Matt Forte Skips First Day of Chicago Bears OTA’s
Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) answers questions from the media after the game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Forte skipped the first day of “voluntary” workouts today as the Chicago Bears started their Organized Team Activities (OTA’s). I can’t say I’m the least bit surprised. I wrote this about 7 weeks ago:
"Forte has a history of sitting out and it’s unlikely he’d enter the 2015 campaign without some assurances about his future. It could get contentious with the 29-year-old running back, who’s been a rare workhorse running back in an age of the Running Back by Committee."
Forte skipped the offseason program and mandatory minicamp refusing to sign his Franchise Tag tender. ahead of signing his 2012 contract extension that paid him $30 million with nearly $14 in guaranteed money.
Sitting out is Forte’s only leverage entering the last year of his contract. With a lot of mileage on his 29-year old legs, Forte is seeking a little insurance to try to get one more payday. Of course, Forte tried to downplay his absence:
Relax everybody... It's called voluntary W/O for a reason. I've always been there especially when it counts!
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) April 14, 2015
It’s true that Forte has been there when it counts. He’s been the most productive and consistent offensive player of the last several seasons. He’s the second most productive back in Bears history and ranks behind on Walter Payton and Gale Sayers in my book as top Bears running backs.
Forte is slated to get paid $8.2 million in 2015 with $100k of that as a workout bonus. Forte appears to be willing to make a $100,000 statement to the new Chicago Bears regime.
New head coach John Fox was slated to speak to the team on Monday to set the tone for the offseason program and the season. Whether or not they call these workouts “voluntary” there’s a reason that voluntary is almost always in quotation marks. Especially with a new head coach and a new offense being ushered in by John Fox and Adam Gase.
The Bears recently signed Jacquizz Rodgers as a free agent to complement Forte and have unproven Ka’Deem Carey in the fold, vying for snaps while Forte is sitting out. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the Bears invest a draft pick to bring in another runner regardless of what happens with Forte.