APWhile other running backs stacked up big money this offseason, Matt Forte patiently waited for his contract extension to get taken care of.
It looks like he’ll be waiting a while longer.
Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo told WBBM in Chicago that the Bears and Forte’s representatives have agreed to put off contract talks until after the season. There were recently reports that Forte was getting offered a deal with roughly $13-14 million guaranteed. Clearly, that wasn’t enough to close a deal.
It’s a risky move for both sides, but Forte takes the biggest risk. He could get hurt and he’s not exactly guaranteed a gigantic pay day if he gets to free agency. They Bears could also retain him with the franchise tag next year, although that number is very high for running backs.
We still wouldn’t be surprised to see a deal completed during the year anyway. Saying that talks have been cut off allows Forte and the organization to stop talking about the situation publicly.
It makes too much sense for both sides to get a deal finalized to take the Bears at their word.
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Why is Cutler wearing a Mountie hat?
Will Roy “Oilcan” Williams make him carry his pads now?
I think the bears are rolling the dice on this one. Obviously Forte is too, but the Bears are counting on the fact that they can retain or replace him cheaper come next off season and they are likely right.
Typical Bears, wouldn’t wanna keep Forte happy. You pay Chester Taylor 7m for 250 something yards and this guy is still making around 1/2m.
More importantly did Cutler really wear that hat at practice?
jdreed68 says:
Sep 6, 2011 11:50 AM
Why is Cutler wearing a Mountie hat?
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Not on topic, but good point. too funny.
Meanwhile, I really like Forte and believe he has earned a new deal. However, I think he needs to fire Lance Briggs as his negotiating consultant. Seriously, he is taking a HUGE risk by being too picky.
It makes too much sense for both sides to get a deal finalized to take the Bears at their word.
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This is the Bear’s front office we’re talking about, right?
Bears are headed for implosion….
Matt was talking contract extension until that picture went public…… Why would any coach allow there QB to look so stupid?
Tiki is devastated
Bears DUH
Martz makes him wear something stupid for every pick he throws. The clown shoes don’t show in this pic.
Matt Forte? Yes
Lance Briggs? No
Frankly, all Bears’ contracts should include a 50% injury risk premium for playing on their crappy turf.
medtxpack says:
Sep 6 , 2011 12: 00 PM
Bears are headed for implosion….
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Hey Chicken Little,
Do you believe that if you post the same thing repeatedly, more people might pay attention to it?
Briggs wants a new deal, but his current deal was front loaded, and he wasn’t crying then. he’s not getting a new deal.
Forte, while good, isn’t great, and if he expects really good money, he’ll need to get that from another team. and with many teams going with a multiple back offense, good luck getting a huge payday from someone else.
That’s an implosion? Every team has a few guys crying about money.
I like jay cutler, but that is a ridiculous hat.
Bring back Garrett Wolfe!!
“jdreed68 says: Sep 6, 2011 11:50 AM
Why is Cutler wearing a Mountie hat?”
Its not a Mountie Hat is a Mount-me hat.
Forte, while unspectacular, is the best Bears RB since Neal Anderson.
Neal Anderson!
That being said, I think Forte is foolish to pass up 13-14m guaranteed.
DUH- Bearz.
He should have held out. He’s outperformed his slotted rookie contract. If he had underperformed, the team would have cut him.
Will Roy “Oilcan” Williams make him carry his pads now?
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Roy repotedly feel more confident with kotex brand.
Wow… just… well… wow.
Matt – come to Detroit.
Briggs needs to fire Rosenhaus, he screwed him with this deal….should have done a 4 year deal, giving him two paydays instead of just one.
“That’s an implosion? Every team has a few guys crying about money”.
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They do? Who in Green Bay, is currently crying about money? No one. Although, somewhere in Mississippi, Favre is crying because he smashed his cell phone against the wall when Rodgers won a SB and the SB MVP.
But, you know … we all knew that, LOL.
This doesn’t surprise me, they are very cheap when it comes to paying the good players.
With all the cap room they’ve got, why not use it during the 2011 league year? Maybe they can still do so after the regular season is done, but it would make sense to do it now before the other RBs start inking contracts to increase Forte’s market value.
It’s pretty clear that their practice hat fund is running low.
Jerry Angelo fails again!
Does Jerry Angelo secretly work for The Packers/Lions/Vikings in an attempt to mess up the bears?
Da Bears showing why they are slowly falling further and further behind GB and Detroit once again.
@axespray no da bears just garbage they will b the nfc north basement
If he was really offered that money guarunteed…and the rest of the deal wasn’t in some way absurd, then I don’t know what he is thinking. He’s not elite. He’s solid and he’s good.As long as there was a decent salary and nothing completely screwy thrown in then.
January 23, 2011
A day the will live in infamy!
The Bears can’t afford to give him a raise. They need their money to buy grass seed.
mineallmine001 says: Sep 6, 2011 7:10 PM
If you have to take a beat to figure out what it could possibly be, it’s not exactly infamous. Nice try, though.