Bears in good shape at running back

Assuming at some point Matt Forte gets over his snit and agrees to play for $7.742 million this year or, even better, he and the Bears agree to a long-term contract, the running back position will be in better shape than it has been since Neal Anderson backed up Walter Payton.

Happy or not, Forte is arguably one of the two or three best all-around running backs in the NFL. At the time of his season-ending sprained knee last season, he was leading the league in yards from scrimmage. He has caught more than 50 passes in each of his four seasons and averaged a career-best 4.9 yards per carry last season.

In case Forte decides to stay angry about making $7.1 million more than he made last season, the Bears picked up ex-Raider Michael Bush in free agency. His 977 rushing yards last season were a career best and only 20 yards less than Forte. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Bush is a more accomplished short-yardage runner than Marion Barber, who retired after one season in Chicago.

The Bears also have versatile Kahlil Bell, who outplayed Barber down the stretch last season and also showed he could be a factor as a pass catcher out of the backfield.