John Mullin, the latest member of the CSN family to join PFT Live, covers the Bears for CSNChicago.com. As to running back Matt Forte’s quest for a new contract, Mullin reports that the Bears and the player “are thinking dramatically different numbers.”
Forte said earlier this month that he may not play in the preseason absent a new deal. That threat apparently hasn’t gotten the team’s attention.
“We want to stay focused on the season and we also want to do the right thing by Matt,” G.M. Jerry Angelo told our friends at WSCR today, via Mullin. “But we’ll just see how things play out.”
Forte has been a solid player, but he’s far closer to interchangeable part than transcendent tailback like Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson. And the recent free-agency carousel has confirmed that veteran tailbacks who move chains but don’t hit home runs won’t get big money.
In three seasons, Forte has rushed for 3,236 yards. His average per carry is 4.0.
Forte, a second-round pick in 2008, could be restricted in 2012 by the franchise tag.