Bears' Forte may be on path to Hall of Fame
It's difficult to determine what shows Bears running back Matt Forte in the most impressive light — the numbers he puts up year after year, or what teammates and coaches say about him.
Since Forte entered the league in 2008 as a second-round pick out of Tulane, no one has more yards from scrimmage. In almost every meaningful statistical category, the 6-foot-2, 218-pound Forte ranks second only to Walter Payton in franchise history.
“I wouldn't trade him for anybody,” said Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. “Numbers-wise, I don't know where he's at. I don't follow that as closely. I just know that every single day he comes to work, he does the right thing on and off the field, and he's the most consistent guy we've got out there.
“He's durable, he knows exactly what he has to do, and he's in the right place every time. I think people are starting to catch up to how great he is.”
Forte currently leads the NFL with 46 receptions and is third in yards from scrimmage with 775, trailing only the Cowboys' DeMarco Murray (940) and the Steelers' LeVeon Bell (793).
Forte says he's not fixated on the numbers or his place in history, but he is aware of their meaning.
“I don't really look at that a lot,” he said. “(But) it is important because obviously it means I've been doing some good stuff on the field, and we've been being successful.
“But as far as looking at the stats and worrying about if I get this many yards this game I don't really worry about that. If I'm playing ball to the best of my ability, all the other stuff will really fall in place, and at the end of the year, everything will add up.”
Last week against the Falcons, Forte's career numbers added up to more than 7,000 rushing yards and 3,000 receiving yards, making him just the 20th player in NFL history and the second Bear to pass those milestones.
Forte did it in 97 games, tying Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk for the second fastest all time. Only Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas (92 games) did it faster than Forte.
It's only natural to consider Forte's chances of winding up enshrined in Canton, Ohio, as well. He keeps that in perspective, too, but doesn't reject the thought or deny considering what it would mean.
“I do think about it sometimes,” he said. “That's a goal, to play to where you're considered one of the best and be considered for the Hall of Fame. (But), as of right now, if I stopped playing today, I don't think I would be in the Hall of Fame.
“So, that's obviously a motivation for me to keep being successful and trying to play at the top of my game every game.”
The fact that he plays almost every game — he's missed just five starts in seven years — and goes through rigorous year-round workout regimens, has made him indispensable to the Bears and allowed him to pile up numbers at a record pace.
To reduce the wear and tear on his body, Forte's been given the past two Wednesdays off, but not because he asked for a rest.
“If it was up to Matt Forte,” offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said, “he'd practice every play and he would play every play.”
Rookie Ka'Deem Carey has been impressive when he gets a chance to give Forte a short rest during games, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. But the fourth-round pick has gotten the ball just 22 times playing behind the Bears' workhorse who never really wants to come off the field but realizes it's occasionally for the best.
“If I'm exhausted or extremely tired, I'm not going to stay in there because obviously someone who is fresh can get in there and do a better job,” Forte said. “(But) that's why I condition a lot, to try to stay in there as much as possible because these downs are crucial. Sometimes, especially like a third down, if I'm tired and have to come out of the game and we end up not getting the first down or ending the drive, you can't get those back.
“I just like to be in there to keep drives going and keep moving the ball down the field.”
As he does, Forte moves closer and closer to Canton.
• Follow Bob's Bears and NFL reports on Twitter@BobLeGere.