As Tuesday's trade deadline approaches, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte's name keeps getting tossed around.
Given the Bears are in rebuilding mode and Forte is set to hit free agency in 2016, he's a logical candidate to discuss moving -- however unlikely trades are in the NFL.
Count Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as one teammate who doesn't want to see the veteran traded by the Nov. 3 deadline.
"I wouldn't trade him for anybody else," Cutler said of Forte, via the team's official website. "He's a three-down back. He does so much protection-wise. He does so much in the passing game. You can line him up in all different scenarios, all different sets. He gets the job done. He's kind of a security blanket for us."
Forte turns 30 in December, which is one reason a trade is unlikely, but Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase doesn't believe the back is beholden to the 30-year cliff like many other tailbacks.
"The age thing for him, I don't even know if it's relevant," Gase said. "He's playing at an elite level. He was leading the league in rushing there for a minute. We'll see what happens in the next 10 games, but I'm pretty sure people know we're going to try to get him the ball."
Instead the underappreciated back will carry the load for Cutler and a mediocre Bears squad.
