Matt Forte Contract: Does He Deserve Chris Johnson-Type Money?

Matt Forte is having a fantastic start to the 2011 NFL season. Oddly enough, he is set to become a free agent next year.

The question on everyone's mind still stands: Will Matt Forte get top running back money? AKA Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson money.

To first analyze this question, let's compare the stats of Forte and Johnson—who are from the same draft class—from their first three years.

In their rookie seasons, Forte was the feature back while Johnson was still splitting time with LenDale White (remember him? Me either). They had essentially the same amount of rushing yards but Johnson averaged a yard more per carry.

Forte was much more effective in the pass game as he had more catches, more yards, a better average and more touchdowns.

The year 2009 was Johnson's huge breakout year as Forte took a step backward. CJ2K earned his nickname as he ran for 2,006 yards and pulled in another 500 through the air. Forte, on the other hand, ran for just 929 yards on a pedestrian 3.6 yards per carry.

The gap between the two narrowed in 2010. Johnson ran for more yards, but Forte finally passed CJ in the yards per carry column with an impressive 4.5. Forte was again more productive in the passing game.

Now the present year. Forte already has 26 catches, over 600 total yards and 5.4 yards per carry. Johnson, on the other hand, is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and hasn't come close to earning the big money he got in the offseason.

So what you have right now is two players moving in opposite directions. Johnson, while still incredibly explosive and young, appears to have hit his ceiling in 2009. 

Forte may have hit his floor in 2009 as he has continually improved since then. He's also shown that he's more of a dual-threat than Johnson is. 

It now comes down to money.

Were Johnson's huge performances just a product of a money-driven player? Is he unlikely to return to that form now that he has been paid?

Also, if that's true, is Forte the same type of player? Is this big 2011 season just an attempt to get the most money possible?

Honestly, I don't know Johnson or Forte so I can't answer those questions. The innocent kid in me wants to believe that money has no factor in performance, but that's simply not true.

Still though, we have to go off what we see and what we know.

And what I've seen is Matt Forte producing at an incredibly high level. Call him the product of being Chicago's only offensive weapon, but his yards per touch are amazing too.

What I've seen is Matt Forte playing better than Chris Johnson.

I didn't necessarily think Chris Johnson should have gotten "Chris Johnson money" in the first place. But if he got it, Forte deserves it too.