Now that this ugly, inconsequential season is now over, the Chicago Bears can proceed with the Ryan Pace/John Fox roster tear down and subsequent John Fox/Ryan Pace roster rebuild in 2016. Matt Forte is the first big name who will be moving on. He will soon be hitting the open free agent market.
Here’s NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte:
“He is expected to leave the organization. They have not extended a contract offer and in his mind he seems destined for free agency.”
No big surprise there, as Rapoport offered this in late October as the trade deadline approached:
“First of all, Matt Forte. It’s clear that this is a rebuilding year for the Bears with a new regime. They are open, I am told, to trading really a lot of their key parts mainly because they would like draft picks. Although, at this point nothing is expected for Forte because of his age, because of his salary.”
As versatile and as valuable as Matt Forte is and has been during his NFL career, running backs just don’t hold the same critical importance that they once did in today’s league. There’s not really much motivation for any team out there to pay him the kind of money that the Bears paid him this season. Apparently, Chicago tried to shop him around, but they just couldn’t find a buyer for the hefty price tag that he carries.
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.