Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte have a history, which would go a long way in explaining why the former described the latter as the NFL's best all-around running back.
"This is a guy that, to me, over the past eight years has been the best all-around back our league has had," Marshall told NJ Advance Media. "I think it's going to be a treat for all of New York to just sit back and watch him really work.
"He does it all. He picks up blitzes, he puts his nose in there, he catches the ball out of the backfield. He has amazing vision. He's a leader. He's the type of guy you want in your locker room."
Before Forte joined Marshall on the Jets this offseason, they both played together in Chicago, so Marshall has firsthand knowledge with just how good Forte is. And his "best all-around" assessment isn't hyperbole; according to Football Outsiders' metrics, Forte ranked No. 2 in total value among all running backs last season behind only Seattle's Thomas Rawls. And Forte's been consistent too; he ranked 12th in 2014, 4th in 2013 and 11th in 2012.
And while no one questions how good Forte has been, it's certainly fair to wonder what type of player he'll be now that he's on the wrong side of 30. Running back is a young man's position and players like Rawls, Le'Veon Bell and Todd Gurley are on the top of most folks' (us included) "best all-around" lists.
Of course, the Jets have much bigger issues than a player entering his ninth season. Primary among them: Settling the quarterback position. Yes, Geno Smith technically is an option, and the team did use a second-round pick on Christian Hackenberg, but the ideal scenario involves re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has said that he'd rather sit on his couch than play for the paltry $8 million the Jets are offering him.
Whoever ends up under center, Forte will provide the offense with another weapon to go along with Marshall, Eric Decker and former second-rounders Devin Smith and Jace Amaro. As always, whether it'll be enough to unseat the Patriots in the division remains to be seen.
