Em-Bear-Assessment: The Pulp Speaks

It is surprising it took this long for something to be said.

While the Bears offense has struggled this season for an identity, there is one member who everyone already knows about. He has been their focal point the entire season, and the entire league knows it.

And there in lies the problem.

As the Bears prepare to face the Eagles this Monday, the Juan Castillo led Philadelphia defense knows whats coming at them. A heavy dose of Matt Forte will no doubt be unleashed, as he is the best player on the Bears offense. The Bears know it, the Eagles know it. And most of all, Forte knows it. He is their go to player, and it’s hurting him.

While Forte plays out his rookie contract, and the Bears are not exactly rushing to get him signed long term, Forte thinks that the Bears are trying to diminish his attractiveness on the market by wearing him down physically.

The league leader in yards from scrimmage told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun Times:

‘‘The running back position is the most physically demanding on the field,’’ Forte said Tuesday. ‘‘Everyone acknowledges that. So to continue to give me the touches I’ve had since my rookie year but not award me a long-term contract sends the message that you’re OK grinding me into a pulp.’’

While this is the opinion of the player being affected by such a heavy work load, it should be considered that if the Bears are indeed doing this, they are only hurting themselves in the short term. If Forte was go do down with an injury, or wear down from heavy use this season (and every other season he has played since joining the league) the Bears will struggle mightily on offense. Forte is CLEARLY their focal point on offense, and no one else is even close. If they have to suddenly rely on the right arm of Jay Cutler, they are in serious trouble.

As far as long term effects, the heavy work load could take its toll on Forte with regards to career longetivity. So many running backs have entered the league and dazzled, only to fade before turning 30, in part to their heavy work load. If Forte is the latest in this group, and it is partially due to the Bears wanting to stay on the cheap and not pony up the money he has indeed earned over his three and a half year career by wearing him down, it is a sad indictment of the organization.

Of course, nothing about a Jerry Angelo led organization surprises me anymore.

As a Packer fan, I say go ahead, destroy your best offensive player. It will make the Packers jobs easier not having to stop Forte. As a football fan, if word ever did leak that grinding Forte into a pulp was indeed the strategic plan of the Bears, they should have their franchise revoked, so they cannot do any more harm to anyone.

Either way, Forte is not happy, and that does not bode well for his future in Chicago. Here’s hoping he finds his pay day, far, far away from the nonsense of Chicago.