Green Bay could be a destination for running back Matt Forte despite the organization being one of the league’s most hesitant to sign outside veteran help. A source told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that former Bears teammate Julius Peppers is already discussing a reunion with Forte with the Packers. Eddie Lacy will enter his contract year in 2016, and longtime backup James Starks looms as an unrestricted free agent.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- The Falcons are leaning toward bringing Roddy White back for his 12th season with the team, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Although White slumped through his worst season as a starter, catching 43 passes for 506 yards in 16 games, Atlanta looks to increase the veteran’s slot usage. Using Larry Fitzgerald as an example, Dan Quinn told media (including Ledbetter) White, who is nearly two years older than Fitzgerald despite entering the NFL a year later, is at his best on in-breaking routes.
- In other Falcons news, general manager Thomas Dimitroff told Ledbetter he wished he’d have kept Todd McClure after the longtime Atlanta center expressed desire to play in 2013, but the team opted to go younger at the spot in the form of Peter Konz. The Falcons’ starting center from 2000-2012, McClure instead chose to retire after the ’12 season after the team handed his job to Konz, who started for two years and was released in September 2015 after recovering from a torn ACL.
- The Lions hired Broncos offensive quality control coach Brian Callahan to be their quarterbacks coach, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. Callahan formerly worked with current Lions OC Jim Bob Cooter in Denver. The son of Bill Callahan, Brian Callahan worked with the Broncos for six seasons.
Adding Forte would be out of character for Ted Thompson, and I don’t think Forte would go to Green Bay with Lacy still there. I just can’t see that one happening.
To stick it to a division rival, might happen. McCarty has publicly said he wants a FA or two. Plus. Not like Lacy lit the world on fire last year. One hell of a RB combo.
While I agree adding a high price FA isn’t the norm for Thompson in Green Bay but if they get him on a veteran friendly deal due to his age and mileage I could see Thompson doing that. Lacy has to lose the weight this offseason and there’s no guarantee he goes back to the lead back he was right out of college plus Starks is a FA as well so we need backfield help. Getting Forte on a 2yr/10mil type deal who can carry the ball 12-15 times a game and catch passes out of the backfield would allow the packers to address other needs in the draft such as MLB, TE and DL/OL depth. Forte is close with Peppers and wants to win a championship, makes too much sense not to take a long look at.
I think Forte would be a good pick up for the Packers with Lacy and Starks in doubt for next year.