The Bears were not the only ones thinking they could manage and it was time to move on from a once-elite running back.
In moves paralleling the Bears’ redirecting away from Matt Forte, not entirely surprising, the Houston Texans cut running back Arian Foster and his $6.5 million salary for 2016 rather than attempt a renegotiation. This follows the Detroit Lions release last month of Joique Bell with one year remaining on his deal.
The Bears decided following the 2015 season that understudies Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey would capably move into the vacuum created by the team not offering Forte a contract.
However, that may not be the end of it for the Bears, as far as running backs are concerned.
[SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]
The Carolina Panthers with John Fox as coach used two No. 1 picks in the span of three years on running backs – DeAngelo Williams in 2006, Jonathan Stewart in 2008 – in addition to a No. 2 in 2002 on one, DeShaun Foster.
The New Orleans Saints, during the time Bears GM Ryan Pace was a member of their personnel operations, used the No. 2-overall pick of the 2006 draft on a running back – Reggie Bush – and came back with their second No. 1 pick in 2011 for another – Mark Ingram.
NFL
Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott is regarded as the top running back in the 2016 draft. The Bears may be saying now that they are good with their running backs, but if Elliott happens to still be around at No. 11 of the 2016 first round...