Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

[minnesotacubsfan]

I think it's somewhat hilarious that there is a perception that Forte is treating this so horribly bad because of a tweet.

 

The bears offered him less then what Frank Gore got. I don't see an issue with him stomping his feet for more, especially if he can get it.

[rawaction]

Again, I'm taking this from Forte's point of view. People are coming down on him for not accepting his 7.7Mil for this year and being happy with it.

 

No they aren't. People are coming down on him for being a little bitch and pretending the Bears haven't tried to sign him to an extension that guarantees him a heck of a lot of money. It's not about disrespect, taking advantage or unfairness. It's about money. The Bears offered a lot of money and he wanted more. It's not like the Bears have never expressed interest in paying anything but the franchise number for one year.

 

We know with the Lynch, Williams, Johnson, and Foster long-term contracts what the market for Forte is. 17-20Mil guaranteed. We can assume that is what is being considered "fair market value" for Forte. If he would have been offered that, he would have a long-term deal right now. The fact that he doesn't means that YES the Bears HAVE tried, but they haven't tried to sign him to a fair value.

 

they don't have to sign him at "fair market value" if they don't want to. if they don't value him, why should they pay big money for him? that's idiotic to pay someone simply to pay them or out of some sense of fairness.

 

if they thought he was a must-keep player, they would have signed him long ago on his terms.

 

OK. I never said they had to or even should sign Forte. I said they haven't offered Forte the money his peers have received. That's all.

[Magnetic Curses]

I think it's somewhat hilarious that there is a perception that Forte is treating this so horribly bad because of a tweet.

 

The bears offered him less then what Frank Gore got. I don't see an issue with him stomping his feet for more, especially if he can get it.

 

if the bears are worried about losing him, they will come to an agreement, if they aren't, they won't. that is how things work. the bears think they can live without him and may actually be better if they can snag a high draft pick in a trade.

 

they will not suffer from the dropoff from forte to bush if he's not there, and if they can get mercilus/coples AND a left tackle like adams or martin or a center/guard like konz, then they have made themselves significantly better.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I'm willing to bet the highest offer the bears get for Forte is the NE 2nd rd pick. Would you do that? And who would you try and draft with that pick?

[Sammy Sofa]

The Bears tried to give him more money and he said no. The Bears also need to weigh in how much more they're going to be paying Cutler in all of this. Cutler > Forte. It's really that simple.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think it's somewhat hilarious that there is a perception that Forte is treating this so horribly bad because of a tweet.

 

I think it is strange that you think people's perception is based on a tweet. His act didn't start with a tweet.

[Theo]

I think it's somewhat hilarious that there is a perception that Forte is treating this so horribly bad because of a tweet.

 

I think it is strange that you think people's perception is based on a tweet. His act didn't start with a tweet.

 

Yeah, he's started this act with a holdout..oh that's right, he's never done that. He's showed up and played, and produced. he's bitched on twitter and comments to the media when asked. He's pissed. He's human. I can't believe people are really taking offense to this.

 

I'll be mad when he actually holds out and hurts the team.

[Banedon]

I think it's somewhat hilarious that there is a perception that Forte is treating this so horribly bad because of a tweet.

 

The bears offered him less then what Frank Gore got. I don't see an issue with him stomping his feet for more, especially if he can get it.

 

Can he get it though?

 

1) Why are we trading Forte already?

2) Bell and Barber fine? What the.....I must have been dreaming when Barber pissed away two games with his stupidity, and Bell fumbled the football every other attempt.

 

Is there no middle ground? Yeah, I don't think the Bears should break the bank for Forte, that said he isn't just replaceable like that either.

 

Some of us think trading Forte is a good idea to get value for him while not having to pay the amount of money we'd have to pay to keep him, at a position that isn't all that tough to fill.

 

Some of us are able to see that Barber actually had a pretty good season with the exception of those two plays. Obviously bonehead plays, but lets not pretend he was a total dud.

[Sammy Sofa]

How many teams are paying big money to a top shelf QB, a top shelf receiver AND a top shelf RB?

[DivineBovine]

Again, I'm taking this from Forte's point of view. People are coming down on him for not accepting his 7.7Mil for this year and being happy with it.

 

No they aren't. People are coming down on him for being a little bitch and pretending the Bears haven't tried to sign him to an extension that guarantees him a heck of a lot of money. It's not about disrespect, taking advantage or unfairness. It's about money. The Bears offered a lot of money and he wanted more. It's not like the Bears have never expressed interest in paying anything but the franchise number for one year.

 

We know with the Lynch, Williams, Johnson, and Foster long-term contracts what the market for Forte is. 17-20Mil guaranteed. We can assume that is what is being considered "fair market value" for Forte. If he would have been offered that, he would have a long-term deal right now. The fact that he doesn't means that YES the Bears HAVE tried, but they haven't tried to sign him to a fair value.

 

they don't have to sign him at "fair market value" if they don't want to. if they don't value him, why should they pay big money for him? that's idiotic to pay someone simply to pay them or out of some sense of fairness.

 

if they thought he was a must-keep player, they would have signed him long ago on his terms.

 

OK. I never said they had to or even should sign Forte. I said they haven't offered Forte the money his peers have received. That's all.

 

 

How do we know this? How do we know what was offered, and whether he would accept 17-20 million guaranteed? If you hear some people around the NFL talking, including his teammates, you'd think a fair number of them think he's the best RB in the NFL.

[Sammy Sofa]

1) Why are we trading Forte already?

2) Bell and Barber fine? What the.....I must have been dreaming when Barber pissed away two games with his stupidity, and Bell fumbled the football every other attempt.

 

Is there no middle ground? Yeah, I don't think the Bears should break the bank for Forte, that said he isn't just replaceable like that either.

 

The Bears already offered him the middle ground. He said no.

[Theo]

Do we have any factual idea of what was offered? I've heard anywhere as high 16 and as low as 12.

[Guest]

Fully expecting the Bears to trade him at this point. Really hate to see him go, but business is business.

 

I'd be really pissed if Forte held out and they didn't have a Michael Bush type to step in. The Bears have protected themselves here and should be able to stay strong at the position whether Forte stays and plays or if he has to be traded.

[Sammy Sofa]

Either amount is more than enough.

[Theo]

Either amount is more than enough.

And that's meatball opinion I was talking about. He could easily get more than 20 mil on the open market, and he's knows it and is frustrated..especially considering his hands are tied.

[jersey cubs fan]

How many teams are paying big money to a top shelf QB, a top shelf receiver AND a top shelf RB?

 

I don't know, but in the Bears favor, none of those three are/should be getting top dollar. Cutler and Marshall are a good notch below the biggest cap hits at their respective positions.

 

It's going to be really tough in 2 years though.

[Theo]

"I'm Bill from Oak Lawn and I've been a Bears fan all my life. I make 12.50 an hour as a painter, so this Forte should just take his money and shut up and be happy"

 

That's all I hear on the radio these days.

[jersey cubs fan]

Either amount is more than enough.

And that's meatball opinion I was talking about. He could easily get more than 20 mil on the open market, and he's knows it and is frustrated..especially considering his hands are tied.

 

But he's not on the open market so that point is completely meaningless. It's the rules of the game. If he doesn't want to play fine, but he won't get paid at all that way.

[jersey cubs fan]

"I'm Bill from Oak Lawn and I've been a Bears fan all my life. I make 12.50 an hour as a painter, so this Forte should just take his money and shut up and be happy"

 

That's all I hear on the radio these days.

 

First off, you really shouldn't listen to the radio.

 

Secondly, there's a hell of a lot of people touting the "pay the man" line over and over and over.

[Theo]

Either amount is more than enough.

And that's meatball opinion I was talking about. He could easily get more than 20 mil on the open market, and he's knows it and is frustrated..especially considering his hands are tied.

 

But he's not on the open market so that point is completely meaningless. It's the rules of the game. If he doesn't want to play fine, but he won't get paid at all that way.

 

It's the rules and I support the Bears 100% in their decision. But if you can't understand his frustration, I don't know what to say.

[Magnetic Curses]

I'm willing to bet the highest offer the bears get for Forte is the NE 2nd rd pick. Would you do that? And who would you try and draft with that pick?

 

i think we could at least get the browns' 2nd rounder. but i think they'd be willing to part with their first rounder. there are any number of attractive players that would be available at either spot that would equal more than the difference between forte and bush.

[Theo]

"I'm Bill from Oak Lawn and I've been a Bears fan all my life. I make 12.50 an hour as a painter, so this Forte should just take his money and shut up and be happy"

 

That's all I hear on the radio these days.

 

First off, you really shouldn't listen to the radio.

 

Secondly, there's a hell of a lot of people touting the "pay the man" line over and over and over.

 

Yeah, both sides are annoying. I don't know why everyone has to take a side in this.

[rawaction]

I'm willing to bet the highest offer the bears get for Forte is the NE 2nd rd pick. Would you do that? And who would you try and draft with that pick?

 

NE has the 44th pick and the 63rd pick. Drastic difference there. Much more options with the 44. I'd do the trade for the 44. For the 63? I don't know. If there's no long-term deal and he signs elsewhere after the year you get 1 year of Forte plus the 96th pick next year. Forte would likely be the top FA to leave his team next year, and the Saints don't have a 2, so teh 96th pick would be for the team that loses the best/highest paid FA the previous year typically.

[Sammy Sofa]

Either amount is more than enough.

And that's meatball opinion I was talking about. He could easily get more than 20 mil on the open market, and he's knows it and is frustrated..especially considering his hands are tied.

 

How is it "meatball?" I'm saying those amounts are more than enough from some stupid "he's a millionaire" standpoint; I'm saying it from the standpoint that he's not a FA and the Bears have more pressing financial obligations than trying to match some other team's dumb money contract. DON'T USE MEATBALL UNLESS YOU COME CORRECT.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I think it's somewhat hilarious that there is a perception that Forte is treating this so horribly bad because of a tweet.

 

The bears offered him less then what Frank Gore got. I don't see an issue with him stomping his feet for more, especially if he can get it.

 

Can he get it though?

 

.

 

I'm guessing he will