Matt Forte announces he's leaving the Bears

50-yard-line said:

Looking for dislikes here - talk me down - Ronnie Hillman is a FA, CJ Anderson an RFA...

So Elway goes and gets Forte, who goes to a team that actually has a line capable of opening holes.

Click to expand...

While it's possible, Forte is as involved in the passing game as he is in the running game. So until Denver's QB situation is sorted out, New England still has a major selling point in Tom Brady.

50-yard-line said:

Looking for dislikes here - talk me down - Ronnie Hillman is a FA, CJ Anderson an RFA...

So Elway goes and gets Forte, who goes to a team that actually has a line capable of opening holes.

Click to expand...

Except Denver's OL wasn't that good as a run blocking unit.

In their 3 games in the post season they had a 3.2 ypc average..

JackBauer said:

Not just for his running ability. JW is okay, but if you're in the Super Bowl with him and the ghost of Steven Jackson, you're gonna have a bad time.

Click to expand...

I thought Jackson looked pretty good that one time they opened a hole for him. But, yeah Forte is definitely a big upgrade.

Froob said:

True, but Forte wouldn't have gotten anything behind that line. If Scar comes back and fixes the line and we get Forte, it'll be a hell of a backfield with him and Lewis.

Click to expand...

The line should be infinitely better next year with or without Scar. I think people underestimate the loss of Solder (he is a far better player than people give him credit for). Without him, they weakened both tackle positions (Vollmer wasn't as effective at LT as he is at RT) and it was a ripple effect through the entire line. Also, I don't know if Josh Kline ever recovered from his injury midseason.

I expect a major rebound from the o-line in 2016 even if they don't make a single roster move in that area.

Getting Solder will be huge and maybe Wendell has an impact season. Either way a rb like forte could be a game changer here. Power runner, shifty and can catch. Yes please.

Would be the exact type of player the Pats need to be serious contender in 2016. True professional, every down back, and wants to play for a top tier organization. There really are no negatives to signing unless he wants to be overpaid, which it certainly doesn't sound like he does. Come on BB work your magic, this makes too much sense not to happen!

If they fix the OLine problems, yes. As Brady gets older, they need to transition to an offense whose run game actually scares people.

This discussion is happening on the forum of every good team right now. That is:

Chiefs, Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks (if Lynch retires), Steelers, Panthers, Cardinals, Packers, Vikings

All those teams will want him. Given cap issues, do we stand a realistic chance to compete with them for his hand in marriage? This is not a rhetorical question. I'm wondering, how realistic are our chances? Any cap geniuses here have a good idea? Also, maybe he wants to stay in the midwest, so would be tempted to go with Vikings or Packers? That is, does he have wife/kids with deep roots in that area? Or is he free from family entanglements? Lots of variables here.

Wonder if he's willing to play for close to min. 1 year contract here.

I would for once build via the draft and see if we can hit one like leveon bell in the 2nd or 3rd round. Enough of these stop game solutions every year..

SVN said:

I would for once build via the draft and see if we can hit one like leveon bell in the 2nd or 3rd round. Enough of these stop game solutions every year..

Click to expand...

Problem is the draft is a pure crap shoot. We invested a decently high draft pick in White already. Heck last time we choose a RB with a top pick it was Maroney and he was good for a year or two tops.

Forte is a stud and is exactly what this team needs. The NFL is a stop gap league. You have to get really, really lucky to get a long time all pro talent at a position like RB, QB, WR, etc.

Plus, Leveon Bell has had the Jerod Mayo disease and hasn't been able to stay healthy for the last two seasons, going out each time in midseason. Not sure he's the guy we want to emulate.

neuronet said:

This discussion is happening on the forum of every good team right now. That is:

Chiefs, Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks (if Lynch retires), Steelers, Panthers, Cardinals, Packers, Vikings

All those teams will want him. Given cap issues, do we stand a realistic chance to compete with them for his hand in marriage? This is not a rhetorical question. I'm wondering, how realistic are our chances? Any cap geniuses here have a good idea? Also, maybe he wants to stay in the midwest, so would be tempted to go with Vikings or Packers? That is, does he have wife/kids with deep roots in that area? Or is he free from family entanglements? Lots of variables here.

Click to expand...

Vikings have a big decision to make on AP next Month. $5m roster bonus will guarantee $13m in 2016.

50-yard-line said:

Looking for dislikes here - talk me down - Ronnie Hillman is a FA, CJ Anderson an RFA...

So Elway goes and gets Forte, who goes to a team that actually has a line capable of opening holes.

Click to expand...

Forte says he's looking for a Super Bowl...he won't find that next year in Denver.

SVN said:

I would for once build via the draft and see if we can hit one like leveon bell in the 2nd or 3rd round. Enough of these stop game solutions every year..

Click to expand...

You can argue that the Pats have been pretty good at drafting running backs. Vereen was good. White was good last year. Ridley was good. LoMo had a couple decent years (but was picked too high) .

They need speed and power in the backfield badly. How they acquire it I really dont care.

aluminum seats said:

Forte says he's looking for a Super Bowl...he won't find that next year in Denver.

Click to expand...

Denver will be lucky to win the AFCW next year.

aluminum seats said:

Forte says he's looking for a Super Bowl...he won't find that next year in Denver.

Click to expand...

FourierSeries said:

Denver will be lucky to win the AFCW next year.

Click to expand...

Depends on who they can keep. They just won the Super Bowl averaging about 3 ypc in the playoffs and with statistically the worst QB in the league (including the lowest single game QB Rating to ever win a Super Bowl). Theoretically their defense could take a step back and they'd still be good enough to contend, assuming they got even an average QB.

JMC00 said:

Except Denver's OL wasn't that good as a run blocking unit.

In their 3 games in the post season they had a 3.2 ypc average..

Click to expand...

the Pats OL has nothing to say about that

I thought Forte was DUN done??

Forte >>>>> Blount. This is not even a question for me. If he has enough gas in the tank for one more productive season, that's good enough for me

Did someone actually write that Forte is not a "special" player.
He is still probably one of the best all-purpose backs in the league.
Belichick just about salivated in praise over Forte the last time they played the Bears.

He would be a PERFECT fit for this offense, even with our crappy O-line (which should perform better next season).

I would be incredibly happy if we signed him. Unfortunately, however, I'm not sure we can afford him....