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Phillips Says Bears Have No Intention of Letting Forte Reach Free Agency...
Updated: February 1, 2012, 8:56 AM ET
Matt Forte decision looms for Bears
ESPNChicago.com
Bears Want Forte Off The Open Market
Chicago Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips joins The Waddle and Silvy Show to discuss Matt Forte and keeping Lovie Smith.Tags: Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith, Matt Forte, Ted Phillips
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Bears Want Forte Off The Open Market
New Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery has plenty of issues to address as he gets to work at Halas Hall. With three weeks to decide whether to apply the franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte, Emery's boss said Tuesday that the Bears won't let the Pro Bowl running back reach free agency.
Waddle & Silvy
Waddle & Silvy talk with Chicago Bears president Ted Phillips about the team's new direction, new GM and if the Bears will go after more playmakers on offense.
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"We'd like to (work out a long-term deal with Forte)," Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "But as Phil pointed out we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him. We don't have any intention of letting Matt hit the open market. We'll sit down with him privately, Phil will, and discuss what the plans are prior to the Feb. 20 franchise tag date."
Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after he suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. He finished the season with 1,487 yards from scrimmage, good enough numbers to earn Forte his first-ever spot on the NFC Pro Bowl roster.
Forte, who played in Sunday's Pro Bowl, turned down a contract offer from the Bears before the season with $13 million to $14 million in guaranteed money, ESPNChicago.com reported.
Earlier this month Forte hinted at the possibility of a holdout if the Bears decide to place the franchise tag on him.
"I wouldn't say holdout, but people probably wouldn't know where I was," Forte said Jan. 19 on "The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show" on ESPN 1000.
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In his introductory press conference on Monday, Emery would not discuss the Forte situation at length, citing a reluctance to give away a "competitive advantage." A decision on Forte will be up to Emery as will the future of coach Lovie Smith beyond the 2012 season. Phillips said the new GM will have the same authority as his predecessor Jerry Angelo, including the final say on his head coach.
Phillips said he hopes Smith's Bears future includes a contract extension after a successful 2012 season. "We feel Lovie is a top coach and obviously you read everything that has been written and fans want wins. And so do we," Phillips said. "It was a tough decision to let go of Jerry, but I think it was time to have a new fresh look at our team and how it gets built. But Lovie has never lost the respect of the players. He's kept them playing hard. He's got a good coaching staff and we think he can be successful.
"That's the whole goal, to make him successful, not to make him unsuccessful. The goal of bringing a GM in here is to make the club successful. What we want to have happen is Lovie Smith has a contract extension after this season because he's doing a hell of a job."
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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In a short video Ted Phillips discusses the Bears plans regarding Matt Forte's situation and the master plan to make Lovie a more successful coach. But he does make it clear that Emery will be involved with both situations and that he alone has the power to decide whether or not Lovie will get an extension.
When Emery was discussing things during his press conference he emphasized the importance of continuity so it sounds to me like he's willing to what's necessary to help the team and keep Lovie around. I've never been a huge Lovie Smith fan but I can't disagree with that logic. The players like him and put out for him and personally I'd like to see what he could do with better talent.
It seems to me like we're always missing a key element to put us over the top. In the Super Bowl year it was a top notch QB. Rex just wasn't stable and consistent enough to out duel Peyton Manning. For a couple of years after it was very poor defensive line play and last year it was the lack of a dependable #1 WR and backup QB. It would be nice if Emery and Lovie could work together to remedy those problems.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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sad thing is...the franchise tag is actually cheaper for the Bears next year then a multi-year deal would be. I have a gut feeling he will be tagged for this year, and barring a miracle, he will depart in 2013 because of the bad blood.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
Jimmors 
sad thing is...the franchise tag is actually cheaper for the Bears next year then a multi-year deal would be. I have a gut feeling he will be tagged for this year, and barring a miracle, he will depart in 2013 because of the bad blood.
The BEARS could TAG him in 2013 too, which still might be a cheaper way for 2 years, just saying.
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Originally Posted by
Jimmors sad thing is...the franchise tag is actually cheaper for the Bears next year then a multi-year deal would be. I have a gut feeling he will be tagged for this year, and barring a miracle, he will depart in 2013 because of the bad blood.
If that's really the case I'd never let him get to free agency I'd trade him first and draft another RB. When Phillips says they won't let him reach free agency we all decide that means they'll do what the have to in order to sign him but the other option also prevent him from leaving for nothing in return.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
yttocs The BEARS could TAG him in 2013 too, which still might be a cheaper way for 2 years, just saying.
Is two years the limit now or did the new CBA reduce it to one. If it's two the Bears really do hold all of the winning cards.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Junior Member
Hopefully the Bears can sign a long term deal to Forte. He is some RB. Plus he seems to be a great guy off the field. Very modest and humble.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Member
Can you trade a player that's been tagged?
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Originally Posted by
Zelezo Vlk Can you trade a player that's been tagged?
Sure, you just remove the tag. The Bears control his destiny right now and he's real unhappy he got lowballed by Angelo. If he will lower his expectations and the Bears will at least meet him halfway they can probably get something done. With the way he performed before his injury he has nothing left to prove but he also has to realize he's a "high mileage" RB at his peak and in another year or two his production may slow down. Can't pay the guy $8 mil year if that happens.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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With the way Forte keeps himself in tip-top shape, he may well be like Walter Payton and last more than 10 years. That doesn't happen a lot in the NFL, but it's entirely possible. He was a steal in the second round of 2008.
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