Running backs in the NFL don't last long. According to The Statistics Portal, the position's average career length is just 2.57 years. Med students have longer tenures. For this reason, it's slightly more understandable when ball-carriers express displeasure with their contracts.
Such is the case with Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears. Forte is entering the final year of his deal and will earn a base salary of $7.05 million this season. But he wants a new contract that will offer him some long-term peace of mind sooner rather than later.
"Nobody likes playing on a one-year deal," Forte said via ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. Forte is present at Chicago's OTAs, unlike Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, but that doesn't mean he's happy.
"They said we're not talking about that type of [contract] stuff right now, so all I can do is play football," he added.
You can understand why Forte would want to get his contract situation cleared up as soon as possible. But you can also understand why the Bears would be reluctant to hand him a big deal. Forte will turn 30 in December and is coming off a somewhat down year in which he averaged just 3.9 yards-per-carry (though he did set an NFL record with 102 receptions). While his pass-catching ability will enable him to stay effective as he enters the final years of his career, paying top dollar for an aging back is not the type of move savvy franchises make.
The Bears also like second-year back Ka'Deem Carey who they selected in the fourth-round last year. Carey impressed in limited playing time, rushing 36 times for 158 yards (4.4 YPC). Head coach John Fox could view him as an eventual replacement.
Overall, it wouldn't be a shock to see Forte playing for a new team next year. It all depends on what his contract demands are and how much the Bears are willing to spend.
