Will Bears spend on Forte with Langford, Carey on deck?

With the Chicago Bears protecting a lead Sunday in Tampa, eight-year veteran running back Matt Forte was on the sidelines, while rookie Jeremy Langford and second-year man Ka'Deem Carey got the call in a save situation.

Did that represent a changing of the guard? Or was it a back injury that made Forte a mere spectator with the game on the line?

Maybe both.

The 30-year-old Forte has one game left on a four-year, $30.4 million contract, and his next deal won't be anything close to that lucrative. He knows it, and the Bears know it.

The key question for both sides is: How much is he worth to the team going forward, taking into consideration that Langford and Carey have shown they can get the job done and they make about 10 percent of what Forte made this year?

Langford, this year's fourth-round pick, is under contract for three more years at an average base salay of $615,000 a year. His cap hit averages $751,000, including the prorated portion of his $544,000 signing bonus.

Carey, last year's fourth-rounder, will make an average of $645,000 in base salary in the two years remaining on his rookie deal. His cap number averages $755,000 when the prorated portion of his $443,000 signing bonus is factored in.

When Forte hits free agency in March, he would be justified in expecting a deal at least as good as the three-year, $12 million contract that Frank Gore got from the Indianapolis Colts last off-season. That deal included $6.5 million in guaranteed money.

Forte is a better all-around running back than Gore and almost three years younger.

Their numbers are very close this year with an edge going to Forte because he has the higher average yards per carry, 4.1-to-3.7, and better average yards per reception, 8.7-to-7.9. Both players have been exceptionally durable throughout their careers.

Last Sunday, Forte became the fifth player in NFL history with eight seasons of 800 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. The others are LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Watters, who both did it nine times, and Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Marshall Faulk who, like Forte, did it eight times.

There's a good chance some team will pay Forte something close to what Gore got. But will it be the Bears? Forte is worth that much money. But can a team with glaring needs at nearly every other position afford to spend that much when it has solid depth at running back, even without Forte?

In the three weeks (Games 8-10) that Forte missed with a sprained knee, the Bears averaged 116 rushing yards, which is exactly their per-game average for the season.

But given the attrition level at running back, re-signing Forte would provide valuable peace of mind in case of injuries. Also, coach John Fox has a history of utilizing two and sometimes three runnings backs.

Langford and Carey both have shown production this year to go with potential, and they have earned Fox's trust.

"We've had a stable of (running backs) this season," Fox said. "The names have changed, but all in all, we're pretty comfortable with all three of them. I think Ka'Deem's showed he's worthy."

Still, Forte's long record of versatility and durability is invaluable. On Sunday the Bears ran several plays with two running backs on the field, which they have done to a lesser extent in earier games.

"Anytime you have two backs in there," Fox said, "there's a little bit of misdirection and uncertainty on which back's getting the ball."

If that's a trend they're considering for the future, it makes sense to have three capable running backs.

And, despite being 30, Forte is much more than capable.

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