My Two Cents on Chicago Bears Running Back Matt Forte
For those of you that know me, I am not what one would call exactly a card carrying member of the Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte fan club. I think Forte is a very good NFL running back, but I would hardly call him elite. But thanks to social media, Forte is earning the reputation of having an elite mouth.
All of this started when the Chicago Bears announced the signing of former Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush. Forte took to to Twitter to air his grievances. Instead of being happy the Chicago Bears are trying to get better and more depth on offense (hello, it’s essentially why this team didn’t make the playoffs last season), Forte is looking out for number one. I certainly can appreciate a man’s need to feel important and fairly compensated for his work, but the Chicago Bears have placed the Franchise Tag on Forte guaranteeing him a little over seven million dollars next season. While I don’t know about you, but seven million dollars can go a long way. For those of you wondering about the Franchise Tag, The Chicago Bears have the option of placing it on Forte for the next two seasons. This would mean the team would have to guarantee him an average salary of the top five guys at his position or a raise of 120%.
Taking a step back, Forte is an important part of the Bears offense. He’s a good running back and an excellent receiver out of the backfield. But he’s a terrible blocker and not a good between the tackles back. He’s best when he can hit the edges on a run. All of this being said, he certainly is in the top ten of running backs in the NFL. While his statistics may speak a bit higher, let’s not forget that he’s had a few not-so-great-seasons as well as some really productive ones.
My biggest issue with Forte is his attitude. Current Chicago Bears General Manager Phil Emery needs to worry more about his roster than Matt Forte. By bringing in Bush along with former Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell and for Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall, Emery is trying to fix the problems of last season. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that Caleb Hanie, Marion Barber and Roy Williams were HUGE problems last season. As big of a critic as I am of the Emery hiring, he deserves credit for bettering his football team.
I feel disrespected by Forte as a fan of the Chicago Bears. This team is starting to come together, and instead of enjoying the moment, Forte is being a whiny little baby about this whole process. If he has such an issue with the franchise tag and his original contract, perhaps he should quit the NFL and find another job that is going to pay him over seven million this season. Many are concerned that Forte will hold-out. I am pretty confident he won’t because of the heavy fines these guys pay when they refuse to report to camp. Since Forte is making this whole thing about money, my guess is that he won’t want to pay a fine.
In closing, I am sure all of this will work itself out. But in the meantime, keep it classy Matt!!!
Follow me on Twitter at ChicagoBearJew.
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15 Rants to “My Two Cents on Chicago Bears Running Back Matt Fo...”
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Are you serious!! check the numbers, this kid Forte was the majority of the Offense the last couple years, and had only one really bad season. He shut his mouth and played this year and was on pace to be mentioned as a top 5 RB,till he got hurt, This game is not a long lasting career, you have to get what you can, when you can, while your hot! cause when its over, IT’S OVER! Management has no loyalty to anyone, why should Forte? He puts his body on the line every Sunday for the Bears, and should be compensated as such.
He’s going to make 8 million this season
Matt Forte has been quiet for years. He could have caused problems long before, but decided to let the process play out. He SHOULD HAVE held out last season, but had a “team first” attitude and decided to play the season. Where would the Bears’ season be if Matt wasn’t there last year? How is he repaid? He almost lost his career! He has done EVERYTHING the Bears have asked him to do and is getting nothing in return. If he stays quiet, he looks weak and loses money. If he speaks up, he’s not a team player. Team player? Loyalty? Why are players held to that standard but not the owners? They can’t pay Forte but have spent $20.3 million in past 3 seasons for his backups? Come on, now…
I look at it this way…if you don’t like the contract you signed, the Franchise Tag or the Bears….retire
If the Bears think he doesn’t deserve to be paid what he wants they can cut him or trade him. Why should he have to lose out on his livliehood because the Bears are being douchebags?
So the Bears are dbags because they follow a contract Forte and the union signed?
just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. They should reward their own before paying others and it was evident years ago Forte was outplaying his contract.
The Chicago Bears owe Matt Forte to honor his contract. If he was so confident in his abilities, he should have signed a one-year contract when he was drafted. If he sucked, this conversation would be moot. So don’t blame the Bears for honoring Forte’s contract, offering him a fair extension of franchising him. Blame the system and Forte for signing a rookie contract.
So Forte has to honor his contract but the Bears do not? As soon as he gets hurt, or he sucks, or is due a baloon payment, the Bears will cut him faster than Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, but Forte should just shut up or retire? There is no honor when dealing with NFL owners.
You can blame the NFLPA for that and not the Bears.
Let me see here, you hardly call him elite in one sentence, and in the very next paragraph you state he is in fact one of the top ten RB’s in the league.. that by itself is the definition of ELITE!… Who is this clown writing this garbage?
And so you think being in the top ten makes one elite? Do the math…10/30 equals 33%. So being in the top 33% is elite according to you. He’s a distant second in the division. Do me a favor, stop reading my blog. It’s way too much for you to handle.
That would be good if there were just 30 RBs, but there aren’t. There are what, 3 to 4 RBs on a team? That would be 90-120 if MY math is right, lol. That’s about 10%. You consider that elite? To go a bit further, Forte ranks 5th in total yards from scrimmage since he came into the league. That’s even more RBs, but just with the current number, that’s in the 5% range. Is THAT not elite?
A better argument, but the eye test tells me he’s limited in his blocking and just not an elite back. A good almost great back…yes. But not elite.
yea, because it’s relevant to include 4th string backs in the elite RB discussion…