Matt Forte Signs Extension

[Hines]

https://twitter.com/seankjensen/stat...05412858740738

4 years. I don't know the amount yet, though.

[Matthew Jones]

Adam Schefter reporting that it averages about $8 million per year.

[bigbluedefense]

I expected that. He's worth the deal.

[Hines]

Yup, the deal looks to be at 8 million per year.

[BeerBaron]

I'm...meh. It's good to have him back but I have such disdain for giving big money deals to RBs. I give him no more than 2 years until he's turning sharply downhill.

[Ness]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

I'm...meh. It's good to have him back but I have such disdain for giving big money deals to RBs. I give him no more than 2 years until he's turning sharply downhill.

Don't feel too bad it's not your money.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Ness

Don't feel too bad it's not your money.

Irrelevant. It's the team I follow and they only have so much to spend on their players. I'd rather it be put to better use on other players but whatever. Having Forte for the few years before he breaks down won't be the worst thing ever.

[LonghornsLegend]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Irrelevant. It's the team I follow and they only have so much to spend on their players. I'd rather it be put to better use on other players but whatever. Having Forte for the few years before he breaks down won't be the worst thing ever.

I feel your pain. Bush at RB wouldn't be the reason that the team didn't make the SB, though Forte does make you better I find it highly unlikely he finishes this deal out playing at the same level, but at least it's not 5 years. Maybe you guys plan to utilize more of a 2 back system, which IMO might be the best thing if you want to keep Forte fresh for the entire deal. His workload he was getting prior would make me nervous to continue that route for a few more seasons.


Now let's see how quick it takes some of these skill position athletes before they get into TC and pull a hammy, then return back too quick and strain it even worse.

[Monomach]

4 years, 32 million, 18 million guaranteed.

Not a happy camper with this. I much preferred that money going to Cutler or some free agent O linemen.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

Irrelevant. It's the team I follow and they only have so much to spend on their players. I'd rather it be put to better use on other players but whatever. Having Forte for the few years before he breaks down won't be the worst thing ever.

What I said on the first page about it.

I don't care what they spend their millions on not involving the players, but since there is only so much they are allowed to spend on the players, I do care more about how they spend it.

I just don't like the idea of paying running backs more than their rookie contracts. It's just not a position I feel is worthwhile investing in in the modern NFL. The vast majority of the top players at the RB position weren't first round picks. I'd just keep a rotation going of drafting RBs in the 2nd round or later every year, letting then walk at the end of their rookie deal (if I can't trade them before) and insert the next guy. You pay non-first round picks barely more than the league minimum and RB is a position where you can find starter caliber players outside of the first round more easily than any other.

There's always the next Forte. The next Ray Rice. The next Lesean McCoy. The next Jamaal Charles. The next Arian Foster. The next Frank Gore. The next _______ ....the list goes on for a while.

And if they get their knee Adrian Peterson'd, sucks for them. You don't give guys millions of dollars because of how awesome the WERE over the last few years...you only pay them the millions if you think they'll continue to be good for the next few.

Reality is harsh like that but it is what it is.

[FUNBUNCHER]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

There's always the next Forte. The next Ray Rice. The next Lesean McCoy. The next Jamaal Charles. The next Arian Foster. The next Frank Gore.

True, but not on the same team.
I'm just glad the Bears finally acknowledged that Forte is a rare difference maker in the NFL and paid him as such.

[regoob2]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

I'm...meh. It's good to have him back but I have such disdain for giving big money deals to RBs. I give him no more than 2 years until he's turning sharply downhill.

That's kind of how I feel as well. We have a lot of money tied up in the RB position with him and Bush. I'm happy we resigned him though. We have a real good RB duo now.

[bearsfan_51]

Originally Posted by regoob2

That's kind of how I feel as well. We have a lot of money tied up in the RB position with him and Bush. I'm happy we resigned him though. We have a real good RB duo now.

We had just as much money tied up with him with the franchise tag. It was either do the deal or let him walk next year. This isn't a huge commitment, so I'm fine with it.

There are still five players who carry a larger cap charge than Forte (Peppers, Cutler, Marshall, Urlacher, Hester).

[49erNation85]

Good for him. he is a solid HB and great player.

[vidae]

Argh. First Brees and now Forte? Come on, get Bowe locked up! :(

[jrdrylie]

I don't like giving big money to backs but this deal doesn't seem to be too exspensive so I'm fine with it.

[Giantsfan1080]

Gives Rice and Co. a framework for his deal also.

[Hines]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

Gives Rice and Co. a framework for his deal also.

I think Rice gets a longer deal with more money.

[A Perfect Score]

Gah, sign Rice already. Nobody cares about Forte!

If Rice signs a 4 year, 32 million dollar deal I'd feel pretty good about it though.

[BeerBaron]

More than half the contract guaranteed...ugh. Hopefully he holds up well over 4 years.

[iowatreat54]

Well, on the plus side it's not the $21-22M guaranteed he was asking for. I think $18M is reasonable given what contracts are today. Am I happy with how contracts are in general or the fact that because D'Angelo Williams got a ridiculous contract means every RB will think they deserve that or more? No, but it is what it is.

Overall, I'm pretty happy in the pants that this got done. If only we ever address our terrible OL, but as every Bears fan knows, our OL will never be improved via draft or FA acquisition of a decent player not at the end of their career.

[bearsfan_51]

It's a totally reasonable contract. I wasn't a fan of giving him much guaranteed money, but anything under 20 mil is fine.

Also, on the "giving money to Cutler" front, Cutler already makes more than Forte just got, and this will in no way prevent the Bears from locking him up. Financially, it's a very solid organization.

[bearsfan_51]

Like treat said, this is less than Deangelo Williams got, and the almost exact same amount that Marshawn Lynch got. There's no way in hell that Forte isn't a better investment/player than those two.

Not saying that two wrongs make a right, but it should put it in perspective.

[bigbluedefense]

Look at it this way, by the time Forte breaks down, the Bears are gonna have to rebuild anyway. This current group of Bears has 2 to 3 years left in the tank anyway.

Might as well keep all your horses and go for the gold in the next 2 to 3 years that you have left with this core.

[bearsfan_51]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Look at it this way, by the time Forte breaks down, the Bears are gonna have to rebuild anyway. This current group of Bears has 2 to 3 years left in the tank anyway.

Might as well keep all your horses and go for the gold in the next 2 to 3 years that you have left with this core.

This is also likely true unless the new GM is a wizard.