New Jets ballcarrier Matt Forte took a run at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby:

Q: Being as driven as you are, are you out to prove life begins at 30 for a running back?

A: Yeah, of course. When I was first coming up on a contract renewal when I was in Chicago, it was that, “Oh, running backs, the value’s not there.” But then I wanted to break the mold on that because the value is there. If you can run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield, you’re a valuable asset and you can create mismatches throughout the entire offense. So now that I’ve turned 30, everyone’s saying, “I’m a 30-year-old running back, they fall off,” all this other stuff. Nobody talks about the Curtis Martins or the Emmitt Smiths, or Marcus Allen, all these guys who played beyond 30 years old who did very well in their later ages. I want to be that guy who can break the mold and not succumb to the cliché thing about the older running backs.

Q: What do you remember about Martin with the Jets?

A: I liked his running style. He was a very patient runner. He let the blocking work for him, and then didn’t get too anxious about hitting the hole. I think at 30 or 31, he actually won the rushing title [at 31 in 2004], so that’s definitely one of my goals to follow in his footsteps like that, and be a running back for the Jets just as he was.

Q: Is that a realistic goal, to lead the league in rushing?

A: Why not? Is that a realistic question?

Q: Are your expectations to be an every-down back?

A: Yeah.

Q: How many passes can you catch in coordinator Chan Gailey’s offense?

A: As many as he calls.

Q: Personal goals?

A: As a running back, you always want to get over 1,000 yards rushing, and me being a receiving back, obviously impact the game in the all-purpose area as well. I’m more goal-oriented in team goals, like making the playoffs, going to the AFC Championship and winning it, going to the Super Bowl. … I feel like this team’s moving in the right direction.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: Some people say, “I play angry,” or “I play where I’m nervous” or something like that, but I’m more focused out there. Even teammates and friends kind of say, “During a game when stuff happens, I don’t really see you get too high of emotion or too low of emotion,” I kind of just stay even-keel out there because there’s ups and downs like a roller coaster in every game, and in life as well, so I kind of stay on an even playing field that I don’t get overwhelmed with anything.

Q: But you have to flip on a different kind of switch don’t you?

A: My switch is always on.

Q: Are you concerned that Ryan Fitzpatrick has yet to sign?

A: No I’m not. Contract situations take time. When I was going through my contract situation, it took the entire summer. I signed on the day of the deadline. You never know what’ll happen. … Geno [Smith is] there, competition between Bryce Petty and [rookie Christian] Hackenberg, who we just drafted. … I think competition creates the best atmosphere for success. It’s gonna be figured out no matter what happens. So I’m not really concerned about if Ryan doesn’t re-sign, or how long it’s taken. Things will work its way out.

Q: But you signed with the Jets thinking Fitzpatrick would be the quarterback, right?

A: That’s not my main reason for signing with the Jets. He did a great job last year. He had a lot of chemistry with Brandon [Marshall] and Eric Decker, especially on the outside in the passing game, and it’d be nice obviously to continue where he left off, but that’s the way the NFL is. If that doesn’t happen, you have to move on from there.

Q: Describe Brandon Marshall, who was your teammate in Chicago from 2012-14.

A: Definitely a guy who if you’re loyal to him, he’s gonna be loyal to you. I like to hold him accountable a lot because I think that’s why our friendship is so different than other friendships is because I can tell him stuff that other people may be afraid or nervous about telling him, because they might think he may not like it or something like that. It’s more of a brotherhood-type of friendship.

Q: Other than drinking spinach smoothies in the morning, what concessions to age have you made?

A: A bunch. I’ve changed my eating habits over the last year since I first came in. My routine of rehab, something that we call prehab, which is basically doing rehab before you get an injury so that everything is in line. Getting my greens, I make a smoothie out of ’em and drink it. … I think actually as a society in whole, we don’t really eat enough vegetables because it’s not popular. Some of the biggest and fastest and strongest animals aren’t meat eaters.

Q: You’re not a vegetarian, though.

A: No. I eat grilled chicken, grilled fish. I don’t eat much red meat because I actually did a blood test maybe five, six years ago and the best things for me to eat are grilled chicken and grilled fish because it’s lean protein, and I’m a lean guy. I’m a taller running back, but I’m not very stocky. I’m a lean muscle type of guy.

Q: Have you made any changes to your workout regimen?

A: I don’t train as I used to when I was 21, 22 years old. I still just train just as hard, I just don’t really run on concrete because it’s not good for the knees, obviously. But at this point it’s about training smarter, not harder. I’ve used Wood Way treadmills, which I think are very good because the belt doesn’t move, you have to use your own force to make the belt move on the treadmill. And finding alternative ways to actually condition yourself where you’re not gonna get very tired on the field without killing yourself in workout so you can be at your best on the field and not be too tired when that time comes.

Q: What other running backs did you like watching growing up and who do you like watching now?

Q: Marshall Faulk … Barry Sanders, of course. Emmitt Smith is actually the reason I wear 22 because I liked how he played so much. Deuce McAllister was kind of a smooth runner where if he broke out into the open field, it didn’t look like he was running very fast and nobody would catch him. … Eric Dickerson, another tall running back that I grew up watching. And current guys now, Jamaal Charles … Adrian Peterson, of course. Le’Veon Bell, who I’m very good friends with. Maurice Jones-Drew, who’s retired now, I loved watching him play.

Q: Are there running backs in today’s game who remind you of you?

A: No. One of a kind (laugh). Everybody has a different kind of running style. I don’t really see anybody who has the same running style as I do.

Q: What is your running style?

A: I’d say a patient runner. A smart runner, where when it’s time to be physical, I’ll be physical, and then when it’s time to make somebody miss and try to get the big play, I can do that as well.

Q: Growing up in Slidell, La., how did Katrina affect you?

A: It was devastating at the time. We went through a lot, but it helped me kind of mature as a young man in college [at Tulane] … You had to roll with the punches, from having to sleep on the gym floor for a couple of days and not have power, running water … to living in a condemned dorm during school for a whole semester. Just even aggravating stuff like being on the eighth floor and no elevator. It kind of disciplined me in the fact that life is not gonna be how you want it all the time.

Q: You’ve joined Le’Veon Bell, Greg Olsen, Shaq Lawson and Jaylon Smith as an ambassador for New Era caps.

A: I’ve been a fan of New Era caps since I was a kid. I was first introduced to the brand as a kid playing baseball, actually. New Era was the really nice brand you got to wear when you won a tournament or advanced really far in one.

Q: What kind of caps do you wear?

A: I wear everything from 59FIFTY fitteds to snapbacks and now knits.

Q: Cap style tips?

A: It’s all about the hookup. Matching your cap to your kicks is key!

Q: Four dinner guests?

A: Jesus, Martin Luther King, my grandmothers.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Predator.”

Q: Favorite actors?

A: Will Smith, Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Salma Hayek.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Gumbo — but only from Mom.