Thread: Forte's Discontent With Progress On His Contract Grows..............

Fall of his discontent

Forte amassing big numbers while Bears paying little money

Matt Forte keeps the Eagles' Jamar Chaney away from him as runs for yardage during the first half. (Nuccio DiNuzzo, Chicago Tribune / November 7, 2011)

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:48 p.m. CST, November 12, 2011


He questioned the Bears' loyalty. He scoffed at their refusal to label him an elite running back. He seethed over their plans to use the franchise tag next season.

Initially, Matt Forte protested his contract situation quietly as he opted not to hold out of training camp and exhibitions. Forte's stance changed dramatically when he became more vocal with his frustration, up until last week's two-fumble outing in Philadelphia.

It makes you wonder if Forte hurts his contract status every time he speaks.

"No, I don't think so,'' he said, "because when I didn't say anything, nothing got done. If I say something now and a deal doesn't get done, it's the same thing.''

Forte's contract seems destined to be an issue until season's end. The Bears offered an extension worth $6 million per season with close to $15 million guaranteed, an offer general manager Jerry Angelo maintained was lucrative and fair. Forte, earning $600,000 in the final year of his rookie deal, initially sought a five-year, $40 million extension with $20 million guaranteed, but his value seems to increase with each 100-yard rushing game. (To the best of my knowledge this is the first time what Forte has been asking for has ever been published. He's asking the Bears for a deal in the realm of what DWill got and the Bears are probably offering more in the area of the $32 mil Jones-Drew got. At least that's my guess.)

The Bears seem content to revisit the matter after the season, and Angelo defends how the front office has handled business.

"The deal did not get done, but we definitely want Matt to play many more years with the Bears,'' Angelo told the team website in a controlled interview. "Any suggestion otherwise simply is not true. We buy into Matt as both a player and a person."

Regardless, Forte still doesn't have a long-term contract, and the Bears initiated the process of rewarding their own when they signed center Roberto Garza to a two-year extension last week.

Forte understands nothing screams at management more than his production, and he has given the Bears quite a sermon through eight games. He enters Sunday's game against the Lions with a league-leading 1,241 yards from scrimmage and ranks second in rushing yards (805) behind the Eagles' LeSean McCoy (825). (You can't argue with the fact that in the game of "put up or shut up" he most definitely "put up".)

"Actions speak louder than words,'' Forte said. "My play has been speaking for me. I really haven't had to say much, but lately, I've said some things because I'm out here working hard every day and then I don't feel the appreciation. So that's why I have to say something.'' (No, you don't have to say anything. Everybody understands your plight and agrees with you. You're actully scoring less points by speaking up than you were by silently proving that you are an elite all around back)

Forte has plenty of support within the locker room. And he has gained respect around the league.

Among the elite

Titans three-time Pro Bowler Chris Johnson is very familiar with Forte.

As a freshman at East Carolina in 2004, Johnson rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-25 victory over Forte's Tulane Green Wave. Forte, also a freshman, carried the ball just once and lost a yard in the Conference USA game.

Johnson might have had the edge then, but Forte has caught up significantly.

"(Forte) runs the ball well and he catches the ball well out of the backfield," Johnson said. "He is … one of the guys I always root for because we came out of the same conference.''

Forte could be in the hunt to top Johnson's 2009 NFL record of 2,509 yards from scrimmage. But Forte will be hard-pressed to match the deal Johnson secured before the season. (With 1241 total yards after eight games he's certainly in the hunt for the first but no, he won't even get close to what CJ got)

The Titans signed Johnson to a four-year contract reportedly worth $53 million with $30 million guaranteed. Johnson held out during the preseason, and his production has fallen off significantly with just 366 rushing yards and 3 yards per carry. (This confused me. Bud Adams seemed adamant about giving into CJ's demands and a week later the Titans sign him to a record breaking deal. The only thing that makes any sense about it is that Adams the oilman has money to spare whereas the Bears do not. Not at that level at any rate.)

Some wondered if Johnson's struggles have made the Bears hesitant to increase their offer to Forte. Whatever the case, Johnson offered this advice.

"I don't know his situation real well, but I'd just tell him it will come in time,'' Johnson said. "I wouldn't tell him what to do. It's something he has to sit down with his people, his agent, and decide what is best for him. If it's a holdout, or whether he plays until he gets it … that is his decision. But my advice would be whatever decision he makes, he just has to stick to it.

"His situation, it almost seems like it is motivating him because he is having a good year. So I guess it could be a good thing for him right now. I hope he gets what he wants.'' (So do we and this motivational thing isn't lost on the Bears either. To me it looks like Angelo is making him "sing for his supper". No matter how it comes out the Bears can't lose unless he does decide to sit out and I don't see him doing that this year and probably not next either with almost $8 mil on the line)

Johnson isn't the only AFC South running back with an appreciation for Forte's accomplishments. Texans standout Arian Foster has taken notice too.

"I think he's one of the more complete backs in our league, and he has been for a while,'' Foster said. "He shows up week in and week out. He's very consistent.''

Forte appreciates the praise.

"It feels good to be respected, to earn the respect of two guys who have been leading rushers in the NFL,'' Forte said. "That's two good running backs. To hear that from them makes you feel good.''

A new contract would make Forte feel that much better, while the franchise tag is sure to make him cringe. (Better get ready for that cringe Matt. I can't see the Bears getting you anywhere near the $8 mil per year you supposedly (???) want, $7 mil up from $6 mil maybe but that's about as high as they'll go. If you can get $35 mil over 5 years with $18 mil guaranteed I'd take the money and run)

Facing the franchise

Seven running backs have been slapped with the franchise tags in league history: Dorsey Levens, Stephen Davis, Edgerrin James, Shaun Alexander, Rudi Johnson, Darren Sproles and Brandon Jacobs.

Could Forte be next? It seems likely. (Yep. I think it will come down to the Bears franchising him before they work out a long term deal)

The Bears are destined to use the tag on Forte next season if a long-term deal is not be reached and can again in 2013. Next season, it would mean a one-year deal projected to be worth $7.73 million, an amount directly correlated to the 2012 salary cap and factoring in the percentage of the cap from the previous five years at the running back position. (That's a change in how the calcuations are made and it will cost Forte about $1.5 mil over what the old calculations would have set the value of the franchise tag for RB's at)

Forte has made his feelings about the franchise tag clear.

"It's not a solution to the contract situation,'' Forte said. "I don't think that's going to help anything.'' (Maybe not but that choice isn't yours. That's why I'm saying lean on them as hard as you can for as long as you can but when it comes right down to it, if they can't get you to sign on the dotted line you will be franchised. Half a loaf is better than no loaf at all)


The Dorsey Levins Situation (This is something to consider before holding out)

Levens, a one-time Pro Bowl selection with the Packers, was the first running back to be slapped with the tag, in 1998. He held out for six weeks before signing a one-year tender worth $2.742 million.

"I was discouraged because at age 28, that was my one chance of getting a long-term deal,'' Levens said. "I wasn't happy at all. I had just come off a one-year tender.

After rejoining the team, Levens signed a five-year, $25 million deal that reportedly included a $4 million signing bonus and $10 million over the first two seasons. His contract celebration was short-lived, however, after he broke his leg in the second game of the season. He returned as a regular in '99 but was a backup in 2000 and '01.

"Yes, (holding out) had something to do with it,'' Levens said of his injury. "And that's the one thing I regretted about it. I wish we would have gotten a deal done sooner so I could have had all of training camp. I was a couple of steps behind the speed of the game.'' (I really don't want to see the Bears put Forte in this kind of a situation and force a holdout. Not good for him and surely not good for the team)

But Levens had no regrets about taking a stance about his contract situation.

"The business side is the business side, and that comes first over how you feel about your coaching staff or how you feel about your teammates,'' Levens said. "The whole family atmosphere has nothing to do with the business side. (Yeppers. In the NFL of 2011 $$$ will always trump friendships and team loyalty. It is what it is.)

"Contrary to popular belief, guys in the locker room are happy about other guys getting their money. Guys don't bicker at guys for holding out to get their deal because guys understand the average NFL career length is like 2.7 years. So if you have an opportunity to cash in, you have to take advantage of it.'' (No they'd rather bicker with management over not giviing into them don't they Lance?)

Levens, an NFL and college analyst, has kept an eye on Forte's situation.

"I love Matt Forte as a running back,'' Levens said. "Right now, he's the best all-around back in the league.'' (I think most everyone but Jerry Angelo feels that way too)

If Levens had to offer Forte advice, he would steer him in one direction.

"He's a little younger than I was, but I know that they're working him to death,'' Levens said. "And you want the ball as a running back. But you also want to be compensated for it. The advice I would give him is to get that long-term deal. You're only one injury away. (I would agree but in order to get it he's gonna have to compromise. Do he want keep risking injury and/or a franchise tag vs accepting somewhat less than he feels he's worth)

"If I was him, I wouldn't come to camp if they put the tag on me … not until a long-term deal is done. He means too much to that offense.'' (That's easy for you to say but the fines weren't $30k PER DAY when you were going through it Dorsey)

Forte is trying to block the franchise tag possibility out of mind.

"Once it gets closer to that time and I hear that they do franchise me, I might do a little research about it,'' Forte said. "I'm sure my agent (Adisa Bakari) has done a lot of research already. He will keep me informed.'' (I'd start doing my research now because sure as God made little green apples you're gonna get franchised if you can't come to an agreement)

Especially if Forte keeps putting up big numbers. (If they don't come to an agreement he'll be franchised no matter what he does the rest of the year)

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23

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