Matt Forte in action
Personnel breakdown of Bears organization
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Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears have reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year, $32 million contract, avoiding any risk of the Pro Bowl running back holding out to start the 2012 season.
The Bears and Forte had until 3 p.m. Monday to reach terms on a long-term deal and prevent Forte from being subjected to the franchise tag. The one-year franchise tender would have paid Forte $7.74 million this season.
Instead, the former second-round pick out of Tulane reportedly secured the long-term deal he desired, according to the Sun-Times and ESPN.
The team’s original offer to Forte before last season included around $15 million guaranteed. Forte initially sought a five-year, $40 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. The Sun-Times reports that $18 is guaranteed in this new deal.
The process was far from seamless.
Negotiations between Forte’s agent, Adisa Bakari, and the Bears were strenuous, to say the least. Talks went south last summer when Forte felt then-general manager Jerry Angelo did not keep his promise to reward him with a lucrative deal. Rather than hold out, Forte -- who played the final year of his rookie contract for $600,000 -- took a business-as-usual approach toward the season. He was named to the Pro Bowl despite missing the final four games with a sprained medical collateral ligament in his right knee.
Forte finished the ’11 campaign three yards shy of a third, 1,000-yard rushing effort in four seasons. He has compiled 4,233 rushing yards and 1,985 receiving yards in his young career. He became the first player in NFL history to reach 900 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons.
After missing the entire offseason, Forte is set to rejoin his team for the first training camp practice on July 26. The Bears signed veteran running back Michael Bush to a four-year, $12 million contract ($7 million guaranteed) as insurance -- a move Forte thought was disrespectful. Bush got the bulk of the first-team carries this offseason with Forte out of the mix with Kahlil Bell working alongside.
Forte, 26, has 21 touchdowns on 1,014 career carries. He averaged a career-best 4.9 yards per carry last season.
The Bears still have other contract issues to address, with star linebacker Brian Urlacher's deal up at the end of the season and quarterback Jay Cutler due for an extension soon.
vxmcclure@tribune.com
The Bears and Forte had until 3 p.m. Monday to reach terms on a long-term deal and prevent Forte from being subjected to the franchise tag. The one-year franchise tender would have paid Forte $7.74 million this season.
Instead, the former second-round pick out of Tulane reportedly secured the long-term deal he desired, according to the Sun-Times and ESPN.
The team’s original offer to Forte before last season included around $15 million guaranteed. Forte initially sought a five-year, $40 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. The Sun-Times reports that $18 is guaranteed in this new deal.
The process was far from seamless.
Negotiations between Forte’s agent, Adisa Bakari, and the Bears were strenuous, to say the least. Talks went south last summer when Forte felt then-general manager Jerry Angelo did not keep his promise to reward him with a lucrative deal. Rather than hold out, Forte -- who played the final year of his rookie contract for $600,000 -- took a business-as-usual approach toward the season. He was named to the Pro Bowl despite missing the final four games with a sprained medical collateral ligament in his right knee.
Forte finished the ’11 campaign three yards shy of a third, 1,000-yard rushing effort in four seasons. He has compiled 4,233 rushing yards and 1,985 receiving yards in his young career. He became the first player in NFL history to reach 900 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons.
After missing the entire offseason, Forte is set to rejoin his team for the first training camp practice on July 26. The Bears signed veteran running back Michael Bush to a four-year, $12 million contract ($7 million guaranteed) as insurance -- a move Forte thought was disrespectful. Bush got the bulk of the first-team carries this offseason with Forte out of the mix with Kahlil Bell working alongside.
Forte, 26, has 21 touchdowns on 1,014 career carries. He averaged a career-best 4.9 yards per carry last season.
The Bears still have other contract issues to address, with star linebacker Brian Urlacher's deal up at the end of the season and quarterback Jay Cutler due for an extension soon.
vxmcclure@tribune.com
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