Jump to content

Matt Forte Retires


Jet_Engine1

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 77
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Forte's statement:

https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2018/02/28/matt-forte-says-goodbye-nfl-10-seasons/

For the past 10 years, I’ve been blessed to play professionally a game that I’ve loved since I was 6 years old.  But, after much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to retire from the NFL.  Like so many others before me, this game has enhanced my life in numerous ways.  My career in the League has been nothing short of a miracle granted by God and put on display for His glory.  I will cherish the many memories made on the field and the life-long friends I’ve made over the years in the locker room.  I’m even more grateful that God blessed me with Gene and Gilda Forté; my two amazing parents that constantly supplied me with unending love, support, patience, and motivation since I came into this world.  I’ve become the man and father that I am today because of both of you.  I am forever indebted to Jimmie and Dolores Daniels and the city of Chicago because not only did I get to live out my childhood dream in playing for the Bears, but also it was here where I fell in Love with my beautiful wife Danielle and started a family of my own.  I want to thank my agent Adisa Bakari for guidance throughout my career and preparing me for this moment and for life after football while still playing.  It’s not often that you see an agent who cares about his clients beyond the contracts and field and for that, I appreciate you.  I’d like to thank the New York Jets organization for the past two years.  My experience as a Jet was truly first rate.  To all of my many coaches and teachers over the years, thank you for your dedication and commitment to my growth and success as a person and player.  To the McCaskey family and the entire Chicago Bears organization, thank you for the honor of allowing me to be a part of the rich Chicago Bears tradition and to run in the footsteps of greats like Gale Sayers and Walter Payton.  Lastly, to all Chicago Bears fans, you’re truly the best fans in all of professional sports.  Thank you for embracing my family and me from day one!  The roar of the crowd at Soldier Field as I’d break a run or make a big catch will forever be ingrained in my mind.  The past 25 years playing America’s game has left me with unparalleled joy.  But, it’s time for the workhorse to finally rest in his stable. While my heart is a bit heavy as I close this chapter of my life, I am excited about what the future holds.  God Bless and Bear Down!

Matt Forté

#22

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, bla bla bla said:

I loved watching him play since he entered the league, it was clear he was no longer the same back he used to be though. Does retirement effect our cap differently than if we were to cut him? or is it ultimately a lateral move?

It's exactly the same.

If he had 2+ years left on his contract it could have been different (in cutting him the team has the option of doing it after June 1 to spread the cap hits; if he retires, the cap hit acceleration depends upon when the player officially submits his retirement stuff). In Forte's case he only had 1 year remaining anyway so it makes no difference.

Also just as an FYI, since he had no (new) guaranteed money remaining, it's also the same whether he's cut, traded, or if he retired.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, bla bla bla said:

I loved watching him play since he entered the league, it was clear he was no longer the same back he used to be though. Does retirement effect our cap differently than if we were to cut him? or is it ultimately a lateral move?

I don't think it matters.  We are relieved of his $3 mil base salary either way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, #27TheDominator said:

Good for him.  Happy retirement.  

The Jets fans were conspicuously absent from that statement.

Also Morton. He complained very publicly about Morton & was probably instrumental (over the course of the season) in his firing. Then a month after he's fired, Forte retires anyway, lol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Sperm Edwards said:

Also Morton. He complained very publicly about Morton & was probably instrumental (over the course of the season) in his firing. Then a month after he's fired, Forte retires anyway, lol.

Yeah.  I don't think they made any move on Morton because of Forte though.  Everybody knew Forte was getting cut this offseason anyway an I'm not sure running the ball more is what we want. OTOH, with a power blocking team, I think it makes some sense because you can wear down defensive lines.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, #27TheDominator said:

Yeah.  I don't think they made any move on Morton because of Forte though.  Everybody knew Forte was getting cut this offseason anyway and I'm not sure running the ball more  (Forte's complaint) is what we want. OTOH, with a power blocking team, I think it makes some sense because you can wear down defensive lines.  

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, #27TheDominator said:

Yeah.  I don't think they made any move on Morton because of Forte though.  Everybody knew Forte was getting cut this offseason anyway an I'm not sure running the ball more is what we want. OTOH, with a power blocking team, I think it makes some sense because you can wear down defensive lines.  

Yeah, I can't imagine a scenario where he wouldn't have been cut. Also Morton prob would have been fired anyway, but I just think it's amusing he was the most vocal among the players, and if a respected veteran like Forte was just as vocal in the other direction maybe it wouldn't have happened. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/28/2018 at 12:40 PM, Thai Jet said:

I loved Matt Forte and was glad he came to the Jets and retired as a Jet. Great pass catching RB. Love to see us grab another , younger, running back to do what he did in his prime.

Hope he has a great retirement, he's earned it.

IMO his entire value was based on starting a rookie QB no matter what. High character veteran with a cooler head in the huddle, as opposed to a young RB who thinks blocking is just for others to do to pave openings for him, and equally important as an extra receiving asset out of the backfield. These added values could have minimized his already-declined skills.

Absent starting a rookie QB (i.e. do not re-sign Fitz), his+Powell's dual signing was stupid and they should have gone with a rookie back with younger/fresher/more dynamic running skills (and just bring back Powell as a 3rd down back/spot starter or to mix it up when the starter needs a blow, if even that). Or go with a rookie and Forte is in that role, and don't re-sign Powell.

But we do nothing right, and re-signing Powell literally the day after guaranteeing 75% of the 30-32 year-old Forte's contract made it that much more moronic. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Sperm Edwards said:

IMO his entire value was based on starting a rookie QB no matter what. High character veteran with a cooler head in the huddle, as opposed to a young RB who thinks blocking is just for others to do to pave openings for him, and equally important as an extra receiving asset out of the backfield. These added values could have minimized his already-declined skills.

Absent starting a rookie QB (i.e. do not re-sign Fitz), his signing was stupid and they should have gone with a rookie back with younger/fresher/more dynamic running skills (and just bring back Powell as a 3rd down back/spot starter or to mix it up when the starter needs a blow, if even that). Or go with a rookie and Forte is in that role, and don't re-sign Powell.

But we do nothing right, and re-signing Powell literally the day after guaranteeing 75% of the 30-32 year-old Forte's contract made it that much more moronic. 

There was nothing moronic about the signing.  He still was a threat catching out of the backfield, which with weak QBs was an asset.  Add in the only other back on the team was an injury risk, always was tweaked when given an opportunity and thought to benefit from a decreased load.  Draft another RB and there's your three backs.  We did nothing moronic.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Jet Nut said:

There was nothing moronic about the signing.  He still was a threat catching out of the backfield, which with weak QBs was an asset.  Add in the only other back on the team was an injury risk, always was tweaked when given an opportunity and thought to benefit from a decreased load.  Draft another RB and there's your three backs.  We did nothing moronic.  

Building around Ryan Fitzpatrick, with the idea that the team would be a contender with him in the absence of 2015's impossible luck, was moronic. Either one of Forte or Powell I was ok with, for the reasons I outlined, but not both. You sign one of them and then you go to the draft for your other high-touch RB. It's a young man's position. If they were going to ink Powell anyway, then they could have stayed away from Forte (or vice versa). 

And to say "we did nothing moronic" when the 2 seasons that followed these and other moronic signings were both 5-win seasons, "nothing moronic" is a pretty hard argument to make.

They conservatively did 5-10 moronic moves for every 1 smart one. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...