FLORHAM PARK -- The Jets are rebuilding. Matt Forte is a 31-year-old running back on the back-nine of his NFL career.

With the NFL trade deadline looming, it seems like a rather simple equation: Deal Forte to a contender where he can chase the first Super Bowl of his career. Recoup draft capital to aid the future success of this franchise.

It's a win-win.

Just don't tell Forte that.

"It hasn't come up," the running back said Monday, a day before the deadline. "That's something the media, or you guys, kind of think would be smart move that gets headlines read. Nobody has come to be about that."

The Jets signed Forte to a three-year deal last March. At the time, he was a perfect fit. The Jets were coming off a season that fell just short of the playoffs. Forte was part of a re-up in the offseason to make another run with an aging roster.

But in 2016, the Jets were a massive, dysfunctional mess. They finished 5-11. So, this past offseason, general manager Mike Maccagnan blew things up. Forte was one of the few veterans to survive the roster purge -- which could have been because of his contract.

If the Jets cut Forte this offseason, they'd lose out on $6 million in dead money. Their financial out comes next offseason, when that dead figure drops to $1 million.The Jets could and can, however, trade him. That would involve another team taking on the base salary of his deal -- $4 million before the season, $1.8 million now.

In late August, a report indicated the Jets had Forte on the trade block. Forte said that report wasn't accurate.

"When it first came out, I talked to Mike about that type of stuff," Forte said. "He said, 'No. There's no chance.' It's just low-hanging fruit for (media) to write about. I don't see that happening."

Even if the Jets wanted to deal Forte, it seems unlikely a team would be willing to part with a draft pick for his services.

Forte's played in six of the Jets' eight games this year -- he missed two with a turf toe injury. He has 43 rushes for 164 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and no touchdowns. He's been a bit more impactful out of the backfield, but not much. Forte has 25 catches for 203 yards.

Forte said he wants to stay with the Jets.

"Why not?" Forte said. "I'm under contract. I signed here for a reason: To come here and win games and try to help this team go to the playoffs. Why would I try to jump ship?"

Trade rumors weren't the only topic Forte juked around on Monday. After the Jets' 25-20 loss to the Falcons, the back ripped offensive coordinator John Morton and the Jets' offensive game plan.

Apparently, Forte said, the Jets planned to run the ball in the torrential rain. Instead, they went to the air. Forte had just four rushes. The Jets ran just twice in the fourth quarter.

"We knew the weather was going to be like this, and it continued to rain the entire game," Forte said on Sunday. "There should have been at least one person with 20 carries with the way the weather was. I thought we were going to grind them out on the ground, but it ended up not turning out that way.

"I think everyone knows (running the ball) was the game plan, and we strayed away from it."

On Monday, Forte said he talked to Morton and head coach Todd Bowles about his remarks. The back wouldn't go into details, other than it entailed "ways to help us win football games." He added Morton was "open-minded" in the conversation.

When pressed additionally, Forte changed the subject.

"Does anyone have any questions about Thursday? Buffalo?" Forte said. "Because this is kind of over with. It's overkill."

Bowles, at his daily press conference, didn't address Forte's comments much, either. He chalked it up to "frustration." Bowles -- who spoke before Forte -- denied talking to the back about it. He said "there's no need." After a few additional Forte questions, Bowles snapped.

"I think it's a waste of my time to even talk about," he said.

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.