Former Bears great throws major shade at Chicago's front office
Former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, the second-leading rusher in franchise history, threw some major shade at his former team's front office this week. Forte, who held out in 2012 while looking for a new contract (which he eventually got), appeared on 670 The Score this week to discuss Bears linebacker Roquan Smith and […]
Former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, the second-leading rusher in franchise history, threw some major shade at his former team's front office this week.
Forte, who held out in 2012 while looking for a new contract (which he eventually got), appeared on 670 The Score this week to discuss Bears linebacker Roquan Smith and his current contract situation.
Smith requested a trade earlier this month due to a contract dispute with Chicago's front office.
Forte made it clear that he thinks the Bears need to pay Smith, before suggesting the Bears are cheap.
Being cheap and giving guys a hard time are two different things.
And I'm not sure I'd call the Bears "cheap".
Remember, just a few years, Chicago made Khalil Mack the highest-paid defender in NFL history.
And in early 2020, Eddie Jackson signed an extension that made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL (at the time).
That hardly qualifies as being cheap.
Smith just happens to play a position that isn't valued the same as pass rushers and defensive backs.
While I think the Bears need to keep Smith in Chicago, I also understand they can't spend recklessly while they go through this rebuild.
(Smith's insistence on not having an agent is likely the reason a deal hasn't gotten done yet.)
As for Forte's comments, the evidence suggests he's incorrect. At least when it comes to Chicago being cheap.
The Bears spend. They may not spend the way Forte thinks they should spend, but they historically aren't pinching pennies.
Featured image via David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
