Get ready for the Matt Forte holdout once Chicago Bears preseason begins at Camp Bourbonaiss. Via Twitter, Forte publicly expressed his disgust and the Bears signed tailback Michael Bush to a four-year contract worth $14 million, including $7 million guaranteed. Forte, who was slapped with the Bears’ franchise tag earlier this month instead of a long-term deal, tweeted:
“There’s only so many times a man that has done everything he’s been asked to do can be disrespected! Guess the GOOD GUYS do finish last….
He should have taken the deal he was offered last year, because it’s not going to get any better. The Bears have signed veteran running backs to multi-year deals in each of the last three years, perhaps sending a message. And with Bush making $7 million a year while Forte makes $7.74 million, it really sends an unfavorable message.
But again, what can Forte do? It’s too risky and outdated to overpay for a “franchise running back” these days in the NFL. Oliver Stone said it 13 years ago in “Any Given Sunday,” via the Cameron Diaz character Ms. Pagnacci; “the passing game is what people want today, that’s where the game is today.”
Sorry Matt, you have a right to be angry, but that’s just life today.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
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