Bears RB Matt Forte has "no idea" about contract situation - NFL News
The season for Chicago Bears is over and star players are looking to renew their deals in order to stay with the franchise. Star running back Matt Forte is one of those and in an interview on Monday said that he is no closer to renewing his contract with
the franchise.
The Bears were reported to be trying to commit Forte to a new contract early in the season giving him an extension but the running back is refuting those claims and saying that there has been no contact about his contract situation.
"The deal didn't get done, basically. He can say all he wants to say about effort and all that stuff ... it didn't get done. We'll see what happens. Now, my agent even told me the longer we wait the harder it's going to be to do." Forte said.
Forte has had a brilliant 2011 season with the Bears. The running back was a major feature in the Bears’ offense before injury to him and quarterback Jay Cutler put the Bears into a downward spiral that saw them lose five games in a row and blow their chances
of reaching the postseason.
The running back was also voted by his peers and fans into the National Football Conference line up for the Pro-Bowl which greatly enhances the value of any player but Forte still has not received an offer from the Bears management.
"I have no idea," Forte said. "Nobody is talking right now, so we'll see."
With Forte in the final year of his contract, the Bears could keep him playing for another year by applying the franchise tag to stop him from becoming a free agent and sign for any other franchise.
The running back was placed on injured reserve along with quarterback Jay Cutler before the Bears final game against Minnesota Vikings. The Bears won that encounter 17-13 finally snapping a five game losing streak but it was too little too late to save their
chances of making the postseason playoffs rounds.
Being on injured reserve however will not keep Forte from playing in the Pro-Bowl. The quarterback believes that he is healing well from his knee injury and would be ready to play.
“There is nothing wrong with my knee. It's actually healing up pretty well”
"I can get injured walking out the door, so the Pro Bowl, it's my first time making it, I want to be on the field," Forte said. "So you can't worry about injuries all the time."
The Bears ended the 2011 regular season at 8-8 and third in the National Football Conference North. Coach Lovie Smith will do well to keep his best players in the roster for the new season as the Bears will look to put in a better performance in 2012 and
hopefully reach the playoffs.
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