Pay Forte

I very rarely talk about football cases I know very little, if anything, about.  But, while I'm not on the inside of what's going on in the Chicago Bears v. Matt Forte contract negotiations, I know enough to comment on it as a fan.

Chicago has a history of great running backs.  After all, we've had Jimmy Conzelman, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Red Grange, and George McAfee...all of which are Hall of Famers.  We've gone thru some ups and downs.  Matt Suhey (a RB that Chicago fans absolutely ADORE, but he wasn't exactly on the same level as Payton) Adrian Peterson (NOT THE Adrian Peterson of Vikings fame), Marion Barber and others whose names are already forgotten.  


But, now?  We've got Matt Forte.  He's all the running back Chicago needs.  Let's be  honest.  Michael Bush is to Matt Forte what Matt Suhey was to Walter Payton.  


I personally don't know why 1) Forte won't sign the $7.7 million franchise tag (even though I don't like the tag.)  It does give Chicago the guy who is arguably the best running back in the league right now for another year and maybe able to work out the kinks that previous management wasn't able or willing to work out.  With Phil Emery now, he may see something that needs changing, and I'll admit that I don't exactly know how NFL contracts work or what the issues in what I have personally dubbed "ForteContract-gate" need to be worked out.  I'm unsure if they can be meet in the time everyone is wanting all to be met in.


And, 2) I don't know why the previous management was so unwilling to re-sign Forte to the contract that he deserves.


I would hope that Forte would swallow his pride enough to sign the franchise tag contract and that the Bears front office would swallow their pride and pay the man what he's worth.


And, in this fan's eyes, Forte is worth more than the $7.7 million franchise tag.  But, I'm willing to pay him that and work out what all needs to be worked out.  Because let's face it: This Bears team without Forte is like the 1985 Bears without Payton.


Forte is important to the Bears and the fans may never forgive the Bears if they let Forte go to another team.


But, that's just this fan's opinion.  


PAY FORTE!

Brady And Cutler

I don't know why every analyst, fan, sportscaster...hell, EVERYONE, makes it their duty to bash on Jay Cutler and love on Tom Brady.  Most everyone knows I HATE Tom Brady and I have since he was in college.

When Brady was drafted at 166th, I felt that was too high.  While there are still some lingering doubts in my mind about the legitimacy of his stats due to "SpyGate", there is no denying that he is a good QB.  I'm not here to say that Cutler is an "elite" QB on the level of Joe Montana or Johnny Unitas, but I'm here to say that if you compare where he was in his 5th season in the league and where Tom Brady was, you'd be surprised at how close they are.

For obvious reasons, I left INTs off the list because, even with as much as I hate Tom Brady, he can thread a needle in a hurricane.   Brady is one of the most accurate QBs to have played the game while Cutler has the strongest arm in the league.

But, everyone seems to have a boner for Brady but seem to cut Cutler down every shot they get.  I have often wondered why, but I suppose the power of the "Hoodie" is strong.

However, below you'll see some stats.  I'm not saying which one is which, but these are the stats for both QBs in their 5th year of being an NFL QB.  See if YOU can figure out which one is which.

QB:	G	GS	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
A:	16	16	334	530	63	4,110	7.8	26	27	89	3.3	1
B:	15	15	261	432	60.4	3,274	7.6	23	50	232	4.6	1

There may be some stats that give it away, but you have to admit they are close in numbers.  So, stop hating on Cutler because you don't think he's close to being "elite" but he's not as bad as you think.  I think people hate on Jay because he's not the whole "RAH RAH SHISH BOOM BAH!" QB on the sidelines, but neither is Brady.  Brady is more "showy" on the sidelines than Cutler, but having read stories about Cutler from his high school coaches, he's NEVER been that type of QB.  And, he's probably paying more attention than you give him credit for.

So, look at the stats and tell me that Jay Cutler doesn't belong in the same QB category as Tom Brady...minus the INTS because Brady throws so few of those.  But, remember: some of the "Elite" QBs that everyone loves on have thrown MORE INTs than Cutler, so you can't necessarily hold those against Cutler.

Receivers slip; routes get lost; defenses read the plays; the ground gets slippery and muddy; O-lines fail -- there are a million reasons other than the QB panicking or overthrowing.  So, we can't really blame the QB for INTs all the time.

Yet, no one blames Brady for anything.  It's always the receiver's fault; the defense was too good or the weather but if it's Cutler?  It's his fault, even if the receiver isn't where HE needs to be.

Why the double standard?  Because people have made up their mind about Cutler and are blinded by sheer hatred for him.  While I hate Brady, I am not so blinded by my hatred of him that I can't give him credit when it's due, even though I doubt the legitimacy of some of his stats.  I'll do an entry (though it will be short) on the things I DO give Brady credit for.

Give Cutler a chance and you'll see that you're mostly wrong.