl?

 

[whitem0nkey]

Denver must be interested...win now

Forte would be a great fit for Manning I think. I hope he gets out, they treated him wrong.

they offered him frank gore money, they treated him fairly, and he felt he is worth more.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Why would they trade him? He's their's for the year and RBs are fungible. But if they were going to sign him to a big new contract you'd think it'd be this year. Suspect he'll move along in 2013 if there's no new deal.

 

[whitem0nkey]

Why would they trade him? He's their's for the year and RBs are fungible. But if they were going to sign him to a big new contract you'd think it'd be this year. Suspect he'll move along in 2013 if there's no new deal.

they can tag him again for 2013.

 

[mental]

There was a (ridiculous IMO) rumor going around Chicago today that the Bears had traded Forte to Cleveland for a 1st and a 3rd. I tried to track down the source with no results, but the fact that something like that is even out there tells me that he's no lock to stay a Bear.

 

[mlball77]

While Forte is whining, perhaps justifiably (still better kept in-house), I don't think there is anything to see here, at this point. Sure, something could develop, but right now I think it's business as usual and he'll be a Bear for 2012... a Bear paid below market value.

 

[cstu]

Today - 6:00 PM ETThe Chicago Tribune reports the Bears have "concerns" about unsigned franchise player Matt Forte's knees.This goes a long way toward explaining why the Bears are playing hardball with their 26-year-old lead back. Forte had never missed a game with injury before spraining his right MCL in Week 13 last season, but the Bears reportedly "worry over how long (his) knees will hold up." Forte carried the ball 833 times in college, and has 1,237 career touches through four NFL seasons. Forte tore his left PCL in college, and sprained it in 2009. The Tribune believes the Bears want to "protect themselves from arthritis setting in." It very well could mean Forte won't be able to do better than his $7.7 million franchise tender this offseason.Source: Chicago Tribune

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

Today - 6:00 PM ETThe Chicago Tribune reports the Bears have "concerns" about unsigned franchise player Matt Forte's knees.This goes a long way toward explaining why the Bears are playing hardball with their 26-year-old lead back. Forte had never missed a game with injury before spraining his right MCL in Week 13 last season, but the Bears reportedly "worry over how long (his) knees will hold up." Forte carried the ball 833 times in college, and has 1,237 career touches through four NFL seasons. Forte tore his left PCL in college, and sprained it in 2009. The Tribune believes the Bears want to "protect themselves from arthritis setting in." It very well could mean Forte won't be able to do better than his $7.7 million franchise tender this offseason.Source: Chicago Tribune

when I read this article, it sounded like the team trying to drive down the asking price.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

when I read this article, it sounded like the team trying to drive down the asking price.

Had the same thought when I read that article, and also the one where the Bears were 'surprised' to find out how versatile Michael Bush is.

 

[cstu]

Today - 6:00 PM ETThe Chicago Tribune reports the Bears have "concerns" about unsigned franchise player Matt Forte's knees.This goes a long way toward explaining why the Bears are playing hardball with their 26-year-old lead back. Forte had never missed a game with injury before spraining his right MCL in Week 13 last season, but the Bears reportedly "worry over how long (his) knees will hold up." Forte carried the ball 833 times in college, and has 1,237 career touches through four NFL seasons. Forte tore his left PCL in college, and sprained it in 2009. The Tribune believes the Bears want to "protect themselves from arthritis setting in." It very well could mean Forte won't be able to do better than his $7.7 million franchise tender this offseason.Source: Chicago Tribune

when I read this article, it sounded like the team trying to drive down the asking price.

I know, doesn't every team have concerns about how their RB's knees will hold up?

 

[Kenny Powers]

He's 26 and had only had 1 injury to force him to miss any games in his career thus far. At this point, he's proven to be 1 of the most durable backs in the NFL while Id also guess he ranks Top 5 in touches over the last 4 years (maybe even 5 yrs despite playing only 3.5?!). Theyre lucky to have a fall back option as solid as Bush, but they'd be stupid to think Forte doesnt have at least 3 pro-bowl caliber years left.

 

[Zdravko]

Of course they are driving down the price. But I don't care about the Bears bottom line number, I care about FF stats. How many RBs revert back to their previous stats in the season after a contract dispute?

Productivity tends to drop a notch, they tend to get more prone to dings, especially if the holdout drags into late July and prevents proper conditioning. Yes, I know that Forte will ultimately play under the tender, but I am in the minority camp that thinks he is overvalued, both redraft and dynasty. If anything, I am taking Michael Bush. We know he can put up excellent stats as a lead back, so all it takes is one holdout or one injury to hit top-12 territory.

 

[Shutout]

I don't want to act like I can guess Fort'es mind-set but maybe its a bit of human nature. Forte seems like a smart guy and I think he knows there is a kernel of truth in what the Bears are saying because he has been used more than the average Bear (pun).

So that makes me think if he ends up signing the franchise tender, he might be thinking "ok, just get through this season and go somewhere else for the money." and that is what would concern me more than anything if I was a fantasy owner because he likely knows he can only get one "money maker" contract and he has to stay healthy.

So I kind of expect if he does the franchise tag, we may see him not play as much; sit out and say "I'm fine, just a precaution"...kinda sending the message that I CAN play but I'm not putting it on the line for a team that didn't take care of me. Could be a frustrating year for Forte owners.

 

[rizzler]

merk my words, he will punish the bears.

 

[Clifford]

This is dumb. Pay the kid 7.5 a year for 4 years and be done with it.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

From the Bear's perspective... why not franchise him this year and next and then in 2014 compete against the rest of the league for the services of a 28 year old back instead of locking yourself into a long-term deal for a good RB in his prime?

 

[Carter_Can_Fly]

From the Bear's perspective... why not franchise him this year and next and then in 2014 compete against the rest of the league for the services of a 28 year old back instead of locking yourself into a long-term deal for a good RB in his prime?

The franchise tag with RB's in their short careers makes for situations like thise. I happen to think the Bears and Forte can find a happy middle ground in this case and lock him up through the rest of his prime.

 

[lbouchard]

It won't happen, but I'd love to see the Jets trade for him. In their ground and pound offense, he'd be gold.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

This is dumb. Pay the kid 7.5 a year for 4 years and be done with it.

Here's why:-Two knee injuries in 4 years-What happened to CJ2K, Gore, Dwill when they got contract extensions=didn't see the top notch results-Why lock him up long term when the rest of the league is going RBBC...it's why they brought in Bush.

 

[geoff8695]

merk my words, he will punish the bears.

Unpossible, as long as Michael Bush is healthy...I Forte and hope he gets a decent contract after all he's done for the Bears, but he has zero leverage here. This is similar to the VJax situation in SD the last couple seasons, except that the Bears have taken away Forte's leverage by bolstering the offensive skill positions in a MAJOR way this offseason. If he had held out in 2011 it would have been a different story-essentially, he missed his opportunity to "punish the bears"Now the Bears have added enough surrounding talent that they've insulated themselves against a Forte holdout and can no longer be made to suffer. Unfortunately for him the Bears own his rights and can tag him for the next two seasons. Considering the short shelf life of an NFL RB, he's totally screwed here.

 

[The Moz]

Forte I see being a major bust this year as Bush will get about 40% of snaps

 

[Badgers Fan]

Forte I see being a major bust this year as Bush will get about 40% of snaps

I wouldn't make that assumption until Forte is signed. If the Bears do pony up and pay Forte, it's doubtful they'll put 25+ mill or whatever he costs for a guy only getting 60% of snaps. Considered his rushing + receiving skills, it's doubtful Bush sees THAT many snaps anyways, without an injury to Forte.

 

[Faust]

Forte's messy situation proves why NFL players need guaranteed deals

By Mike Freeman | CBSSports.com National NFL Insider

You are Matt Forte. You are, for the moment, confused. You are also angry. It's understandable. Your team is selling you out.

The Bears asked you to touch the ball some 1,200 times because you were versatile and good and didn't complain about the sometimes crappy offensive line that opened holes as thick as a sliver of cheese.

No one is going to feel sorry for a football player who makes millions of dollars while the anemic economy destroys lives and careers. But football is different. It's always been different. The normal rules don't apply just like they don't to actors. So in football's insular world, Forte is getting screwed.

If you want to understand why NFL players never, ever trust management or why they hold out, look at the Forte case. If you really want to know why the union constantly fights management, look at Forte. If you want to understand why NFL players not receiving guaranteed contracts is practically criminal, again, Forte.

It's almost comical. The Bears run Forte into the ground and then leak to the media they're concerned about giving Forte a long-term deal because of concerns over his knee. What the Bears are doing is like a guy running up his credit card bill buying lap dances and Gummi Bears and then blaming Visa.

Look closely at that Bears team. The defense has been solid but not great. The quarterback situation, in recent years, has been erratic. Bears receivers? Mostly just OK. It's Forte who has been the one constant threat (Devin Hester doesn't touch the ball enough to be on Forte's threat level). He's carried this Bears team.

Forte isn't the biggest or the strongest or the fastest back but he's among the most versatile. He became the first Bears runner to make the Pro Bowl since 1991 doing so by being as big a pass-catching threat as he is a running one. Strictly in terms of versatility only Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy are better.

The Bears sucked the life out of Forte and that's what they should have done. Don't feel sorry for him but then the Bears, immersed in a contract squabble, repaid Forte's loyalty with a nice piece of nastiness.

The team recently leaked it was concerned Forte's knees might not hold up for the long term. It's one thing to be concerned about handing Forte a multi-year deal instead of the one-year tender but it's another to undercut your star player who has been nothing but loyal.

Again, it's Chicago's right to let Forte walk. It's also fair to privately wonder if previously sprained knee ligaments will be any sort of future impediment but it's dirty pool to leak those concerns to the media anonymously as a way of trying to injure Forte's earning potential. The Bears weren't concerned about Forte's durability when they were running those knees into the turf.

Forte was so angered by what the Bears did he released a video of him training by pulling a sled holding 100 pounds up a hill. Shouldn't have to come to something like that.

"Matt Forte is among the most, if not the most, durable, all-purpose running back in the NFL," Forte's agent, Adisa Bakari told the Chicago Sun-Times. "The 2011 season was the first season of his career that he missed any games. Had the Bears been playoff contenders, he could have returned for the balance of the season. To question his durability at this stage in his career is absurd." And hypocritical.

You are Matt Forte. You are, for the moment, confused. You are also angry. It's understandable. Your team is selling you out.

After riding you into the ground.

 

[Da Guru]

Forte's messy situation proves why NFL players need guaranteed deals

By Mike Freeman | CBSSports.com National NFL Insider

You are Matt Forte. You are, for the moment, confused. You are also angry. It's understandable. Your team is selling you out.

The Bears asked you to touch the ball some 1,200 times because you were versatile and good and didn't complain about the sometimes crappy offensive line that opened holes as thick as a sliver of cheese.

No one is going to feel sorry for a football player who makes millions of dollars while the anemic economy destroys lives and careers. But football is different. It's always been different. The normal rules don't apply just like they don't to actors. So in football's insular world, Forte is getting screwed.

If you want to understand why NFL players never, ever trust management or why they hold out, look at the Forte case. If you really want to know why the union constantly fights management, look at Forte. If you want to understand why NFL players not receiving guaranteed contracts is practically criminal, again, Forte.

It's almost comical. The Bears run Forte into the ground and then leak to the media they're concerned about giving Forte a long-term deal because of concerns over his knee. What the Bears are doing is like a guy running up his credit card bill buying lap dances and Gummi Bears and then blaming Visa.

Look closely at that Bears team. The defense has been solid but not great. The quarterback situation, in recent years, has been erratic. Bears receivers? Mostly just OK. It's Forte who has been the one constant threat (Devin Hester doesn't touch the ball enough to be on Forte's threat level). He's carried this Bears team.

Forte isn't the biggest or the strongest or the fastest back but he's among the most versatile. He became the first Bears runner to make the Pro Bowl since 1991 doing so by being as big a pass-catching threat as he is a running one. Strictly in terms of versatility only Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy are better.

The Bears sucked the life out of Forte and that's what they should have done. Don't feel sorry for him but then the Bears, immersed in a contract squabble, repaid Forte's loyalty with a nice piece of nastiness.

The team recently leaked it was concerned Forte's knees might not hold up for the long term. It's one thing to be concerned about handing Forte a multi-year deal instead of the one-year tender but it's another to undercut your star player who has been nothing but loyal.

Again, it's Chicago's right to let Forte walk. It's also fair to privately wonder if previously sprained knee ligaments will be any sort of future impediment but it's dirty pool to leak those concerns to the media anonymously as a way of trying to injure Forte's earning potential. The Bears weren't concerned about Forte's durability when they were running those knees into the turf.

Forte was so angered by what the Bears did he released a video of him training by pulling a sled holding 100 pounds up a hill. Shouldn't have to come to something like that.

"Matt Forte is among the most, if not the most, durable, all-purpose running back in the NFL," Forte's agent, Adisa Bakari told the Chicago Sun-Times. "The 2011 season was the first season of his career that he missed any games. Had the Bears been playoff contenders, he could have returned for the balance of the season. To question his durability at this stage in his career is absurd." And hypocritical.

You are Matt Forte. You are, for the moment, confused. You are also angry. It's understandable. Your team is selling you out.

After riding you into the ground.

Forte will be getting close to 8 million for this coming season and with Mike Bush he will not be run into the ground anymore. Fortes touches should drop by 25-40% so his workload won`t be nearly as heavy in the past. Plus with Brandon Marshall the Bears finally have a true #1 WR so Fortes receptions will be down as well.

Forte will be getting 8 million for doing half of what he did before. Sounds like a pretty good deal. If Forte goes and and plays well he will be an UFA and be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.. or get another 8 million from the Bears for franchise.

 

[matttyl]

If Forte goes and and plays well he will be an UFA and be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.. or get another 8 million from the Bears for franchise.

And what if he plays well but gets hurt near the end of the season (like what happened last year)? Even if he doesn't get hurt, and plays well on the 25-40% less touches (split the difference and call it 1/3rd less) - you'd be talking about a 27, soon to be 28 year old with 1,237 + ~220 touches = close to 1,500 career touches. What's that worth? Go ask Peyton Hillis or the lawfirm (maybe not the best examples, but you get the idea). Ray Rice is 2 years younger than that with 300 less carries and much less talk of durability, and he even he can't get a long term deal done...so what are Forte's chances?

 

[Da Guru]

If Forte goes and and plays well he will be an UFA and be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.. or get another 8 million from the Bears for franchise.

And what if he plays well but gets hurt near the end of the season (like what happened last year)? Even if he doesn't get hurt, and plays well on the 25-40% less touches (split the difference and call it 1/3rd less) - you'd be talking about a 27, soon to be 28 year old with 1,237 + ~220 touches = close to 1,500 career touches. What's that worth? Go ask Peyton Hillis or the lawfirm (maybe not the best examples, but you get the idea). Ray Rice is 2 years younger than that with 300 less carries and much less talk of durability, and he even he can't get a long term deal done...so what are Forte's chances?

Then it sounds like the Bears are making the correct decision.

 

[Crazy Tony]

Forte has been a starter since he put on the pads as a rookie. He's put up with a lot of crappy Bears Teams. They should pay the man but they won't. 27-28 I don't think that's super old. Even for an RB with tons of touches. He could play for pretty much any team in the league. Just frustrating.

 

[matttyl]

If Forte goes and and plays well he will be an UFA and be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.. or get another 8 million from the Bears for franchise.

And what if he plays well but gets hurt near the end of the season (like what happened last year)? Even if he doesn't get hurt, and plays well on the 25-40% less touches (split the difference and call it 1/3rd less) - you'd be talking about a 27, soon to be 28 year old with 1,237 + ~220 touches = close to 1,500 career touches. What's that worth? Go ask Peyton Hillis or the lawfirm (maybe not the best examples, but you get the idea). Ray Rice is 2 years younger than that with 300 less carries and much less talk of durability, and he even he can't get a long term deal done...so what are Forte's chances?

Then it sounds like the Bears are making the correct decision.

And what if he does what you said and produces very well and Bush is the one that gets hurt. Forte will have all the leverage in that situation, and it might cost Chicago $9M to franchise him next year, for just a single year. Wouldn't the "correct decision" there be to just give him a "long-term" deal now rather than pay him $7.7M this year and maybe $9M the following and still not have a "franchise back" for 2014?In my mind the "correct decision" would have been to lock him up to a deal a year or two ago and not have to go through all of this.

 

[Da Guru]

If Forte goes and and plays well he will be an UFA and be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.. or get another 8 million from the Bears for franchise.

And what if he plays well but gets hurt near the end of the season (like what happened last year)? Even if he doesn't get hurt, and plays well on the 25-40% less touches (split the difference and call it 1/3rd less) - you'd be talking about a 27, soon to be 28 year old with 1,237 + ~220 touches = close to 1,500 career touches. What's that worth? Go ask Peyton Hillis or the lawfirm (maybe not the best examples, but you get the idea). Ray Rice is 2 years younger than that with 300 less carries and much less talk of durability, and he even he can't get a long term deal done...so what are Forte's chances?

Then it sounds like the Bears are making the correct decision.

And what if he does what you said and produces very well and Bush is the one that gets hurt. Forte will have all the leverage in that situation, and it might cost Chicago $9M to franchise him next year, for just a single year. Wouldn't the "correct decision" there be to just give him a "long-term" deal now rather than pay him $7.7M this year and maybe $9M the following and still not have a "franchise back" for 2014?In my mind the "correct decision" would have been to lock him up to a deal a year or two ago and not have to go through all of this.

I think it is too late for that now. It is obvious Bears do not feel Forte is an elite RB and are making their decisions accordingly.

 

[Tau837]

If Forte goes and and plays well he will be an UFA and be able to sell himself to the highest bidder.. or get another 8 million from the Bears for franchise.

And what if he plays well but gets hurt near the end of the season (like what happened last year)? Even if he doesn't get hurt, and plays well on the 25-40% less touches (split the difference and call it 1/3rd less) - you'd be talking about a 27, soon to be 28 year old with 1,237 + ~220 touches = close to 1,500 career touches. What's that worth? Go ask Peyton Hillis or the lawfirm (maybe not the best examples, but you get the idea). Ray Rice is 2 years younger than that with 300 less carries and much less talk of durability, and he even he can't get a long term deal done...so what are Forte's chances?

Then it sounds like the Bears are making the correct decision.

 

[Carter_Can_Fly]

Well done by Bears keeping one of the most complete RB in the games. He was very good today. His blocking was huge today to go along with his running inside, outside and being involved in the passing game.