Matt Forte signs w/ NY Jets

[UOK]

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Packers expressing interest in Bears free-agent RB Matt Forte, per source.

[Pagan]

If he signs with the Packers we'll all have to endure the shitstorn of meatball fans all offseason.

[DaDitka]

Dude is not a Bear anymore.....he can go where ever he wants.

He as a very good player....but he wasn't an all time great...he wasn't someone we'll be talking about 20 years from now.

I wish him well where every he ends up. If that where is Green Bay.....I merely wish him fewer Ws

[UOK]

Writer for the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal

@TomSilverstein
My feeling is the #Packers will take their time and ultimately won't pay what it takes.

[wab]

My guess is that Forte will end up in New England or Miami.

[Boris13c]

Mad Mac finished his career as Burnt Fart's backup, and I didn't like him any less for it ... it is a mercenary business so there are few guys you can have the opportunity to root for their entire career

I have no problems with Forte going where the money is ... I would prefer it not be Goon Bay, but won't hold it against him if it is

I've said all along New England would be the ideal spot for him and I'm fairly certain that is the Patriots thinking on it too

[RING4CHI]

I want to see Forte win a ring more than anything, I honestly don't care who it's with. But to see him do it with a team like the Packers or Patriots would be gut wrenching.

I fear he'll end up signing with a team like the Lions because it's the best contract he can get, he comes back and burns the Bears twice a year, yet fails to win a title as the Lions continue to finish with mediocre 7-9 records, while keeping the Bears from succeeding.

[RING4CHI]

he wasn't someone we'll be talking about 20 years from now.

If the Bears won during his time in Chicago, we would be.

[malk]

Surely Forte has to chase a ring rather than dollars?! I'd hate to see him as a Packer but then I'd hate to see him as a Patriot too.

[DaDitka]

he wasn't someone we'll be talking about 20 years from now.

If the Bears won during his time in Chicago, we would be.

Don't get me wrong..I love the guy and it's been a joy to watch him.

But it was volume that fueled his production...not skill (I consider availability a skill...but that is another discussion).

He's numbers (average YPC, yards after contact, short yardage conversion, etc) where nothing more then league average. He was a jack of all trades / master of none. He was a GREAT asset for the Chicago Bears....just not a GREAT talent.

I know it kind of sounds like I'm bashing him...but I'm really not. I enjoyed his time here....but I don't suspect I'll ever be bragging to my grand kids that I say Matt Forte play....I will say that about Urlacher.....that's all I'm saying.

[wab]

He was a good player that filled a role for a long time. It's like Trace Armstrong going to the Dolphins.

[Road]

If he wants to soil himself wearing mustard & relish?
Bears have his Achilles, the ankle tackle takes him down 90% of the time.

[RING4CHI]

he wasn't someone we'll be talking about 20 years from now.

If the Bears won during his time in Chicago, we would be.

Don't get me wrong..I love the guy and it's been a joy to watch him.

But it was volume that fueled his production...not skill (I consider availability a skill...but that is another discussion).

He's numbers (average YPC, yards after contact, short yardage conversion, etc) where nothing more then league average. He was a jack of all trades / master of none. He was a GREAT asset for the Chicago Bears....just not a GREAT talent.

I know it kind of sounds like I'm bashing him...but I'm really not. I enjoyed his time here....but I don't suspect I'll ever be bragging to my grand kids that I say Matt Forte play....I will say that about Urlacher.....that's all I'm saying.

Matt Forte is a rich man's (instead of poor man's) Neal Anderson.

Great asset for the Bears during their time that people would still be talking about 20 years down the road if he helped bring a championship(s) to Chicago.

[DaDitka]

Matt Forte is a rich man's (instead of poor man's) Neal Anderson.

I had nearly made the same comparison in my post. Anderson's name jumped right to my mind, but like you said...Forte was a little better....but then again, I was much more aware of what I was watching when Matt played compared to Neal.

[Ormazd]

I'm a meatball fan and I would hate this.

[Boris13c]

He was a good player that filled a role for a long time. It's like Trace Armstrong going to the Dolphins.

not a valid comparison ... Armstrong did not leave to go to a hated rival

I don't want any Bear going to the goddam Packers and being useful ... Peppers going there, being switched to LB, and having success was painful only because the talk in Chicago was Peppers wouldn't fit in a new defense ... then he goes to Goon Bay and does exactly that

but Peppers wasn't an original Bear so not as painful IMO as Forte donning the green and piss yellow and having success would be

sorry ... guess that's my meatball showing

I'm a meatball fan and I would hate this.

I can relate

the Bears cut him so I wouldn't hold it against Forte for going where the $$$ lead him ... but I would prefer his new spot be anywhere but Goon Bay

[UOK]

@RapSheet
Among the teams interested in veteran RB Matt Forte: The #Jets and #Dolphins. His market will heat up when the other RBs sign.

[ysleblanc]

He was a good player that filled a role for a long time. It's like Trace Armstrong going to the Dolphins.

not a valid comparison ... Armstrong did not leave to go to a hated rival

I don't want any Bear going to the goddam Packers and being useful ... Peppers going there, being switched to LB, and having success was painful only because the talk in Chicago was Peppers wouldn't fit in a new defense ... then he goes to Goon Bay and does exactly that

but Peppers wasn't an original Bear so not as painful IMO as Forte donning the green and piss yellow and having success would be

sorry ... guess that's my meatball showing

I'm a meatball fan and I would hate this.

I can relate

the Bears cut him so I wouldn't hold it against Forte for going where the $$$ lead him ... but I would prefer his new spot be anywhere but Goon Bay

I'm the same, hope he does well but it's a non divisional opponent.

[UOK]

@AdamSchefter
Matt Forte is signing with the NY Jets, per source.

[DaDitka]

Back with Marshall

If the Bears don't win the SB this year, I know who I'm rooting for.

[wab]

That's a good signing for them.

[DaDitka]

Looks like Long didn't want him to be a Packer either...

Kyle ‏@Ky1eLong 3m3 minutes ago
Oh thank God Matt Forte is a Jet

[RING4CHI]

Totally okay with that.

I'm happy with John Fox as head coach of the Bears, but Bowles was the guy I wanted.

Jets will probably become my AFC team while Forte is there.

[Boris13c]

Looks like Long didn't want him to be a Packer either...

Kyle ‏@Ky1eLong 3m3 minutes ago
Oh thank God Matt Forte is a Jet

rock on Kyle

I'm pretty happy about that too ... and I wish him well in NY

[Ormazd]

@AdamSchefter
Matt Forte is signing with the NY Jets, per source.

Thanks, Matt, for heeding my tweet. Makes me happy, especially since my son in law is a Jets fan.

[TheSting]

great news, I now have an interest in watching Jets games for possibly the first time ever, and more importantly I don't have to choke back the vomit while watching Matt run up 200 yards against us in twice a year in green and yellow

[UOK]

NFLTradeRumors.co @nfltrade_rumors
#Jets Sign RB Matt Forte To A Three-Year, $12M Deal With $8M GTD

[Boris13c]

NFLTradeRumors.co @nfltrade_rumors
#Jets Sign RB Matt Forte To A Three-Year, $12M Deal With $8M GTD

that is not a bad deal, and I wouldn't have been upset if the Bears had given him the same deal ... Forte will be effective for all 3 years of this contract and I'm guessing will become the new best friend of whoever the Jets decide on at QB

but, onward and upward ... time for the Langford/Carey backfield tandem experience to unfold

[UOK]

Brian Costello @BrianCoz
Forte said he was surprised he did not at least get an offer from the Bears. Said it was “a hard pill to swallow” #nyj

Kimberley A. Martin @KMart_LI
Forte said "there's no friction" between him + Brandon Marshall. Matt said the two hashed things out over the phone after his comments

[RING4CHI]

Brian Costello @BrianCoz
Forte said he was surprised he did not at least get an offer from the Bears. Said it was “a hard pill to swallow” #nyj

I'm surprised the Bears didn't throw him an offer like what the Jets gave him before letting him walk, but it is what it is.