Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

[ctcf]

...yay?

 

As somebody who didn't want the Bears to sign Forte to a stupid deal, I'm sort of happy about this. But it's a shot across the Forte camp's bow. As a secondary RB he is an upgrade. So that's nice.

 

That probably came off far more sarcastic than I meant. I don't follow non-Bears football nearly as closely than I do non-Cubs baseball. More of just being unsure as to if this was a good signing. Judging by the feedback on here, it should be a fun offensive season.

 

He's been a nice complementary back in his career. Not too much mileage on his legs, but he did slow down this past year when he received more playing time. He's not going to make that much difference to the offense though.

 

Fair enough. I read that he's apparently a pretty decent receiver for a RB as well.

[UMFan83]

This what our 4th attempt in 4 years at finding a reliable backup RB?

 

We had Kevin Jones, and he injured himself in the preseason and didnt give us anything, then we had Chester Taylor who blew chunks before cutting him, last year it was Marion Barber who was ok except he single handedly lost us a game that in hindsight would have likely put us in the playoffs so he's gone. Now it's Michael Bush.

 

On the bright side, the backup RBs keep getting better as they come in.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Bush is a nice #2 RB. I dont think this changes what we do with Forte much.

[Sammy Sofa]

might it be a bigger sign that defense will be focus of draft?

 

That's what I'm thinking/hoping, though unfortunately everything also seems to point to them thinking the OL is set.

[Sammy Sofa]

Too bad the general devaluation of RB's not named Johnson or Peterson plus the necessity of an extension make Forte not much of a trade commodity.

[jersey cubs fan]

This what our 4th attempt in 4 years at finding a reliable backup RB?

 

We had Kevin Jones, and he injured himself in the preseason and didnt give us anything, then we had Chester Taylor who blew chunks before cutting him, last year it was Marion Barber who was ok except he single handedly lost us a game that in hindsight would have likely put us in the playoffs so he's gone. Now it's Michael Bush.

 

On the bright side, the backup RBs keep getting better as they come in.

 

I don't remember Kevin Jones contract sitution. But Taylor got a ridiculous amount for a backup RB at his stage of his career and this is a lot of money as well. Barber didn't get a hell of a lot, but it was fairly substantial.

[Captain Serious]

great signing. adios Barber. :hello:

[Banedon]

4/14m, with 7 guaranteed.

 

That's a $3.5m cap hit on Bush, plus the ~$7.5m cap hit currently on Forte's franchise tag.

 

Plus $250,000 on Barber if he's cut. And we still have a $1million cap hit on Taylor. And then of course we have Khalil Bell also.

 

So we're going to have 5 running backs taking a piece of the salary cap this year.

[Banedon]

However, it's not a given Barber will be gone immediately. The Bears carried Taylor all the way through camp and preseason last year after Barber arrived. The nature of the position puts teams in a position where they want to have insurance in the event injuries strike. Plus, the team doesn't know if Forte will stage an offseason holdout.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, they need to and will address the defense in the draft but they also need to pick up more OL and WR.

[cubbyvirus00]

Do you think the Bears will attempt to trade Forte?

[UMFan83]

Yeah, they need to and will address the defense in the draft but they also need to pick up more OL and WR.

 

Yeah, they clearly would have addressed the O-Line at least a bit in FA if they really thought they needed a lot of help. As for the draft, they might draft someone for the line but I don't think it will be someone we expect or even hope to contribute last year. They've already used their last 2 first rounders on it, and they have already made moves to help the offense in other areas, so in their minds the offense has improved, while the defense is sitting there aging.

 

I keep going back and forth on the O-line. I certainly don't think its good as it stands right now, but I don't think I hate the Bears for not addressing it in FA as much as I did a week ago. I'm sure the Bears consider last season a lost year in terms of evaluating how good the current line can be. One of their 1st rounders played 1 full game, and the other was having a breakout year before getting injured for the season 6-7 weeks in. If both can play to their potential, Garza will do his usual mediocre job, maybe Webb can appove from 'Terrible' to 'Sucks', and the line might not be as much as a weakness as most people believe. Also consider that Marshall (and hopefully another WR) gives the Bears a guy that the other team's D has to respect, and hopefully that will mean less of 7 men in the box or whatever the D does to focus on getting at the QB or stopping the run.

 

I still think the line is the 2nd most position group in football behind QB, but since the Bears seem to not place a lot of emphasis on it, I guess there are other ways to lessen the burden of the line at least somewhat.

[Banedon]

Do you think the Bears will attempt to trade Forte?

 

The RB market is so low that we just signed the top FA at that position for $3.5m per year. Bears don't really have anything to lose by just playing hardball with Forte.

[jersey cubs fan]

I keep going back and forth on the O-line. I certainly don't think its good as it stands right now, but I don't think I hate the Bears for not addressing it in FA as much as I did a week ago. I'm sure the Bears consider last season a lost year in terms of evaluating how good the current line can be. One of their 1st rounders played 1 full game, and the other was having a breakout year before getting injured for the season 6-7 weeks in. If both can play to their potential, Garza will do his usual mediocre job, maybe Webb can appove from 'Terrible' to 'Sucks', and the line might not be as much as a weakness as most people believe. Also consider that Marshall (and hopefully another WR) gives the Bears a guy that the other team's D has to respect, and hopefully that will mean less of 7 men in the box or whatever the D does to focus on getting at the QB or stopping the run.

 

The problem is it is a 5 man group. Yes, they spent a 1st on it last year, but the previous 1st was four years ago now. It's not like they've drafted it in 2 consecutive years. Prior to him, they didn't spend a meaningful pick on the group for 6 years. Garza is on the precipice of being out of the league. Both tackle positions remain a question and one guard spot is a joke. Spending 2 1sts in 4 years (or 2 1st in 10) doesn't mean you are settled. The line requires constant addition. By the time you get 2 spots settled you will have 2 spots on the decline or in disarray. If they treat the line no the way Angelo treated it in the mid-2000s, all progress will be lost. They were operating from behind when they got Williams and Carimi and still have a lot of catching up to do. They need a free agent and a first half of the draft pick this year, then they will need another top pick in 2013.

[SpongeWorthy]

@MattForte22: 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....

[Magnetic Curses]

forte going off on twitter

[Magnetic Curses]

Do you think the Bears will attempt to trade Forte?

 

i would. use the pick to draft another rb

[Guest]

I'm starting to get sick of Forte's whining.

 

Should've taken the fair offer when it was made to you. RB's just aren't that valuable.

[Old Style]

Seattle signs Frank Omiyale.

 

Enjoy!

Poor Tavaris Jackson.

 

I think Flynn will beat him out. Matty better add some wind sprints to his daily regimen with turnstyle Frank comin' to town.

No doubt that Flynn will beat him out, but he will probably suffer a season ending injury in the first few weeks playing behind Omiyale so they will be right back to playing Tavaris Jackson.

 

 

(OK, truth be told I forgot that they signed Flynn.)

[cubbyvirus00]

I'm starting to get sick of Forte's whining.

 

Should've taken the fair offer when it was made to you. RB's just aren't that valuable.

 

 

I'm with you. He was trying to hit it big by denying the first offer and his greed got in the way. Hes not going to get CJ money.

[Banedon]

Maybe we should let him seek a trade....to feel out what other teams will give him. See if he has a change of heart after he hears other offers?

[jersey cubs fan]

I love the idea of signing a backup RB being "disrespectful".

[Banedon]

I love the idea of signing a backup RB being "disrespectful".

 

But Forte is "only" gonna make double the amount that Bush will? How's a man supposed to live like that?

[ctcf]

That Forte tweet is hilarious.

[UMFan83]

Congrats on turning the public against you Matt!

 

The bridges are starting to become burned. I have no doubt that the Bears could somehow rectify this if they wanted to, but I am leaning towards thinking Forte is going to be traded before the draft. Both sides, especially Forte's are handling this terribly.