Now there is little debate that Forte is a good back. What he brings to the table few others do. In his four years he has finished in the top ten total yards from scrimmage three times. He has 6,218 total yards good for 103.7 yards per game with 29 TD’s to boot. Three times he has rushed for over a thousand yards. Arguably he is the best receiving back in the league.

Now with all that being said, if you look at the last five Super Bowl winning running backs only one has rushed for a thousand yards or more. That was the Giants Brandon Jacobs back in 2007 when he ran for 1,009 yards and had 174 yards receiving. the Steelers Willie Parker – 791 and 13, the Saints Pierre Thomas – 793 and 302, the Packers Brandon Jackson – 703 and 342 and the Giants Ahmed Bradshaw – 659 and 267. Not eye popping numbers. (more…)

Donovan McNabb is headed to Washington in a surprising intra-divisional trade. (Photo: UPI)

The Washington Redskins have acquired quarterback Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles for their 2010 2nd round pick (37th overall) and either a 3rd or 4th rounder in 2011.

When you compare that to what the Bears gave up to get Jay Cutler a year ago – Kyle Orton, their 2009 and 2010 1st round picks and a swap of their 2009 3rd for Denver’s 5th – it seems like the ‘Skins got a bargain deal.  Think the Eagles were desperate to move him?  It’s even more strange that they traded within their own division, so they’ll get to see him twice a year.

McNabb is 33 and his most productive years are likely behind him, but new Washington head coach Mike Shanahan and owner Daniel Snyder must be betting that they can put a Super Bowl run together with an aging backfield.

Why else would they get McNabb and every over-the-hill running back that’s on the open market?  Between Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker, they’ve got more mileage than Jenna Jameson’s mattress (and with slightly less plastic surgery.  Have you seen her lately?  Even Ben Roethlisberger wouldn’t have anything to do with here.  Yikes!)

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Cedric Benson made approximately $620,000 for his base salary with a $4 million signing bonus for this season. He missed out on an additional bonus of $1.7 million by falling 26 yards short of 700 yards rushing. Since when does 700 yards rushing amount to a $1.7 million bonus? Were the Bears expectations for this season really that low?

Better Bet

The more motivated and talented Adrian Peterson that is willing to block and catch passes will make a base salary of $595,000 this year. I guess hard work isn’t as important as draft day hype.

Where’s Waldo?

You’d have to put Nathan Vasher in a striped shirt, glasses, and a cane to find him. I get the feeling the Bears have known for a while the season is done and are not willing to risk putting one of their long term investments at corner on the field and make his injury worse.

Broken Record

I really can’t express enough how bad that Chris Harris trade looks right now. The Thomas Jones trade couldn’t be avoided, but trading Harris was harsh and didn’t bring much in return. After seeing Trumaine McBride and Brandon McGowan play it really makes you appreciate how special Harris was coming right out of college and contributing on the field. It was too much of a gamble not to keep an insurance policy in case Adam Archuleta didn’t live up to expectations.

Moral Victory?

What’s left to play for? Pride and self-respect and nothing more. It would almost be worse if Kyle Orton came out and played well because it will make an even bigger mess of our quarterback situation.

Beat The Packers!

It’s pathetic but it’s basically all we have left. Beating the Packers and possibly having an effect on their home field advantage would be the only high point to end this season. However, considering that is the second to last game of the season, the seasoning ending game at home against the Saints will be nothing more than an excuse for me to eat buffalo wings and drink beer.

Viking Invasion

The dominance in Minnesota of the Other Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor combination makes me raise a serious question. Will the Bears defense be completely humiliated and just embarrassed? Stop laughing, that’s a real question.

Too Early?

I’m sure I’ll write several articles about this later on, but I just want to air it out now before anybody else. The first round draft pick should always be used for offensive lineman when needed. There are several examples of quality quarterbacks and running backs never being drafted and turning into Pro Bowl players such as Tony Romo, Kurt Warner, and Willie Parker. I’ve yet to see an example of a walk-on offensive lineman. It is a position that requires players of a certain size, skill, and pedigree that is almost never lost on talent scouts. Offensive Tackle should be the primary concern for the Bears come draft time, everything else comes second.