NFL Rumors: Chicago Bears Dump Matt Forte; Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots Fight over 'DeMarco Murray Sub'

By Mitch de Leon
Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears opted to not re-sign Matt Forte. Wikimedia Commons/Mike Shadle

The Chicago Bears failed to fulfill their promise of a better NFL season in the recently concluded 2015-16 run. Apart from failing to at least get a shot at the Super Bowl trophy, the Jay Cutler squad finished fourth place in the NFC North. Taking on the last spot way behind the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears vow to make notable changes to improve their chances next NFL season.

One of the most notable shift in the roster is the move to let go of Matt Forte. The running back has been with the Chicago Bears since 2008, when the football team picked him in the second round of the NFL Draft. Since then, Forte has been hailed as one of the most notable running backs in the league. It appears, however, that the Chicago Bears no longer find him useful in the team.

"Despite my wishes, my days as a member of the Chicago Bears have sadly come to an end," wrote Forte in an Instagram post. "I was informed earlier this week from the GM that they will not be attempting to re-sign me in free agency."

He added, "I will remain forever grateful for my time spent in Chicago and being able to play for an organization with such a rich history. My only regret is not being able to win a Lombardi trophy for the best fans in all of sports. I'm excited about the next chapter of my NFL career. But, Chicago will always be home."

The Instagram post was accompanied by a photo of Forte running towards the football field in full Chicago Bears uniform. Notably, the comments in the social media announcement mostly echoed the same sentiment. That is, Forte must go to the New England Patriots. Fans believe that the running back will fit in perfectly with the Tom Brady team.

"If you want to win a championship new England is your best chance ANYONE knows that we in the playoffs every year man," wrote user cg706. Meanwhile, user timmyryan22 said, "We need you on the pats man." The fan added, "With you we can win a championship."

However, it looks like the New England Patriots find competition in the form of the Dallas Cowboys. Taking into consideration the decision of the Tony Romo to release DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles instead of giving in to his demand, Jerry Jones has a sizable cap space. Moreover, the hole left when Murray abandoned the Dez Bryant squad was never truly filled in by a notable quarterback. Hence, Forte now becomes a contender for the position.

"For the right price, Forte could be of interest to the Cowboys, but he is on the wrong side of 30 and has had a lot of carries and catches," shared Todd Archer of ESPN. "The Cowboys were reluctant to sink big money into DeMarco Murray last season and signed Darren McFadden. After a slow start, McFadden had 1,089 yards in 2015. The Cowboys need running back help and Forte would provide it, but they also need to get younger at the running back position. Ultimately it will come down to price. If it's reasonable, then the Cowboys would look at him."

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