RUMOR: via Twitter... Matt Forte to Patriots talk...

[manxman2601]

Ahhhh, yeah it is.

You seem to have a problem discerning the question.

BB should always get the difference maker.

Matt Forte is not that difference maker. Matt Forte is the guy that had very pedestrian years 2/3 then racked it up in his contract year because......the Bears had zero other offensive weapons.

There is nothing to dismiss.

In those two "medicore years", he had 1,400 yards and 1,616 yards of offense. I'll take some of that "mediocrity" please.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I don't see the cost of the trade as being all that prohibitive. You are talking about one of four top two round pics and a fourth rounder which doesn't have that great a value. The potential contract on the other hand is a biggie. Arian Foster got five years 43m. Is that worth it for a low value position like RB or OG or ILB. Oh but wait! Who has the 2nd and 3rd biggest contracts on the team? Logan Mankins and Jerod Mayo, both with bigger contracts than Forte would likely get.

More seriously, the problem I foresee is that we need to re-sign Hernandez and Gronk in two years. I would rather the money was spent there if it was an either/or but I don't see 20m guaranteed being all that wasteful on giving our offense yet another elite level dimension. Brady's shortening window needs reinforcing.

Notice that nobody is petitioning Robert Kraft to hire you as GM.

That's a good thing.

Jerod Mayo and Logan Mankins have bigger contracts because they are more important than a difference making RB.

 

[zoostation]

BB gave up a 2 for a 30 year old, troubled Corey Dillon.

I'm not saying it will definitely happen, but Forte is elite.

A powerful, punishing, clock killing, ground and pound and then pound again 30 year old, troubled Corey Dillon.

 

[patfanken]

God. 20 pages in half a day....over NOTHING! This deal has less of chance happening than the Wallace myth/sage. Have you guys been watching the last 12 years at ALL? BB has spent VERY frugally on RB's that entire time. He clearly has shown that he he sees RBs as fungible parts of the whole.

BB has only flirted with a bringing in a "top" RB.twice The first successfully with Dillon expending a 2nd round pick for one great year and 2 solid years, and the 2nd with spending a bottom third first round pick on Moroney, with less than solid results (though not the complete bust many have said) BOTH, I might add were not heavy cap burdens on the team. Both of their greatest expenses were the draft picks they cost.

Now on the surface it would seem that Forte is exactly the kind of multipurpose RB that we all hope either Vereen or Ridley might end up being. A perfect adjunct to this offense. I don't think anyone would deny it. But what about the cost?. Forget the draft picks. Have you forgotten that Forte has already refused a 4 year offer of over $7MM/yr. BB wouldn't pay less than half that for BJGE (and rightfully so). Did the Chris Johnson experience teach us nothing?!

The Pats have 2 young RBs, either of which could turn out to be as good or 90% as good as Forte and cost us NOTHING. In short bursts, Danny Woodhead has proven that he is a reliable receiver out of the backfield and has averaged over 5ypc in his 2 yrs here.

The question here is, would we vastly improve the offense by adding Forte, or would we merely be giving all the rushes and catches that would have be divided among 3 guys, give to to one guy....and then call him a success....AND pay through the nose for the privilege.

NEVER going to happen as long as BB is the boss

 

[Sporin]

I'm going to ignore all the bs about the thread title and just address the idea of Forte to the Patriots rumor.

Matt Forte is an Elite NFL Running back. No bones about it. All-due respect too BJGE but Forte is in a complete other level.

If we had the opportunity to get him for a couple of picks then I'd be all for it. I wouldn't over-spend because he is coming off injuring, but a 2, a 4 and maybe a conditional late rounder? BB would be crazy not to pull the trigger on that.

Matt Forte: Career Stats at NFL.com

And I say this as a strong campaigner for the beginning of the Vereen/Ridley era.

Forte is clearly unhappy with Chicago, from Peter King's MMQB column...

Tweet of the Week III
"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....''

-- @mattforte22, the Bears running back, after Chicago signed free-agent running back Michael Bush to a four-year, $14 million contract, with $7 million guaranteed. The Bears and Forte, the no-doubt No. 1 back on the team, are still trying to get a long-term deal done.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

In those two "medicore years", he had 1,400 yards and 1,616 yards of offense. I'll take some of that "mediocrity" please.

Ofcourse, you would.

If "1,400 yards and 1,616 yards" is your "answer". I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for GM position.

 

[manxman2601]

Notice that nobody is petitioning Robert Kraft to hire you as GM.

That's a good thing.

You of course are constantly being approached by the Patriots to be their GM.

 

[signbabybrady]

Inc Bob nailed Mario to the Bills and Manning to the Broncos way before they were officially announced.

I know hes been full of ***** in the past, but he nailed 2 blockbuster deals this year.

I am not sure how you can say he nailed anything this year. Lets use the Manning to Denver as an example. Supposedly he knew that was happening 2 weeks before it did. IMO this immediately discredits him as having real info and just making a educated guess. Otherwise Manning just jerked around the other teams making them spend money on travel/recruiting him. Otherwise he looked owners and GMs in the face and blantantly lied to them and what possible gain could Manning have gotten from making the rounds when he had already decided on Denver?

Further more I am not sure Manning could legally have the info he would need to make such a decision 2 weeks prior to when he did? I believe two weeks prior to Mannings decision he was still Colt property and thus any intrest would have been considered tampering.

 

[manxman2601]

Ofcourse, you would.

If "1,400 yards and 1,616 yards" is your "answer". I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for GM position.

I'm not. I'm just a fan discussing a hypothetical, preferably in a friendly way. You seem to want to take this to a whole other level.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

You of course are constantly being approached by the Patriots to be their GM.

I don't need to be hired.

BB and I think exactly alike.

My posts at patsfans.com are my way of confirming to BB what we are thinking on various matters.

BB and I don't do tweeter or spacebook.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't need to be hired.

BB and I think exactly alike.

My posts at patsfans.com are my way of confirming to BB what we are thinking on various matters.

BB and I don't do tweeter or spacebook.

Well if that's the case, then i will follow your words of wisdom with great attention.

 

[jmt57]

I'm going to ignore all the bs about the thread title and just address the idea of Forte to the Patriots rumor.

Matt Forte is an Elite NFL Running back. No bones about it. All-due respect too BJGE but Forte is in a complete other level.

If we had the opportunity to get him for a couple of picks then I'd be all for it. I wouldn't over-spend because he is coming off injuring, but a 2, a 4 and maybe a conditional late rounder? BB would be crazy not to pull the trigger on that.

Matt Forte: Career Stats at NFL.com

And I say this as a strong campaigner for the beginning of the Vereen/Ridley era.

I don't think the trading of the draft picks is the primary issue (though it is certainly debatable); it is the allocation of such a high portion of the salary cap to Forte.

I would much prefer that the Patriots spend the majority of the dwindling limited resources they have remaining (i.e., cap space) on defense. Should the Pats make this hypothetical deal then the rest of the players they sign would all pretty much just be their draft picks and undrafted free agents, and perhaps a couple of vet minimum free agents.

 

[signbabybrady]

God. 20 pages in half a day....over NOTHING! This deal has less of chance happening than the Wallace myth/sage. Have you guys been watching the last 12 years at ALL? BB has spent VERY frugally on RB's that entire time. He clearly has shown that he he sees RBs as fungible parts of the whole.

I dont fully agree with the assesment that BB has spent frugally. Clearly he hasnt broken the bank for the position but not many spots where he has. By frugal are we just talking cash spent or total investment inclusing picks?

I would argue that investing a first rounder (Maroney), second rounder (Vareen), Third rounder (Ridley), Third rounder (JR Redman), and trading a second rounder (Corey) {hope I didnt miss anyone}. He also inherited Kevin Faulk and has kept him the whole time.
I think it should also be taken into consideration that you generally carry less RBs than most position and thus you need to invest more in the other positions.

I think in the end he has proven to be fairly frugal with his money invesment in the position but has been more than willing to spend draft picks. Call it frugal if you want but I see a coach who has been more than willing to invest in the position but wary of spending too much for a position that breaks down quicker than most.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I'm not. I'm just a fan discussing a hypothetical, preferably in a friendly way. You seem to want to take this to a whole other level.

The next level is where the answer is. Ditto for Mike Wallace.

Get NFL Rewind and watch the Bear's offense sometime. It's horrendous.

By definition, a difference maker should make a difference not vary the shades of bad.

Even the most pathetic offenses in the NFL will gain 250-300 yards of offense. That means 4000-4800 yards of offense over the season. If you touch the ball 1/2 the time, you will mathematically gain a certain portion.

Same for Mike Wallace. For all the talk about an "elite" player in an "explosive offense" with the "most talented WR corps" and a "franchise" QB comes the reality that..........the Steelers offense was 22nd or 23rd in scoring and in the mid twenties in turnovers.

Ofcourse, some people like the best looking horse at the glue factory.

 

[manxman2601]

The next level is where the answer is. Ditto for Mike Wallace.

Get NFL Rewind and watch the Bear's offense sometime. It's horrendous.

By definition, a difference maker should make a difference not vary the shades of bad.

Even the most pathetic offenses in the NFL will gain 250-300 yards of offense. That means 4000-4800 yards of offense over the season. If you touch the ball 1/2 the time, you will mathematically gain a certain portion.

Same for Mike Wallace. For all the talk about an "elite" player in an "explosive offense" with the "most talented WR corps" and a "franchise" QB comes the reality that..........the Steelers offense was 22nd or 23rd in scoring and in the mid twenties in turnovers.

Ofcourse, some people like the best looking horse at the glue factory.

You might have the ear of BB, but you seem to have a bit of a comprehension issue going on. Firstly, I'm not an advocate for trading for Mike Wallace so I don't know where that straw man came from. And secondly, I'm discussing Matt Forte and what he would do in the Patriots offense, the Bears offense is irrelevant. We don't have an "horrendous" offense and Forte's inclusion as a runner and receiver with next level ability, combined with the four quality receivers we already have in place would allow for the creation of mismatches all over the field.

"Best looking horse in the glue factory". more like adding another fine stallion to an already successful stable.

 

[nabwong]

As a fan, I'd welcome Forte with open arms. Do I think it will happen? Probably not.

There's no way he will earn more than 5m a year if he comes here. That's less than the 6m a year offered to McCoy. I believe Forte could be looking to get at least 8m a year. But stranger things have happen. (Lloyd - 12m/3 years)

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

You might have the ear of BB, but you seem to have a bit of a comprehension issue going on. Firstly, I'm not an advocate for trading for Mike Wallace so I don't know where that straw man came from. And secondly, I'm discussing Matt Forte and what he would do in the Patriots offense, the Bears offense is irrelevant. We don't have an "horrendous" offense and Forte's inclusion as a runner and receiver with next level ability, combined with the four quality receivers we already have in place would allow for the creation of mismatches all over the field.

"Best looking horse in the glue factory". more like adding another fine stallion to an already successful stable.

Ummmm.....how about looking through the current thread titles and posts. Like because Mike Wallace is sorta being discussed alot lately.

I know you like really, really like Matt Forte. I get it. He's a good player. He's not a difference maker because he didn't make a difference in Chicago.

Difference makers make a difference.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Well if that's the case, then i will follow your words of wisdom with great attention.

What?.....Okay.......

BB says that the smart thing to do.

 

[Kontradiction]

His new contract included, that's a horrific amount of compensation to give anybody at his position and pretty much ensures that he won't be coming here. That said, I'm not sure why so many of you are trying to denigrate his skills. Forte is easily a top five (maybe even a top three) runner in this league. I guess one would have to look at our mentality as Boston sports fans. If he's a Patriot, he's the second coming of Walter Payton. If he's not, then he's a bum.

 

[patfanken]

I dont fully agree with the assesment that BB has spent frugally. Clearly he hasnt broken the bank for the position but not many spots where he has. By frugal are we just talking cash spent or total investment inclusing picks?

I would argue that investing a first rounder (Maroney), second rounder (Vareen), Third rounder (Ridley), Third rounder (JR Redman), and trading a second rounder (Corey) {hope I didnt miss anyone}. He also inherited Kevin Faulk and has kept him the whole time.
I think it should also be taken into consideration that you generally carry less RBs than most position and thus you need to invest more in the other positions.

I think in the end he has proven to be fairly frugal with his money invesment in the position but has been more than willing to spend draft picks. Call it frugal if you want but I see a coach who has been more than willing to invest in the position but wary of spending too much for a position that breaks down quicker than most.

I'm fine with this, but the MAIN point is that BB has NEVER ponied up big cap dollars for a RB. The value is rarely gotten back. Just ask the Titans....not that I don't think Johnson is a good back.