Despite published reports, the New York Jets may be holding onto their elder statesman at running back.
The New York Jets have gone through the biggest roster purge I have seen in my 30+ years of watching the NFL. A casual observer might think the team has something against guys over 30 years old as the Jets have gotten rid of nearly all of them. Darrelle Revis, Brandon Marshall, Nick Mangold, you name them. With a small group of exceptions (four), if you are over 30 you are not playing for the Jets.
One of the surprising exceptions has been Matt Forte. He came to New York with declining numbers. He was banged up during his final season with the Bears and had injury problems last year with the Jets. That is not to say that he is washed up; he did post 813 yards rushing and 30 receptions last season. Forte is still a dual threat that would be an asset for a young quarterback, or conversely, for a team on the cusp of a playoff run.
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With that, there was no real surprise when reports came out that the Jets were shopping Forte around. However, these reports might not be so true. Forte was asked about the rumor and it seems he made have addressed it quite directly (via Brian Costello of the NY Post):
"“I know it’s not true,” Forte said. “I checked with the man who makes the moves. He basically told me, ‘Don’t listen to the reports.’ ”"
It’s an interesting dichotomy because in one sense, keeping Forte is smart. A running game is the biggest asset to a young quarterback, and we know that one will take over at some point. Having a true pro like Forte around will only help whomever the quarterback is.
On the other hand, the Jets could certainly use the money next season. They have Bilal Powell who is more than capable of leading the stable of running backs. Elijah McGuire showed a lot of potential against the Eagles. They ultimately could live with moving on from Forte.
Next: Observations from the Final Preseason Game for the Jets
Despite Forte’s quote, expect the Jets to listen if they receive an acceptable offer for him. It makes sense to continue stockpiling draft capital. The benefit of a veteran running back doesn’t come close to outweighing the need for draft picks.