Jets' Forte set on breaking the myth about RBs over 30
New York Jets running back Matt Forte turned 30 years old during the 2015 season, a mark that often signals a dramatic decline for players at his position.
That decline appeared to begin last season, with Forte missing three games to injury and failing to hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time since 2011 (a season in which he also sat our four games).
With the Chicago Bears - the only team Forte had ever known during his eight-year career - allowing him to leave during free agency, the 30-year-old said he's determined to prove that he still has plenty left in the tank despite his age.
"Yeah, of course. When I was first coming up on a contract renewal when I was in Chicago, it was that, 'Oh, running backs, the value’s not there.' But then I wanted to break the mold on that because the value is there," Forte said, according to Steve Serby of the New York Post. "If you can run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield, you're a valuable asset and you can create mismatches throughout the entire offense. So now that I've turned 30, everyone’s saying, 'I'm a 30-year-old running back, they fall off,' all this other stuff. Nobody talks about the Curtis Martins or the Emmitt Smiths, or Marcus Allen, all these guys who played beyond 30 years old who did very well in their later ages. I want to be that guy who can break the mold and not succumb to the cliché thing about the older running backs."
Long known as one of the most versatile backs in the NFL, Forte's style could help him remain effective into his twilight years in the NFL.
However, Forte believes it's possible he could make history in 2016 by leading the league in rushing yards at age 30, a feat that's never been done, especially in the modern era of the NFL (though several players have claimed the rushing title at 29 years old).
"Why not? Is that a realistic question?" Forte said.
Forte's workload could increase if the Jets are unable to bring back quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had a career year with the team last season. Fitzpatrick and New York have been at a stalemate all offseason, but Forte said that lengthy negotiations are commonplace in the NFL and the situation isn't concerning him.
"No I'm not. Contract situations take time," Forte said. "When I was going through my contract situation, it took the entire summer. I signed on the day of the deadline. You never know what'll happen. … Geno (Smith is) there, competition between Bryce Petty and (rookie Christian) Hackenberg, who we just drafted … I think competition creates the best atmosphere for success. It's gonna be figured out no matter what happens. So I'm not really concerned about if Ryan doesn't re-sign, or how long it's taken. Things will work its way out."