Matt Forte agrees to terms

shugknight · Post #1 » by **shugknight** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:18 am

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Chicago Bears agreed to terms today on a four-year contact with RB Matt Forte. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Forte was selected by the Bears in the second round (44th overall) out of Tulane and is the 11th of 12 Bears drafts picks to sign or agree to terms, the most in the NFL (Atlanta is second with eight). To date, 70 picks from the 2008 NFL draft have signed or agreed to terms with their respective teams.

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsSt ... ry_id=4844

Ruben Douglas · Post #2 » by **Ruben Douglas** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:53 am

This is what I like to see. The Bears have usually been good at getting most of their picks signed with the exception of a few. And those few that have held out have sucked...Terrell and Benson to name 2.

Post #3 » by **TNBT** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:37 am

I'm glad to see we have Forte signed. We're not looking very strong at RB this season, so we need everyone signed and ready to play.

Cliff Levingston · Post #4 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:24 pm

Sweet. Our future star running back is officially a Bear. :thumbsup:

Who's left to sign? Williams?

Chewie · Post #5 » by **Chewie** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:09 pm

I think we're going to be very happy with this guy.

That being said, I think we're being short-sighted in not signing a vet to back him up. I'm not satisfied with Peterson, Wolfe, and friends.

SHO'NUFF · Post #6 » by **SHO'NUFF** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:41 am

He agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth more than $3.7 million that includes about $2 million in total bonus money.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football ... 03.article

For some reason i thought he'd get paid more than that.

SWIFTSLICK · Post #7 » by **SWIFTSLICK** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 5:25 am

SHO'NUFF wrote:
He agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth more than $3.7 million that includes about $2 million in total bonus money.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football ... 03.article

For some reason i thought he'd get paid more than that.

Why? Did the McCaskeys sell the team? Always remember the Bears mission is to low ball everyone. Just ask Mike Ditka.

WEFFPIM · Post #8 » by **WEFFPIM** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 5:57 am

Good to sign him, but am I the only one who doesn't think Forte's gonna do much of anything? Not sure why I feel that way, I just kinda do.

Chewie · Post #9 » by **Chewie** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 6:33 pm

WEFFPIM wrote:Good to sign him, but am I the only one who doesn't think Forte's gonna do much of anything? Not sure why I feel that way, I just kinda do.

A lot depends on the o-line (as with any RB) but I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised. His teammates, apparently, love what he's shown so far. And the coaches must be in the same boat if they're not even considering the vets that are out there....

NLK · Post #10 » by **NLK** » Sat Jul 5, 2008 12:40 am

I hope he can get 1000 yards for us this year. And I hope the BEARS brass is looking at Kevin Jones (which I'm sure Lovie and Angelo aren't). Looks like it'll be tandem of Forte and AP_1.0 doing their thing, if the O-line does its job this year.

Posey H8er · Post #11 » by **Posey H8er** » Sat Jul 5, 2008 10:06 pm

Chewie wrote:
WEFFPIM wrote:Good to sign him, but am I the only one who doesn't think Forte's gonna do much of anything? Not sure why I feel that way, I just kinda do.

A lot depends on the o-line (as with any RB) but I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised. His teammates, apparently, love what he's shown so far. And the coaches must be in the same boat if they're not even considering the vets that are out there....

Unfortunately we hear that same mumbo jumbo every year. I just hope he can live up to everyone's expectations and hopefully the offensive line is much improved.

Post #12 » by **TNBT** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 11:24 am

As has been said, how Forte or whoever else we have at RB performs will depend largely on the play of the offensive line. When you look at it though, can the line really be that much worse than it was last season?

Mr Smoke Weed · Post #13 » by **Mr Smoke Weed** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 2:45 pm

im looking forward to seeing forte play, i think his upside is tremendous and the ability to have him as a main RB with wolfe being able to resurrect our awful screen game
now we just need williams signed, which is oddly the only guy i worry about bc knowing the bears, everyone besides our first rounder will be good

Post #14 » by **Icness** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 3:33 am

Jerry Angelo is the best in the business at getting draft picks signed. He's completely no-nonsense and the agents respect him almost to a man.

Forte is an ideal fit for the Bears because he's used to running behind a subpar line with little passing support. So long as the projected starters from G-C-G all stay healthy and don't suck he should lead all rookies in running yards.

I agree completely with the assessment that another back needs to be brought in. Peterson is a great guy but he has not done the job he's been given real well. Garret Wolfe is a novelty back--he's a 5'7", 170ish guy who excelled in college running in the G/T gaps. I venture he would not make 25 or so other teams. Kevin Jones would be great with his package of hands, shiftiness, and experience behind a middling line, but he's asking too much for the Bears. Don't forget this team is perilously close to the cap limit, and that's before Hester gets his new deal.