Matt Forte responded to questions about the condition of his knees by sharing the above video on Twitter Saturday of him dragging what he says is a 100-pound sled uphill. His agent also issued the following statement:
“Matt Forte is among the most, if not the most, durable, all-purpose running back in the NFL. The 2011 season was the first season of his career that he missed any games. Had the Bears been playoff contenders, he could have returned for the balance of the season. To question his durability at this stage in his career is absurd.”
The Chicago Tribune reported earlier in the day that the Bears are reluctant to sign Forte to a contract extension because of concerns that his problematic knees may become arthritic.
Forte tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2006, and sprained the MCL in the same knee in 2009. Last year, he missed the final four games of the season with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
Forte expressed frustration with the Bears all last season over the two sides’ inability to agree on a new deal. He was even more upset in March when the team signed running back Michael Bush.
The team assigned a franchise tag to Forte, which only means they would be committed to him for one season. Given the short amount of time running backs last in the NFL, it’s quite understandable why Forte is frustrated with the situation.
