Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte fit for Pro-Bowl while contract standoff continues - NFL News
Chicago Bears' running back, Matt Forte, has been adamant throughout his injury that he will do everything possible to be fit for the Pro-Bowl fixture in Hawaii, and the 26-year-old finally got his wish on Thursday after passing a medical that will allow
him to take part in the prestigious fixture.
The Pro-Bowl is an annual event which takes place before the Super-Bowl main event, pitting the best players from the National Football Conference (NFC) against the best from the American Football Conference (AFC).
The teams are selected on the basis of fans votes, players votes and coaches.
Each group’s votes make up 1/3rd of the total votes.
Matt Forte, after his brilliant performance for Chicago Bears in the regular season before he succumbed to a season ending knee injury, was voted in to his first pro-bowl and the running back has since vowed to play in the event.
Fans and analysts have questioned the decision. Forte runs the risk of aggravating his knee in a year where his contract is still on the ropes, with the Bears still waiting to make a decision on a permanent general manager, and if he does not get an extension
with the Bears, chances of interest from other franchises would be greatly reduced.
The running back however, has dismissed the concerns and seems determined to make it to Honolulu.
"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 had previously offered a $14 million contract extension to the 26-year old but he refused the offer which he called was too small since players elsewhere receive much better compensation.
The Bears have the option of tagging the running back if no deal could be made in time but Forte on Wednesday lashed out against that possibility.
"A lot of teams franchise guys so that they can get a deal done or negotiate a deal. It just depends on what the motive of that is. I wouldn't say holdout, but people probably wouldn't know where I was."
The running back had a brilliant season with the Bears covering 997 rushing yards from 223 attempts scoring three touchdowns but a knee injury in week 13 counted him out for the season.
The Bears were without both Forte and quarterback Jay Cutler for the final six games of the season and after losing five of those were knocked out of the running for the playoffs ending their season with a poor 8-8 record.
Forte’s appearance in the Pro-Bowl at the Aloha Stadium in Hawaii is all but confirmed and all that remains to be done is for the running back to finalise his contract standoff before the offseason ends.
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