Nelson Muntz once told Ned Flanders, after his trademark haw-haw, “your position has been usurped.”
The Simpsons grade school bully then added “that’s right, I know what usurp means.” The quotes certainly apply to the Chicago Bears starting running back situation where Jeremy Langford has usurped Matt Forte. The rookie from Michigan State, a mid-round pick that didn’t enter the league with extremely high expectations, is now the guy.
Of course, it helps that Jay Cutler is having arguably the best year of his career, and has emerged as a favorite to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Yes, who would have thought that #CuttyDoesIt would have morphed into #CuttyLove but here we are Chicago is giving Cutler lots of love right now and deservedly so on the field. Off the field, well here are some really funny anti-vaxxer jokes that we saw when Cutler’s third child was born last week.
Back to Langford, he split carries with Forte tonight in Green Bay, and the former Spartan was more productive and effective than the veteran. It’s been widely reported that the Bears have been/were/are interested in trading Forte. They just can’t find any takers because the asking price is so high. Teams want Forte, it’s just that running backs these days don’t warrant that kind of price tag.
The Ryan Pace and John Fox take over of the club means a Theo Epstein with the Cubs style sell off and then immediate rebuild. Jeremy Langford replacing Matt Forte is a microcosm of that movement.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport On Chicago Bears running backs Matt Forte and Jeremy Langford:
“[Matt] Forte is expected back after missing three games with a sprained MCL and he is expected to be the starter mainly because of his veteran status. But I am told he will be the starter in name only. The plan is to have a two-headed monster to rotate backs because Jeremy Langford did impress and inside the organization they believe that he is the future at running back.
And in fact, not just the future but the present because they think he is better suited for this offense and more explosive. That 83-yard screen pass that he took to the house [against St. Louis], they think for Forte that would have been just a 30-yarder.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram