Matt Forte should do what he wants with the Pro Bowl

by Steven Schweickert on Jan 21, 2012 11:00 AM CST in From The Desk Of...

Matt Forte was cleared to play in the Pro Bowl this week, and quite frankly, I'm surprised at the semi-outcry against him choosing to do so. I don't think the Pro Bowl is any sort of precursor to getting himself the biggest deal possible, or any kind of real indicator as to his health, but the arguing that he shouldn't play out of fear of injury, pursuit of contract, et cetera... just doesn't make sense to me.

I don't buy into the argument that because he didn't play in the last four games of the regular season, he's obligated to not play in the Pro Bowl. He wasn't healthy enough to play in the games, so now that he's healthy... he shouldn't play anyway, in the last game of the season that he's eligible for?

So then he shouldn't play because he might suffer an injury that might hurt his chances at getting a bigger contract, or that might convince the Bears to not give him a fair offer? It's football - any player can suffer an injury on any play, and every player assumes this risk any time they step on the football field. Just ask Martin Gramatica (or, for a recent baseball parallel, Kendry Morales). We'd be fooling ourselves to think the Pro Bowl matters in any sort of grand scheme of things - Forte would, at most, get a third of the carries he'd get in a normal game, and after that, his best chance as getting injured would be an errant practice kick to the knee or a lineman tripping over his leg.

Then it has to be because it's a meaningless game with no consequence? It isn't so much a game as it is a celebration of players' personal accomplishments on the field, and a game (or scrimmage) happens to take place. Forte has his right as much as anybody to take part in it as the voters have said he should. It's his first Pro Bowl, and the first Bears' offensive draft pick going to the Pro Bowl in quite some time, why shouldn't he take part in the festivities? And a few carries in a game with no consequence (and historically, no defense) isn't going to bump up any offers he gets or reduce them.

If Forte wants to play in the Pro Bowl, by all means, please do.

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Comments

I don't know why this if even an issue.

If people are going to actually get upset that players voted to the pro bowl actually want to play, why have a pro bowl. It blows my mind that people don’t think he should play.

by Ryan21 on Jan 21, 2012 12:19 PM CST via Android app reply actions

I'm of the opinion that the Pro Bowl doesn't matter, nor do said honors.

Only the All-Pro team means anything to me…

by Doshi on Jan 21, 2012 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

they shouldn't have a pro bowl

no one cares.

I was told that I ruined this house with my anger

by tempchad on Jan 21, 2012 1:01 PM CST up reply actions

Indeed.

Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.

by Just Dave on Jan 21, 2012 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

Matt should play

…and play well. This is a good opportunity for him to remind everybody (including the Bears) that he is a special player.

by PatientBear on Jan 21, 2012 12:26 PM CST reply actions

Play da man!

by dicksingletary on Jan 21, 2012 10:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Deion Sanders taboo

yes he should play, and give Bears even more offers for Draft day. Look, as soon as the Mouth, Deion Sanders said those ill fated words “pay the man”, it was time to trade Forte. History tells us, when you get the mouth nod, your done as soon as you get the money. CJ2K, Cribbs, FLAT after the money. I Love my Bears, trade Forte, he doesn’t love them. And on that note, PAY Forte for this past year before you trade him, as a thank you for what he did.

by Chopper Bear on Jan 22, 2012 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

Cribbs was overworked and he is now phased out as the centerpiece of their offense, it wasn't really his fault and CJ was returning to form...

wouldn’t be so bold..

by Shuggs on Jan 23, 2012 2:24 AM CST up reply actions

so now he's 100%

that’s crap. he has no business playing in that game. it’s a bs game anyway that no one cares about. the feat was getting selected. rest your knee and get in shape for your franchise tag season.

I was told that I ruined this house with my anger

by tempchad on Jan 21, 2012 1:00 PM CST reply actions

I agree, play

It’s a good experience for these players to practice and play with the top stars.

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 21, 2012 1:48 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

I don’t know what kind of experience it brings. He is playing 2-hand touch football with an elite offense against an elite defense. Is there ever going to be a game-time situation like this?

by Beer Down! on Jan 21, 2012 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

def not two hand touch

I’ve seen some nasty hits in the pro bowl

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders

It's all about THE []_[] baby!!!

~"Smile when u being attacked,laugh when they talking boutcha,wave when they hating on u and Pray when they leave u alone Somethings wrong!"~ Deion Sanders

At least FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER before you judge me fool

by suckmyditka on Jan 21, 2012 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

there's an aura and confidence that the best have

And being around that kind of talent can do things for some players…

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 21, 2012 8:36 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

Look at DERRICK ROSE

by Shuggs on Jan 23, 2012 2:25 AM CST up reply actions

agreed

it’s about time Forte gets national recognition

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders

It's all about THE []_[] baby!!!

~"Smile when u being attacked,laugh when they talking boutcha,wave when they hating on u and Pray when they leave u alone Somethings wrong!"~ Deion Sanders

At least FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER before you judge me fool

by suckmyditka on Jan 21, 2012 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

injuries can happen anywhere if i recall corectly sergio kindle missed a whole season after slipping in the shower and cracking his head

Tony

by chitown-tony on Jan 21, 2012 1:56 PM CST via Android app reply actions

I'm looking at it as a chance for him to show the Bears (and any other team that might want him if he doesn't get paid) that his knee is better

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 21, 2012 1:56 PM CST reply actions

And its a trip to hawaii

Gotta experience it once.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Jan 21, 2012 2:51 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

He is so underpaid, he couldn’t afford a trip to Hawaii on his own? Damn this half a million a year salary! Hopefully his food stamps arrive on time…

by Beer Down! on Jan 21, 2012 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

Har har

no, but its a chance for Forte to have his first experience at the Pro Bowl which is in Hawaii. Its a chance he might never get again so if he can play and wants to go, I don’t see the big deal. And, a free trip is a free trip, regardless of how much money you make.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Jan 21, 2012 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

I don’t really see it being a free trip. He is going out there to put himself at risk in a meaningless game. I mean, you could say I got a “free trip” to Kuwait under the same asterisk. It could end up being an extremely costly trip for Forte if something was to go wrong. Being that he is a running back coming off a leg injury, I would think he would want to protect himself before having to “prove” his ability/recovery to anybody.

by Beer Down! on Jan 21, 2012 5:01 PM CST up reply actions

idc how much you make

when you get a free trip to Hawaii. You take it.

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders

It's all about THE []_[] baby!!!

~"Smile when u being attacked,laugh when they talking boutcha,wave when they hating on u and Pray when they leave u alone Somethings wrong!"~ Deion Sanders

At least FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER before you judge me fool

by suckmyditka on Jan 21, 2012 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

Let hope he plays, for the other teams!

Yep, let him play, make the other teams ante up with some high draft picks this year, we should at least get Blackmon for Forte and a second rounder. Forte play, play your heart out so we can trade you.
Look at the season, interceptions from throws to Forte, Fumbles by forte, no yardage minus yardage by Forte. He is explosive. Bring us some high draft picks, Blackmon would be awesome, we might at least catch Detroit then.
Bye Bye Forte!

by Chopper Bear on Jan 22, 2012 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

I really don't see how this one game is going to prove anything.

He’ll play half a game without breaking 20 carries. Even if he was to be declared the Pro Bowl MVP, it only says he gave 70% when everyone else gave 50%. One meaningless game should not be viewed as a measure of how healthy someone is. All this game can do ~~for~~ to Forte is damage a susceptible knee. If he zigs when he should have zagged, he’ll be begging for a water-boy contract

by Beer Down! on Jan 21, 2012 3:25 PM CST reply actions

I have a sneaking suspicion that Marshawn Lynch is behind this. Seriously though, one of the big problems with the pro bowl is this. Lets say Forte sits the game out and the super bowl is 49ers vs Ravens; then Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew, Arian Foster, Willis McGahee, Ryan Mathews, Matt Forte, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, and probably Michael Turner would all get pro bowl honors.

by Bronko Nagurski on Jan 21, 2012 8:11 PM CST reply actions