Feb. 12--Friday's news registered as noteworthy but far from surprising. Matt Forte's days with the Bears are officially over, a development the running back made public in an Instagram post with the team later confirming that announcement.
Forte's contract will expire March 9, and the Bears will make no push to re-sign him, launching the 30-year-old into the world of free agency for the first time. And while general manager Ryan Pace made sure Friday to publicly laud Forte's skills and leadership, he also made one thing clear in his statement.
"These decisions are never easy," Pace said, "especially given what Matt has meant to our team and our community."
That said, the Bears are prepared to move on to life after Forte and will do so with several questions lingering.
1. What does this mean for Jeremy Langford?
Center stage is all his.
Langford, a fourth-round pick in May, rushed for 537 yards as a rookie, earning the coaching staff's confidence with his speed, versatility and drive. In the three November games Forte missed with a knee injury, Langford totaled 366 yards from scrimmage with four touchdowns, a foreshadowing of his potential as a workhorse starter.
In Year 2, the Bears will need Langford to get better at finishing through contact, to be more reliable as a pass catcher and to improve on his 3.6 yards per carry. But there's hope that with some shoring up of the offensive line, the 24-year-old will be poised for a major breakthrough.
Langford will need to develop quickly with the training wheels taken off. And he'll have to adapt without Forte's guidance, something he came to value as a rookie.
Forte, Langford gushed, taught him how to study, how to eat better, how to work through frustrations and how to take care of his body in the offseason.
"What Matt gave to me is unexplainable," Langford said. "Even the way he handled himself with his injury and not having his best season, he always kept a positive mindset and didn't let anything affect his work. I can't count how many things I learned from him. It was most definitely a blessing for me to be with him."
2. What about the depth in the backfield?
Behind Langford, Ka'Deem Carey made strides in 2015, first earning greater opportunity as a special teams contributor, then seeing flashes of work in the backfield. Carey's burst remains his most noticeable strength, and the Bears are hoping he'll use that to compete for the No. 2 role.
Pace will face a decision on what to do with Jacquizz Rodgers, who was Forte's backup for the first five games last fall before breaking his right arm.
Rodgers joined the Bears on a one-year contract last offseason and offers veteran savvy and productivity on special teams. He could be worth re-signing, adding to the competition in the backfield. That would not restrict the Bears from eyeing other options during free agency and the draft.
Also don't forget that Senorise Perry, a key special teams contributor in 2014, will be back in the mix after missing all of last season with a foot injury.
3. What will the Bears miss without Forte?
Where do you even start? Probably his football intelligence. Or his durability and toughness. Or his versatility. Or his unselfish, low-maintenance demeanor.
None of those things will be easy to replace. But this was a football move, a for-the-future decision that pushed Pace to understand priorities. The Bears have holes all over their depth chart, major needs that will require resources to address. So while the decision to discard Forte may not have been easy, it also came with reasoned thought and little nostalgia.
Forte turned 30 in December. He had only six runs of at least 15 yards last season -- half of those in the opener -- and none of 30 yards or longer. His 4.1 yards per carry ranked 23rd among backs with at least 100 carries.
No matter how productive, reliable and well-liked Forte was, the Bears' push to become a Super Bowl contender won't be dramatically affected by his exit.
The finality may seem difficult, another reminder of this league's cruel lack of loyalty. But that's the business.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
