My take: Why the Bears should re-sign Matt Forte

[dabears253313]

He'd be good to keep around. But if the Bears can use that money to upgrade elsewhere, then it's probably better to let him walk. I assume he'll still want a similar contract to what he signed for a few years ago.

 

[BearDown104]

Think he's looking for a Gore type deal? If so, he's staying a Bear

3 yr/12Mil/6.5 guarenteed.

 

[DC]

Don't let this man go! It's a mistake, I'm warning all of you! Get a billboard quick!

 

[Aesopian]

Don't let this man go! It's a mistake, I'm warning all of you! Get a billboard quick!

He's leaving next year anyway might as well get something from him now. Forte deserves a ring.

 

[DC]

Hate that mentality. Forte is a Chicago Bear.

 

[truthbedamned]

He's going to be 30 and deserves a to play for a contender. That is WHY we listen to offers, to reward him for what he has done here. Not to punish him.

Reports are Bucs are interested. That is rewarding him? They are as big a dumpsterfire as the Bears are.

 

[Aesopian]

Reports are Bucs are interested. That is rewarding him? They are as big a dumpsterfire as the Bears are.

Bucs debunked it on a website they don't use Doug Martin enough as it is and have a decent back up.

 

[AustinIllini]

Hate that mentality. Forte is a Chicago Bear.

A condition quickly changed when he signs somewhere else or is traded.

That being said, I have many fond memories of his Bear career.

 

[truthbedamned]

I could also see Forte giving a list of teams he would be willing to go to just like Allen did. I would imagine Dallas and NE would be at the top.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

I could also see Forte giving a list of teams he would be willing to go to just like Allen did. I would imagine Dallas and NE would be at the top.

What if he wanted to go to Green Bay?

He loves the city, team and fans. We could get 2-3 more years out of him, good years.

 

[DC]

Bump for today's shitty article.

 

[Doug Grohlin]

Forte needs to stay a Bear. For what they'd get in a trade couldn't compare to what he gives on Sunday. Then at the end of the season, lock him up for another three years. It would mean a lot to him and other players. If the new regime is going to show any loyalty, it should be to Forte.

 

[Bearly]

. The actuarial data on RB over 30 breaking down is staggering. Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.
Forte does not take big hits. I have never seem him take on a defender head on. He will be able to play longer then the average RB because of that. 30 is not the death toll for him that it is for others. Smart smart RB that should retire a Bear.

And his conditioning is well known. The other side of that argument is the amount of wear and tear from what is typically the most touches in the NFL. It's weird with RBs. He'll come out one year and just be a step slower and not as dynamic. The problem is that you don't know what year that will be.

 

[sikesy7]

If you're going to have any chance at a successful rebuild you need players like Forte especially his character to help the rookies learn how things should be done. If we have no veterans its hard to lead a team of rookies. Some vets are critical. I was ok with Briggs and Marshall being gone, I think we should have kept Tillman, and a guy like Forte.

 

[emaugust]

I think Forte's career arc will be similar to another workout warrior that played for the Bears: Thomas Jones. It seems likely Forte has a few more years in his legs, but the odds of things going south really shoot up after 31.

Or he could be a Julius Peppers what do I know.

 

[mecha]

I think Forte's career arc will be similar to another workout warrior that played for the Bears: Thomas Jones. It seems likely Forte has a few more years in his legs, but the odds of things going south really shoot up after 31.

Or he could be a Julius Peppers what do I know.

many said Peppers was done. if I was the Bears and I gave away Julius Peppers to my biggest rival and he produces well enough still for his age, I'd be embarrassed. Tillman should've stayed, he's up in years now too, but when you shut down the biggest and greatest receiver in the game STILL, that says something. of all the players they dealt, Tillman made me the saddest.

Forte is much more than just a runner though. he's a very dynamic player that can gash any defense in any way the OC can draw up. I get it RBs are a dime a dozen, but Matt Forte isn't just a RB. with Jeffery and Royal out he could just plug in as a receiver. I'm hoping the receiver injuries stop now, and maybe we see White in a few weeks.

also Thomas Jones was a beast. what ever happened to him? I thought he was still playing strong until the end.

 

[Bearly]

Peppers is a genetic freak. He's the exception, not the rule. Not to take anything away from Forte and what he does to stay tip top but he's not Peppers. Peppers was also moved to a new spot for a reason. He was wearing down on the line.

 

[ClydeLee]

I think Forte's career arc will be similar to another workout warrior that played for the Bears: Thomas Jones. It seems likely Forte has a few more years in his legs, but the odds of things going south really shoot up after 31.

Or he could be a Julius Peppers what do I know.

They generally break down for RBs after 8 seasons of starting play. It's often touted via the age, but if you look at the guys and how many years starting playing full time with all the carries it generally is that 9th season they look worse. It's gonna of course be for an around 22 year old out of the college ranks at close to 30 so it's always talked about as that 29 to 30 kinda change.

There are just a few rare exceptions like Payton that really have the same play beyond 31+. There are some others, but out of those others you do see a guy like Thomas Jones or Priest Holmes some better examples, but guys like that weren't starters much of their first 4 seasons, they played a starters equivalent of maybe 2 years for whichever reasons. Those guys can sometimes produce still at 30-31 and so on like Jones did in KC in tandem. There isn't really a consistency of when a cornerback or DE can't go anymore like there often is for running backs though. Even a similar style receiver heavy Faulk or kinda like Forte style LT had the drop down couple seasons of not being that special offensive player anymore around that 9th-10th season. It's not likely Forte is set to last this good in 2 years still. Maybe next year he'll still have it but I doubt so beyond that.

 

[Pegger]

RBs past 30 age about as well as supermodels.

IMO he's been one of the better RBs for every year he's been in the league. With that being said someone will offer him a 3 year deal that the Bears shouldn't match.

It's always sad to see your best players in the twilight of their career in a different jersey. When I look back I can think of all the Eagle greats: R. White, Cunningham, McNabb, Dawkins and Westbrook and they all ended their careers wearing another jersey (or a couple different jerseys in some cases).

It's completely natural, but it still hurts like a kick in the junk.

 

[Pegger]

Peppers is a genetic freak. He's the exception, not the rule. Not to take anything away from Forte and what he does to stay tip top but he's not Peppers. Peppers was also moved to a new spot for a reason. He was wearing down on the line.

I'd add that this is Peppers 3rd team. When the Bears signed him for what was a massive FA deal did he really live up to that contract? In 64 games he had 37.5 sacks and 139 tackles.

In mapping that back to Forte what are the chances that whatever the top bidder gives him is good value for that team? If the Bears want to give him a contract that honors his past performance then that's their choice, but overall there's a far higher chance he'll have a difficult time playing to the level that his contract dictates.