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I was quite frankly surprised at how many of you support the Chicago Bears' stance with tailback Matt Forte, and as a result are unconcerned about the potential connection between team morale and competitiveness. That issue was the crux of our Have at It debate this week, which asked you to consider whether the continued public complaints from Forte and his teammates will scuttle the Bears' playoff run.

The public discussion continued even after our Wednesday morning post. Linebacker Brian Urlacher termed it "so disappointing" that the Bears haven't agreed to terms on a contract extension for Forte, who is having an MVP-type season. Forte told ESPN's Josina Anderson that it was "odd" the Bears didn't seem interested in rewarding him, and even NBA star LeBron James tweeted that the Bears should "pay the man, please."

I don't necessarily think your position is wrong. My experience is that most fans want to see well-liked incumbents remain happily with their team. But in the end, I suppose you're not worried about Forte leaving because of the franchise tag, and you're not willing to accept any drop in competitiveness created by off-field issues.

Forte has turned down an offer that included between $13 million and $14 million in guarantees -- less than half what the Tennessee Titans gave Chris Johnson and the Minnesota Vikings gave Adrian Peterson. If he plays under the franchise tag next season, Forte will have a one-year contract worth the average salary of the NFL's five highest-paid running backs, projected to be about $7.7 million.

Wrote severs28: "How is an average salary of the top 5 players at your position a second-rate contract?"

It isn't for 2012, of course. But it is over the long term, considering Forte would need to continue his current level to earn a franchise tag for 2013 and match the guaranteed money he has since turned down. Running back production often peters out as a player enters his late 20's, and bpalton007 wrote:

"The Bears are making the smart business call. I would never pay huge bucks for a running back in a league where 2,000 yards from Chris Johnson doesn't even get you into the playoffs, and excellence year in and year out from AP has translated to [nothing] for the Vikes (except in 2009, with Brett Favre)."

In a running back's worse nightmare, his team takes advantage of the franchise system to avoid ever committing money beyond the current season. It leaves the player at a higher level of risk and elevates the feeling of a one-sided relationship.

As harsh as it might be, many of you can see where the Bears are coming from. As Jwoude23 noted: "The Bears are planning on riding Forte for this year and next (under the franchise tag) and then letting some other team overpay for his nonproductive years after that. As much as it pains me to say it, it's the smart football move, as running backs break down very quickly and are always one injury away from losing their agility, and therefore their edge."

Jwoude23 acknowledged that while it makes sense from a football perspective, "it probably does negatively impact the players to see the lack of loyalty shown to a consistent performer who is also a class act."

So does that mean anything? You were split at best on that. Biggest Cheese wondered if "a distrust of upper management" could make future players harder to sign. But would it impact how the team plays for the rest of the 2011 season? At best, wrote youspellgodMARK, it could galvanize players moving forward:

"To me, it seems that it has united the players against a common enemy: Management. Many contracts are incentivized, so the best way to strike back at management is to make them pay out as many bonuses as possible. Since (to this point) no players have grumbled against the coaches or each other, I think this only helps to galvanize the team."

My take? I really do think it's rare to see this level of on-the-record public discussion about a contract issue during the season. That many of the Bears' team leaders have spoken out, as well as players on other teams and even in other sports, suggests it's being viewed as more than your basic contract stalemate.

Forte is in a rare spot: He has elevated his play to the point where he's out-priced himself for what appears to be the Bears' business model at his position. The first half of his season, at least, is on par with or better than what the very best running backs in the game have done. He turned down what would have been a below-market deal on those terms, but now he faces the real possibility of being guaranteed less to play in 2012 and then finding himself in the same situation after that season.

With that said, if the Bears don't make the playoffs in 2011, it won't be because of the way they handled Forte's contract situation. It will be because they couldn't protect quarterback Jay Cutler, or their defense got too old or Devin Hester didn't get any big returns. Players in Chicago might not be happy, but that state of mind doesn't necessarily correspond with competitiveness.

John Clayton and Todd McShay on LeBron James' chances as an NFL player.

Wendi Nix and Chris Mortensen talk about the Eagles bringing in defensive coaching help; Marcellus Wiley answers fan tweets about the dominance of Calvin Johnson; Kordell Stewart poses the question of the best receiver in the NFL, and Did You Hear That? LeBron has interest in playing in the NFL during the NBA lockout!

John Clayton and Todd McShay on LeBron James' chances as an NFL player.

LeBron James has company when it comes to defending Denver quarterback Tim Tebow against criticism levied by ESPN analyst Merril Hoge.

Former Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon questioned the ability of Hoge -- a former running back -- to evaluate quarterback play. Wednesday on “SportsCenter,” Hoge was highly skeptical of Tebow’s ability to become an effective NFL quarterback. James tweeted about it later Wednesday, supporting Tebow.

Continuing the firestorm, Gannon spoke about it Thursday on his Sirius radio show. “It bothers me when old running backs or old offensive linemen who’ve now become analysts start analyzing the quarterback position," Gannon said. "They’re not experts at it. They’ve never played the position. I’m always curious, when they put on the tape, what are they watching? Are they watching footwork? Are they watching mechanics? Are they watching anticipation? Do they understand what the quarterback is told in terms of the progressions, where the read is? You know, so those are the things that really bother me and I just thought he came out and his comments were very strong and I thought a little out of line when you talk about Tim Tebow.”

Gannon said he thinks Tebow will succeed in the NFL.

“[Tebow] did some good things last year,” Gannon said. “I think he has a bright future in the league. He’s no different than a lot of young quarterbacks. There’s things he’s got to work on, things he has to get cleaned up. The only way he’s going to do that is to go play. And so you got to be patient with him. He played a handful of games last year. … And this guy is a good kid and he wants to be great, he wants to do the work. Teammates out there love him, he’s competitive, he works at it, he does all the things you like in a quarterback. Yeah, does he have to get better in terms of his accuracy, in terms of his mechanics and things he’s got to get cleaned up? Certainly, but we have to give the guy a chance … You look at Tim Tebow, he’s got some of the things I admire in a young quarterback. I think he’s tough, he’s got some grittiness, he’s a competitor and I think he works at it. He’s got great feet, he’s got mobility, he can run with the football, he’s tough and yet he’s got some things he’s got to get better at in terms of the passing game ... As you look at him there’s a lot of things that I like about him and I just think he’s going to prove a lot of people wrong if people will just give him a chance.”

What does it mean? Not much. Just like the fact that Hoge’s criticism doesn’t mean Tebow will have a lousy career, Gannon’s assessment doesn’t mean Tebow will be a star. It is further evidence that Tebow is perhaps the most polarizing player in the NFL.

Tim Tebow has responded to the harsh criticism of him by ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge.


In his first tweet in nine days, Tebow wrote this Wednesday evening: "Hey Merril ...... 'ppreciate that."

It was in response to Hoge’s analysis of Tebow on "SportsCenter" on Wednesday morning.

Hoge said he has studied film of Tebow’s play last year and was not impressed. Hoge said Tebow has the skill set of a player drafted in the sixth or seventh round. Former Denver coach Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow in the first round (No. 25 overall) in 2010. Hoge said Tebow’s accuracy is "awful" and there is no way he is ready to start in the NFL. Hoge equated it to a Clydesdale running in the Kentucky Derby.

Tebow has fallen well behind Kyle Orton in the race to be Denver’s starting quarterback. Tebow’s tweet is not surprising. He has always been motivated by criticism.

Interestingly, Tebow received support Wednesday from another professional athlete who knows a thing about being maligned lately -- LeBron James. He sent out a series of tweets regarding Tebow and Hoge. This is one of James’ tweets: "Tim Tebow will succeed in the NFL. He's a hard worker, a student of the game, a natural born leader and most of all a WINNER! It takes time and he'll be nice."

I’m sure Tebow 'ppreciates James' words as well.

Nnamdi Asomugha is taking his talents to South … Philly.

In a dramatic three-day saga that had much of the same drama as LeBron James' free-agent trek last year, the Oakland Raiders' free-agent cornerback has agreed to a five-year, $60 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Oakland's best player is leaving after eight seasons.

I will have more thoughts on this stunning story later.

I must apologize to my readers.

Perhaps I imbibed too much eggnog last week and was enraptured by all those Burl Ives tunes, but amid all my Christmas mirth I missed one of the greatest stories of the year.

Volatile basketball star Ron Artest announced he wants to play tight end for the New York Jets.

What could go wrong?

Artest was a guest on "Pardon the Interruption" two days before Christmas. He has been making the media rounds for mental health awareness. Insert your own Jets joke here.

Maybe there's room in the organization for someone with scandal experience. Artest, a 6-foot-7 Los Angeles Lakers forward, has been involved in many wacky incidents over the years, most infamously the 2004 brawl with fans in Detroit. Artest is the subject of a Toronto art exhibit that focuses on his history of outlandish behavior.

"PTI" co-host Tony Kornheiser asked how serious Artest is about the NFL.

"It's definitely an ambition," Artest said. "I think you only live once if I'm not mistaken. I wish I lived twice. So any time I have a chance to take advantage ... still being athletic enough, when you think about my dreams as a kid -- boxing, playing football -- you think about certain things. You think 'If I had the opportunity to play, why not take advantage of it? Why let it sit on the table?

"If there's a possibility, and if I do get a chance, you won't see Ron Artest saying 'Nah, I'll pass.' You'll see Ron Artest saying 'I wan to see if I can do it.' "

Artest turned 31 in November and hails from Queens. He's a longtime Jets fan.

"If I did get the opportunity I would not have a preference for a team because I'm not good enough where I can say I want to play for a particular team," Artest said. "But in a perfect world it would be the Jets, tight end for the Jets."

Basketball players sometimes make great tight ends. San Diego Chargers star Antonio Gates played basketball -- and no football -- at Kent State. Tony Gonzalez, a future Hall of Famer with the Atlanta Falcons, played college hoops.

The Jets experimented with Cleveland State power forward J'Nathan Bullock last year, but he couldn't make the team.

Last year, I examined what kind of football player Lebron James would've been had he gone that route. James was an All-Ohio receiver as high school sophomore, and some NFL observers quoted in the story projected him as a star tight end.

CLEVELAND -- A few halftime notes from Cleveland Browns Stadium, where the New York Jets lead 17-13:

• When it comes to a Cleveland fan's hatred, Braylon Edwards isn't too far behind LeBron James. The crowd has cascaded boos and some unflattering chants upon him. He has two receptions for 27 yards.
• Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had a nice first half. He completed nine of 13 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. He also scored on a 1-yard quarterback draw 23 seconds before halftime.
• The Jets' vaunted defense hasn't looked too swift. Then again, maybe what the Browns did to the New England Patriots last week wasn't a fluke. The Browns' offensive line has manhandled the Jets. Former Jets coordinator Brian Daboll, now calling plays for the Browns, has done a wonderful job of mixing the run and pass.
• The Jets weren't able to take advantage of gift-wrapped field position on their first two drives. The Browns made a field goal on their opening drive and then tried an unsuccessful onside kick. Nick Folk eventually kicked a field goal. On the next drive, Peyton Hillis fumbled on the Browns' 31-yard line. After a three-and-out (plus a delay of game), Folk missed a 48-yard attempt.
• Jets safety Jim Leonhard has had a busy first half with a team-high six tackles and the forced fumble on Hillis.
• Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson have split the backfield workload. Each has seven carries. Greene leads with 34 yards, while Tomlinson has 28 yards.

Bill Parcells has been a media hermit since he took over the Miami Dolphins in December 2007.

He sat down for an introductory news conference and reluctantly met with reporters at an endorsement obligation for Gatorade. That was all we've heard aside from an extemporaneous comment here or there about his love for horse racing or some historical football perspective.

So it was pretty big news that Parcells was on a conference call Thursday with New York Giants reporters to talk about being inducted in their Ring of Honor at the new Meadowlands stadium.

For the first time, reporters had the chance to ask him about his future. The Dolphins announced a few days before their season opener Parcells had stepped down as executive vice president and turned over football operations to general manager Jeff Ireland.

Parcells has stayed on as a consultant. But what's next?

"Well, that is a good question," Parcells replied. "I am not a sit-around-the-fireplace guy. I don't know. I am not certain about it. We will see what happens when the time comes.

"I know I want to do something even if it is not day-to-day or something like that, I know I want to do something. I don't like sitting around. I like to get up and go do something. We will figure it out when the time comes."

Parcells' comments are ominous given his history as a restless football soul and the fact he can walk away from his Dolphins contract with full pay whenever the mood strikes him.

His contract with the Dolphins runs through 2011. When new owner Stephen Ross bought the team from Wayne Huizenga, Parcells negotiated a clause that will allow him to leave at any time, collect every last cent and not be prevented from working for another team.

Under Ross, the Dolphins have turned into a glitzy operation that embraces celebrity and the South Florida lifestyle as much as it does touchdowns. Ross has sold pieces of the team to Fergie, Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony and Serena and Venus Williams. Jimmy Buffet got involved in a deal with the Dolphins last year that included stadium naming rights.

For Sunday night's home opener, the Dolphins rolled out an orange carpet for a slew of celebrities to walk past the paparazzi: Jennifer Lopez (Anthony's wife), Kim Kardashian, Enrique Iglesias, T-Pain, Anna Kournikova, Tara Reid and Helio Castroneves among them. attendees who avoided the orange carpet included Tiger Woods, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who, coincidentally, was the subject of a story for which Parcells once actually called me back.

As much as Parcells isn't a fan of the media, I'm sure even he rolled his eyes when he learned the Dolphins converted their press box into a nightclub-style suite.

Parcells is a football man. I'm sure he'd love to work for an organization that makes football the only priority and doesn't still consider Tara Reid a star.

LANDOVER, Md. -- Miami Heat guard LeBron James has caused quite a stir by showing up on the sideline 30 minutes prior to kickoff. James is a big Cowboys fan who also attended last season's road game against the Browns.

A couple of Redskins players ran out of bounds toward James during warm-ups just to get a closer look. He appears to have at least an 11-member entourage, but the number is growing by the minute.

A team-by-team look at the most indispensable players (non-quarterbacks) in the division.

The NFL, perhaps more than any professional sport, is a league filled with replaceable players. By sheer numbers, fielding 22 players on offense and defense makes it difficult for a single cog to be above the team, especially for non-quarterbacks.

But there are several players vital to AFC North teams. Here are four difference-makers in the division:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: TROY POLAMALU

To define Polamalu's importance, look no further than last season. Pittsburgh missed the playoffs in 2009, mostly because its defense was unable to hold leads in the fourth quarter without its star safety in the lineup.

Polamalu missed 11 games with a left knee injury, and it appeared the other 10 defenders were overcompensating for Polamalu's absence by blowing routine assignments. Polamalu provides a calming influence, and his greatness can be measured by his teammates playing at a higher level when he's in the game.

Steelers defensive coordinator and 2010 Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau recently said he cannot find a weakness with Polamalu. He's athletic, smart, instinctive and excels against the pass and the run.

Pittsburgh's defense without Polamalu is good (No. 5 in 2009), but with Polamalu, it might be the best in the NFL.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: JOSH CRIBBS

Where would the Browns be without Cribbs?

For starters, you probably can erase two or three wins from last year's 5-11 record. Cribbs also might have saved Browns head coach Eric Mangini's job.

Cribbs was one of the few bright spots for Cleveland last season. He made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, but his ability to run the Wildcat also added a new wrinkle to the Browns' struggling offense, which finished last in the NFL in 2009.

The Browns plan to expand Cribbs' role, both in the Wildcat and as a receiver. The more the team is able to get the ball in his hands, the better.

Despite Cleveland adding pieces in the draft and free agency, Cribbs remains the Browns' most-feared player. He's also a locker-room leader and, perhaps, the new face of Cleveland sports now that LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat.

BALTIMORE RAVENS: RAY LEWIS

Lewis, 35, is no longer the Ravens' best player. That distinction could be shared by Ray Rice, Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata. But Lewis' leadership still makes him Baltimore's most indispensable player.

Lewis remains the heart and soul of a team many feel is a Super Bowl contender this year. Physically, the Ravens are stacked with talent at nearly every position. But there's no one in the locker room who can replace Lewis' role as the motivational leader.

On the field, Lewis made his 11th Pro Bowl last season, recording 134 tackles and three sacks. Backups Dannell Ellerbe or Tavares Gooden would be significant drop-offs if Lewis were injured. On the other hand, the Ravens have plenty of quality replacements ready for Rice, Reed and Ngata. Even Joe Flacco has a capable backup in veteran quarterback Marc Bulger.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: CEDRIC BENSON

Cincinnati is a team better defined by the sum of its parts. But if I had to pick the most important non-quarterback, it would be Benson.

The Bengals have two very good cornerbacks: Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. They have plenty of receivers, including two who have put up Hall of Fame-caliber numbers in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. But Benson is the workhorse who makes it all work. Benson opens things up for the passing game, which was inconsistent last season, and he moves the chains to help keep the defense off the field.

Second-year tailback Bernard Scott will help Benson carry the load this year. He showed positive flashes as a rookie, but the former sixth-round pick remains unproven. With Cincinnati expected to pass more, Benson might not match his career-best 1,251 rushing yards from last season. But that doesn't make him any less important.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco is one of the most popular athletes in the world on Twitter.

On Tuesday evening Ochocinco sent some interesting tweets following the Bengals agreeing to a new contract with his good friend Terrell Owens.

1. 
   OGOchoCinco #OCNNBREAKINGNEWS My homeboy is a Bengal, all of our games have been moved to pay-per-view, you got to pay to see this shh! 27 Jul 2010 from twidroid
2. 
   OGOchoCinco @KingJames you ready to play that 3 on 3 now, me TO and Antonio Bryant against you DWade and Bosh 27 Jul 2010 from twidroid
3. 
   OGOchoCinco I bet i won't see all them damn double teams now! Cedric Benson could have a 2,000 yard season with the attention we gonna command 27 Jul 2010 from twidroid

Cleveland is a city that is no stranger to heartbreak. Whether it's "The Drive," "The Fumble," "The Shot" or being championship-deprived since 1964, northeastern Ohio has suffered misfortune time after time.

But LeBron James leaving Cleveland Thursday cuts the city deeper than most. James was a homegrown talent, a prodigy from nearby Akron who was expected to end Cleveland's lengthy title drought.

Things didn't turn out as planned and James bolted to the Miami Heat in a quest to secure his legacy and win multiple championships. With the Cleveland Cavaliers now left to pick up the pieces, can the Browns do their part this year to heal the city's heartbreak?

There isn't much that could help Cleveland get over James' decision. But a surprising playoff run by the Browns in 2010 might do the trick.

Cleveland is a football town first. Only the Browns' struggles since 1999 combined with a once-in-a-generation basketball talent were able to challenge that. But with James now in South Beach, it's official the Browns are the unquestioned biggest game in town once again.

Perhaps James' decision to leave places added pressure on the Browns. But it's also a golden opportunity for Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini & Co. to unify a struggling city that's experienced another reason not to believe in its sports teams.

Can the Browns pull it off?

What might have happened had LeBron James chosen football over basketball?

Domination on Friday night doesn't mean much when a colossus is leaping over pimple-faced twerps, but James has proven he can compete against world-class competition. It's not silly to think he could have made it in the NFL, too.

He's a 6-foot-8, 250-pound freak of stature. He would tower above NFL defensive backs and other receivers. Plus, he owns a 44-inch vertical leap, which would rank among the top 10 recorded at the NFL scouting combine.

Editor's note: This story by ESPN.com's Tim Graham was originally posted May, 31, 2009. What NBA team will LeBron James sign with? Watch him announce his decision Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.