Running Games: C.J. Anderson talks Bears’ offer on ESPN

Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox heaped plenty of praise on running backs Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. Their potential is why the team moved on from Matt Forte.

But the Bears still actively pursued Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, who was a restricted free agent. In an interview on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Tuesday, Anderson essentially confirmed that the Bears had the most lucrative offer on the table.

“If it was about the money, I would’ve gone to Chicago,” Anderson said.

Instead, Anderson signed a four-year, $18 million offer sheet with the Dolphins. The Broncos matched the deal Tuesday.

Denver GM John Elway told reporters that Anderson’s new contract, which is front-loaded, was “a very fair package.”

The Bears had their connections to Anderson. Fox coached him for two years in Denver. Anderson was an undrafted free-agent signing out of California in 2013.

In his three seasons, Anderson has run for 1,607 yards and 13 touchdowns on 338 carries. He also has 59 catches for 507 yards and two scores in his career.

Anderson was essential to the Broncos’ Super Bowl run last season. He had 54 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs.

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