Thread: Morrissey Says; Forte Good But Not Worth Huge Payday...................

Originally Posted by soulman

He's not saying that he doesn't deserve the extension but he is saying that it's not gonna be a deal like DeAngelo Williams got and actually I agree. I posted an article in the Rivals Forum about Frank Gore and his situation. He's looking for an extension too and although we have no idea what Forte is asking for Gore wants something on the order of what Williams got. Won't happen though.

Neither Gore or Forte are UFA and as such there are no other teams to compete with right now and the 49er's and Bears won't bid against themselves. Neither can get top dollar deals because no one knows what their real worth is in the market place. UFA typically establishes that. When you negotiate and extension the team has most of the leverage so it keeps the price more reasonable. It may not be fair but it's the sacrifice a player makes by negotiating while he's still under contract and can still be franchised which is the case with Forte.

His basic premise is that Forte isn't really that deserving and I think that's totally wrong. But that's fine, if the Bears want to play their cards this way, guarantee Forte won't forget. If he produces like I think he will and stays injury free they may regret having to put the tag on him when the time comes. Wonder what Moronssey will have to say then .... I'm predicting flip-flop-flip-flop.

Forte is an every down back with versatility and proven production. Maybe he isn't worthy of top 5 RB money, but he's damn sure worth more than the $550K he's slated to make this year. Pay the man already...

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

His basic premise is that Forte isn't really that deserving and I think that's totally wrong. But that's fine, if the Bears want to play their cards this way, guarantee Forte won't forget. If he produces like I think he will and stays injury free they may regret having to put the tag on him when the time comes. Wonder what Moronssey will have to say then .... I'm predicting flip-flop-flip-flop.

No, his basic premise is that Forte is not deserving of a huge contract with over $20 mil in guarantees like DWill got from Carolina, not that he's not deserving of a new deal at all. I'll put aside all of the consideration or talent for a moment and just state this.

DeAngelo Williams was UFA and free to negotiate and sign with another team. Matt Forte is not UFA and therefore the only team with whom he can negotiate is the Bears. Some of you may not believe that it could or even should make a $10 mil difference between what DWill got and what the Bears are willing to offer Forte and I'm saying that there is. No team, the Bears included, is going to bid against themselves on a contract extension, pure and simple.

In order to reach an agreement there has to be something of a benefit in it for both sides. In this case by extending him before he reaches UFA the Bears don't have to pay top dollar and they lock up their star RB for another five years or so. That's the Bear's advantage. The advantage for Forte is that he gets new dollars now and greatly increases his 2011 compensation. He also gets future financial security to the level of whatever the contract guarantees. Those are his benefits and they are not insubstantial.

If he goes down with a career ending knee injury this year without that extension he makes $550k and reduces or even eliminates the possibility of ever getting a contract with significant guarantees. With an extension that pays him an upfront SB of $10 mil and his salary (even if that stays the same) he makes a minmum of $10.55 mil and gets some security now instead of next year. For that he agrees to accept less than he MAY have gotten as a UFA. His choice.

Originally Posted by 4th and 26

I am a believer in finishing out your contract first and then negotiate a new contract after it is completed. The bears invested 3.7 million into forte when he was unproven and comming out of college. Right now he is earning his new contract but not until his first one is over. I get so tired of athletes demanding a raise they feel because they had a good season yet when some sign big contacts and do not play up to the money they make just irritates me.

No matter what you or I believe that's not the way it's done and we both know that. Unlike Briggs, Forte is not asking for a raise on his deal with three years to go but an extension of his existing deal in its final year. It's traditional for players who are in the last year of their rookie deal to ask for this especially when they've outperformed all expectations based on where they were drafted. Forte isn't the only one doing this or to have done this in previous years.

Just as traditionally the Bears have offered extensions for those core players they wanted to build the team with before their current contracts were up. They did it with Alex Brown, Izzy, Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Olin, and probably some others I've forgotten. So what's the big deal here? I can't remember this much opposition from you on this when it's happened in the past. Not saying it didn't happen but I don't recall it.

And you're wrong about his rookie deal and maybe that's why you feel the way you do. You're ignoring the fact that the only part of his rookie deal for which the Bears were at risk was his signing bonus of $1.5 mil and change. His salaries since then were 2008 = $295k, 2009 = $385k, 2010 = $470k and this year as we all know he gets $550k. None of that money was at risk until he made the roster and then all that was at risk was that years salary. If he never made the team in 2008 all the Bears were out was a little over $1.5 mil and not $3.7 mil.

I think you're letting that last sentence influence your thinking about this situation too much. I feel the same way as you do about that but nothing Matt Forte has ever done would indicate that he'll lay down his tools after he gets a new deal the way that Chester Taylor did or the way Tommie Harris did if that's a better example. The guy is showing up working every practice and played in every game so far. There's been no prima donna CJ like attitude from him at all. He may talk about a hold out but I don't believe he'll do it because it will hurt him far more than it will help him.

If his expecations are reasonable (matching DWill's deal is not reasonable) and the Bears are willing to pay like the top ten back that he is I don't see why they can't get it done and in the event that they don't the real risk is then 100% on Forte an 0% on the Bears. Two things are not in his favor if he agrees to the Bears offer and only one if he doesn't; 1) he may get inujred badly blowing up his career, and 2) he may not get more than the Bears offer even as a UFA, (he should consult with Briggsy about that). What is in his favor is the chance that some team will give him a top 5 deal but if the Bears franchise him in 2012 that may not come for another two years and he takes a lot of risk waiting it out.

You may not see it this way but to me those are the facts.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Market next year is going to be more then DWill's, if you think he won't get at least 30 mil your smoking some bad ganga. He's easily worth more in UFA then D Will is/was or ever will be and his Agent is well aware of that. I cannot believe how many fans don't see how valuable this guy is compared to the other rb's in this league; and how it's been since the Bears had a special RB on the team.

Ric, he far more valuable to the Bears and how he's used in this offensive system than he might be to other teams who have a dissimilar offensive approach. There's no doubt to me that Forte is a top ten RB and should be paid like one but I don't believe he'd get more than DWill in FA even next year. He isn't a top five back and maybe DWill isn't either but he had a very powerful bargaining position going for him, which Forte does not, and Carolina needed him more than they needed the cash.

What Matt Forte is is one of of the best all around RB's in the NFL. He can run, pass and block and could easily put up 1500 to 2000 yards per year with the right team. What Matt Forte isn't is a RB who can carry a team almost by himself in the way that backs like AP and CJ can. He's more short field quick than downfield fast. He does seem to have an extra gear when he's in the open but nobody would consider him a breakaway threat on every down. He's not a very good short yardage guy even with his size because he runs too upright and he doesn't have very nifty feet. He's a slasher, not a jitterbug and he needs holes. He can't create opportunities without them.

All that aside he's a great back for us or anyone else who uses a multi-purpose RB and I do not under any circumstances want to lose him but if he and his agent think they're gonna get DWill money he may just as well start planning for FA now because the Bears won't pay it.