Rumors and Rumors of Rumors 2016

[BigKen]

There's a buzz that the Patriots have contacted Matt Forte's agent and will be scheduling a visit. Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs this past year, the Patriots are the best fit for Forte if wants a chance at a ring.
The minimum he can be signed for is $886,000 but with a career that he's had, I'd be thinking $2M might get it done.

 

[Carnzo]

Worth kicking the tires. Over 30 and bad knees = discount.

 

[cdumler7]

No way that this rumor is true. It is very illegal and we are talking some major penalties if the Patriots are caught. Now inside discussions yes that is possible but they cannot contact the agents until the legal tampering period that is another month away.

 

[SDGuy73]

No way that this rumor is true. It is very illegal and we are talking some major penalties if the Patriots are caught. Now inside discussions yes that is possible but they cannot contact the agents until the legal tampering period that is another month away.

My thoughts exactly. Unless the Bears recently released him.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

I hadn't heard he was cut, but maybe.

 

[CreepCreep2014]

No way Forte ends up here. Sure he wants a ring, but he is not paying for free and someone will offer him more money. My bet is he ends up in Dallas. NE should be looking at Ivory or Miller at this point. Ivory is a great North/South runner who can catch the ball. He would add a lot to the Lewis/White mix. Miller is another 3 down back who can add insurance in case Lewis/White down. Imagine those 2 in the backfield on 3 and 3....be pretty scary. Forget Forte, it's not happening..

 

[BigKen]

The guys on the radio were talking about it and they sometimes say stuff to get the listening audience excited and that gets phone calls and advertising dollars. I only heard about three minutes before I got out of my car and went grocery shopping. I may have heard it wrong but I know I heard "Forte's agent" in the conversation.

 

[BigKen]

On Patsfans.com Miguel Benzan has an article on Forte and the impact on the salary cap if the Patriots make him an offer. That could be why the radio guys are talking about it.

 

[cdumler7]

Like I said teams can and are having internal discussions about every free agent out there but unless they are cut no team can be in communication with a FA's agent. Huge tampering violations and you are looking at some hefty fines and probably another 1st round pick next year gone. The Patriots won't do that or at least wouldn't make it where a local radio guy would know it happened.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I hope this isn't another case of BB thinking he's smarter than the league where he interpets the verbiage of tampering. The Bears have come out and said they will not resign Forte? Forte is a nice fit but at 30 hope he doesn't want the moon? Pats will need a discoubt to get him.

 

[BigKen]

Forte made $7.056M this year. About the max the Pats would pay might be $3.0M.

 

[SDGuy73]

RB Forte, Bears parting ways after 8 seasons

"Despite my wishes, my days as a member of the Chicago Bears have sadly come to an end," Forte said in an Instagram post. "I was informed earlier this week from the GM that they will not be attempting to re-sign me in free agency.

 

[CreepCreep2014]

I hope this isn't another case of BB thinking he's smarter than the league where he interprets the verbiage of tampering. The Bears have come out and said they will not resign Forte? Forte is a nice fit but at 30 hope he doesn't want the moon? Pats will need a discoubt to get him.

I really don't think Kraft is going to let any of this happen. I am sure there are ways to get to a players agent with out anyone knowing. Maybe a "hey were interested" type of deal, prob no numbers passed around. I don't recall BB getting caught with any tampering in the past. Not sure why he would, they never sign top FA anyway. BB has no room for a "misinterprets" the rules. He pulls that lame ass excuse again, he is gone....

 

[BigKen]

Mario Williams was cut by the Bills today in a big money savings move. Rumor is that he immediately called Belichick to inquire if the Patriots might be interested in his services. Supposedly Belichick told him he'd be interested at less than half of what he was making with the Bills.

I don't doubt that Williams' agent is calling every team in the NFL, but I can't imagine Williams calling BB.

 

[Southieinnc]

Reporters do all the talking.
Half of them hate the Patriots and continually drum up bad deals the Patriots "might do"
They are drooling at the thought the Pats might go to cap-hell like the Dolphins did with Suh.....

 

[ohiopatsfan]

It sounds like $2M would land either Forte or Ivory. I would prefer Forte, as Ivory seems to be slowing down from overuse.

 

[BigKen]

What about Arian Foster. I know he's been hurt, but he wouldn't have to carry a massive load with Lewid coming back. He'd be cheap and ready to prove the Texans were wrong......

 

[Yankee Traveler]

It sounds like $2M would land either Forte or Ivory. I would prefer Forte, as Ivory seems to be slowing down from overuse.

I like Forte, good hands.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

What about Arian Foster. I know he's been hurt, but he wouldn't have to carry a massive load with Lewid coming back. He'd be cheap and ready to prove the Texans were wrong......

If all things were equal I'd want Forte. However, Foster and his knee issues makes him a likely pick up by BB. Please no Bill we have enough players with past knee injuries. 2M for Forte I'm all in.

 

[BigKen]

Apparently the Dolphins heard the rumor that the Patriots had talked to illiams. They went out and signed him for 2 years $16M guaranteed. The guy was a huge problem in the Bills locker room and Ryan cut him because he didn't play well at all in 2015. Now the Dolphins have an under performing Suh and a malcontent Williams. So what happens? Two overpaid under achievers continue to collect and under achieve or do they challenge each other and become beasts of the East?

Matt Forte visited the Green Bay Packers today. Eddie Lacy was told by the Packers to lose weight during the off season and he moved to Jackson Hole Wyoming to work out with the guy who made the Flex CDs and is a workout Oholic. Lacy took photos of himself when he started working out and has released photos of himself today. I haven't seen them but what I heard was that he actually is nothing but a six foot muscle and some media say he looks like he may have lost too much weight. I'd like to see the before and after shots. If the Packers sign Forte, maybe Lacy will become available.