Change happens quickly in the NFL.
Sidelined two weeks with an MCL sprain, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte is already fielding questions about rookie Jeremy Langford as his eventual replacement.
"The fans are the fans," Forte said Thursday, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "The NFL is 'What have you done for me lately?' I've been out a few games and Jeremy has done well stepping in for me. So everybody is always looking for the next best thing. With (me) being in my contract year, it's obvious that that's the storyline that will come up.
"Chicago is kind of like that: 'Well, see ya later, Matt.' I'm like, 'Man, I've been here going on eight years -- y'all just going to throw me to the side like that?' But that's the nature of the NFL. And I don't mind. I will play wherever I end up after that."
Accounting for 32.0 percent of the Bears' offense, Forte was enjoying an excellent season prior to his injury. Still, he's right to wonder if he will be back in Chicago next year.
With a new regime in town, Forte was one of several veterans the Bears were willing to discuss leading up to the trade deadline, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
New general manager Ryan Pace showed no interest in extending Forte's contract last offseason, which means the veteran tailback is due to reach free agency in March.
After watching the dual-purpose Langford do his best Forte impression with 324 yards from scrimmage over the past two weeks, the rebuilding Bears will be reluctant to shell out in excess of $5 million annually for a 30-year-old running back soon to reach his decline phase.
