It seems the acclaimed Chicago Bulls documentary “The Last Dance” has gotten people thinking. One of the underlying storylines was how GM Jerry Krause grew disillusioned with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson by 1997. He made it his mission to break up the team and start fresh following the 1997-1998 season. It led many to realize how destructive the ego of one man can be to great teams. Matt Forte understands that better than most.
When wide receiver Torrey Smith made a comment on Krause during the documentary, the former Chicago Bears running back sounded off with a cryptic tweet of his own.
This immediately got people speculating about who he might be talking about. Forte didn’t wait long to offer clarification. His beef lay with ex-GM Phil Emery whom he blamed for breaking up a team that was still capable of competing for a championship. That was until Lovie Smith and Brian Urlacher were run out of town.
Matt Forte clearly remains bitter about that disaster
There is no question Emery was the driving force behind the Bears’ descent into the NFL cellar this past decade. It started early with his ugly 2012 draft spearheaded by the Shea McClellin pick in the 1st round. Then after Smith went 10-6 but failed to qualify for the playoffs, the GM fired him in favor of CFL standout Marc Trestman. A man who hadn’t coached in the NFL for nine years. Then, rather than offer a fair deal to keep the team leader around, Emery basically made a take-it-or-leave-it offer to Urlacher.
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The Hall of Fame linebacker chose to retire instead.
From there the Bears began their steady crumbling. They went 8-8 in 2013 and bottomed out in 2014 at 5-11. Emery and Trestman were both fired, leaving a roster behind that was devoid of unity or any young talent. Just like that, Forte had watched his hopes of a Super Bowl vanish. All because one man had to have it his way.
