Regardless of whether the Bears are headed to the Super Bowl this season, everyone knows what to expect from running back Matt Forte. Speed, consistency and reliability week in and week out.
Moreover, you'd expect to see Forte making a great catch and even dancing into the end zone. But would you expect to see him dancing in a grass skirt?
Forte is part of the cast of the comedy called "Tough Season 2," a Web mockumentary series, put together in conjunction with The Onion and technology company Lenovo. The comedy features Forte along with other NFL stars such as Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, Denver receiver Wes Welker and Washington running back Albert Morris.
"I'm pretty reserved to people I've just met, but once I get to know you you'll see the humor come out," he said.
Along with fellow football pros, Forte gets to clown around with "Drunk History's" Tim Baltz and comedian Brad Blevins. In one episode called "Cheeseburger in a Coconut," Blevins sings a beachy tune reminiscent of Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" while Forte and Morris dance in grass skirts and their NFL jerseys.
Forte said one of the best parts is the fun that comes with the improvisational nature and being put on the spot.
"Me and Brad Blevins were sitting on the couch just doing silly stuff, going back and forth." Forte said. "It wasn't even really supposed to be included, but they ended up rolling the camera and using it."
When asked which players possess the best acting skills, Forte hinted he's among top picks.
"I'd have to go with me or Wes [Welker]," he said. "We just look more natural."
Forte said his talents as a stealth comedian work well with the camera-ready composure of the others, especially the Denver star.
"I use many different types of humor, whether its sarcasm or just general silliness," he said. "Wes has had a little more experience being on TV than some of the other guys, but Andrew [Luck] has been pretty good too."
While Welker brings perhaps the most TV-friendly finesse to the set, in Forte's opinion, Luck has a knack for memorizing lines and nailing monologues. Morris, on the other hand, brings an ease. In one "Tough Season 2" extra, Morris brings a Tim Allen-like enthusiasm to the task of building a Tiki beach lounge.
"Each person-to be in something like this-uses a lot of their own personality to make it seem more natural," Forte said. "You definitely see some sarcasm in there."
One underlying theme of "Tough Season," which debuted at the beginning of the 2013 NFL season, is fantasy football and fans' obsession with it. Working on-set Baltz, a huge Bears fan, and Blevins, a fantasy devotee in his own right, all but assures fantasy football comes up in conversation.
"I just think it's funny how much people get really crazy about it," Forte said. "Most time people tell me "Good job, you helped me win." But if you have a bad game, on Twitter they can really come at you."
In the most recent episode of "Tough Season 2," Forte is informed by a friend that he's been dropped from his fantasy squad.
Another Bears nut, Ashton Kutcher, does more than check up on his favorite team. The actor checks in with his favorite running back regularly.
"I've talked to him through Twitter; he follows me and I follow him," Forte said, adding there's no fantasy football coaching or pep talks from Kutcher, as they keep it casual. "Sometimes we send direct messages and all that. But we don't Skype or anything."
Andy Frye is a RedEye special contributor.