Forte shouldn't rush back to Bears
The Matt Forte cheerleaders will point to Marion Barber's gaffes as proof of Forte's immense value.
And the Bears will point to Barber's 108 yards Sunday behind a sketchy offensive line as evidence that today's NFL backs are overvalued.
The truth is, of course, somewhere in between.
Forte and his supporters seem to think his injury increases his bargaining power with the Bears, especially if he takes his time returning from a torn MCL, as if to prove a point.
But the only thing this three-game losing streak has proved is that Jay Cutler was making the bad around him look better than it was, and the offensive roster has been exposed for what it is — if anyone didn't already know.
So Forte should not rush back and risk his long-term health regardless of whether he's got a new contract or whether the Bears have an NFL quarterback under center.
The reality is the Bears won't give him one extra dollar either way.
In fact, his injury is precisely why GM Jerry Angelo has wisely taken his time in paying Forte.
You don't reward an NFL running back for past performance when the shelf life for a guy like Forte is just about where he is right now, which is four years into his pro career.
Maybe Forte will be an exception and play another four years as good as his first four, but it's unlikely, so Angelo is smart to wait as long as possible before committing many more years and dollars.
Players like to call it a business when it suits their purposes, but it is also a business for the owners.
The Bears are going to do what's best for them. Forte ought to do the same.
And the Bears' precarious playoff hopes shouldn't have a bearing at all on Forte's decision.
The insult
Tim Tebow threw for a season-high 236 yards Sunday.
In the fourth quarter and overtime, he was 18 of 24 for 191 yards.
In the last three drives of the game, from the final five minutes of regulation through overtime, Tebow was 13 of 17 for 130 yards, leading his team to 13 points and another come-from-behind victory.
While the Bears' defense looked exhausted, it also allowed Tebow to make throws underneath and hit the curls with which he's most comfortable, and the Denver offense thrived.
But when asked what he thought of Tebow, Brian Urlacher offered one of the top insults of the NFL season, saying, “He's a good running back.”
That's not only classless but it's also small and beneath a player of Urlacher's caliber, something a kid says when he's angry he lost a game to what he considers an inferior opponent.
Thing is, you lost the game. You got beat by a guy you think is a terrible quarterback, so what does that say about how you played?
Urlacher's not wrong about Tebow's ability as a pocket passer. He doesn't seem to have any at all, but at least Tebow has class and shows respect to his opponents.
As did Lance Briggs, who said, “I respect a guy that plays hard. Him and all the other 10 guys that were on that field for the Broncos, they fought hard.”
That's how you do it.
Helping Hanie
Speaking of bad quarterbacks, credit Lovie Smith and Mike Martz for doing the right thing by running the ball nine straight times to end the fourth quarter, knowing Caleb Hanie was incapable of making a play, especially on third down.
The object there was to take time off the clock and make it difficult for Denver and not do anything stupid. It would have worked, too, if Marion Barber had simply stayed in bounds.
Martz was right
For all the grief Mike Martz took on the Todd Collins decision, including right here in this space, Martz obviously knew a year ago that Caleb Hanie couldn't do the job. Martz was right, and all of us who questioned him were wrong.
Of course, Collins also couldn't play and having an NFL backup is considered an option in some cities.
The quote
Lovie Smith on Marion Barber's bad decision: “It's a coaching thing. But it's on our team, on Marion, on all of us. It's a situation that shouldn't happen, but it did and we're all suffering the consequences of it.”
Just asking
If you have a veteran quarterback in the huddle, does he remind the running back to stay in bounds in a situation like that?
Just thinking
Tim Tebow might not be much of a QB, but he's an amazing athlete and a heck of a football player. He's unselfish and his teammates like him and play hard for him. And at least for now, they even believe in him.
Just wondering
Is it a coincidence that Tebow's at his best late in games when he doesn't have to think as much, when time is short and he's just making football plays in the hurry-up without as much input from the coaching staff?
Just distancing
Emailer Bob K.: “This just in: Colorado State denies Caleb Hanie ever attended.”
And finally …
This tweet from actor Rainn Wilson: “They should send Tim Tebow into Iran to get our drone back — with just a knife.”
#376;Hear Barry Rozner on WSCR 670-AM and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.