Bears Near Deadline for Forte Decision..................

Bears nearing deadline for Forte decision

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...0-13093746.jpg Bears running back Matt Forte fends off Denver's Brian Dawkins during the Pro Bowl. (US Presswire Photo)

By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter 11:38 a.m. CST, February 13, 2012

The Chicago Bears can lock up the services of Matt Forte for the 2012 season starting next Monday. That's when the window opens for teams to use the franchise tag, a 15-day period that extends to 3 p.m. on March 5 -- eight days before the opening of free agency.

New general manager Phil Emery was non-commital when asked about the franchise tag in his introductory news conference, but the Bears have been clear all along that they will place the tag on Forte if a long-term contract can't be worked out before March 5. That gives the sides three weeks to carve out a deal.

But the franchise tag would not necessarily rule out a multi-year deal for Forte. Even if he is tendered, a long-term contract still could be worked out before the July 15 deadline. After that, Forte could only play under the one-year tender, which is expected to be about $7.7 million -- or $7.1 million more than he earned this past season.

The Bears have used the franchise tag only once with linebacker Lance Briggs in 2007. Former defensive tackle Bryan Robinson had the transition tag placed on him in 2001. In Briggs’ case, the franchise tag did not lead to a contract before the season started. He ended up becoming an unrestricted free agent before the Bears eventually brought him back.

The Bears could place the franchise tag on Forte again in 2013 at a cost of 120 percent of the 2012 tag number -- or about $9.24 million. But better than committing $16.9 million to him over two seasons would be working out a long-term extension.

Right now, the Bears project to have nearly $20 million in available salary-cap room. That’s plenty of space to do just about whatever they want. But it’s not about cap space with Forte and it never has been. It’s about a budget and how much they want to pay the running back who is coming off his first Pro Bowl season.

Forte has been a model of durability during his career. He missed the final four games this past season with a sprained MCL in his right knee, the first significant injury of his NFL career. He started 60 consecutive games before being injured Dec. 4 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old has been a workhorse and the statistics bear that out. When you combine the numbers from his senior season at Tulane, Forte has 1,375 rushes and 255 receptions for a total of 1,630 touches over the previous five years.

That’s a lot of football mileage but what has been impressive about Forte is he’s gotten better as he’s developed. He showed up for training camp last summer with more muscle than he’s ever carried and it worked. He was leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage when he was injured, and his average of 4.9 yards per carry was a career high. He was an explosive runner on the edges and the Bears played to that strength.

Now, we’ll see how this plays out. Emery’s arrival might not dramatically change business in this case because contract negotiator Cliff Stein is still in place and president Ted Phillips already has been involved on a deal of this scale. But a new voice in the room could create some change.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

That drama continues. Larry Mayer writes that the Bears won't use the franchise tag on anyone but sort of double talks when he writes they only use it as a last resort. If they don't re-sign Forte is that a last resort? Ted Phillips seemed to think so when he said they won't let him reach FA. I suppose a non-exclusive tag is possible though.

To summarize if the Bears do make him an Exclusive Right Free Agent he can only negotiate with the Bears. But, i they tag him as a Non-Exclusive FA he can shop himself to establish his value in the market place and the Bears can either match or better that offer or let him go and receive two first round draft picks for him.

Here's the basics of a franchise tag and a transition tag.

NFL teams have two other tools at their disposal that provide for greater leverage in securing Free Agents: the Franchise Tag and the Transition Tag.

Each Club can designate one of its players who would otherwise be an UFA or RFA as a Franchise Player each season. Something that even some of the most knowledgeable sports fans do not realize is that a team has the option of designating a Franchise player with one of two tags: "Exclusive" or "Non-Exclusive".

Any Club that designates a Franchise Player as "Exclusive" shall be the only Club with which that Franchise Player may negotiate or sign a contract. In order to designate an UFA or RFA as an Exclusive Franchise Player, the team must tender the player a one year contract that is the minimum of the average of the five largest salaries (as calculated at the end of the free agency signing period) for players at the position at which he played the most games during the prior year, or 120% of his prior year salary, whichever is greater.

If the team elects to name the player "non-exclusive" then the player shall be permitted to negotiate a contract with any Club as if he were an UFA; however, Draft Choice Compensation of TWO first round draft selections shall be awarded to the prior club in the event that he signs with the new club. For Non-Exlusive Franchise Players, the team must tender the player a one year contract that is the minimum of the average of the five largest PRIOR-YEAR salaries for players at the position at which he played the most games in the prior year, or 120% of his prior year salary, whichever is greater.

If the player elects to play with the prior club (the team that designated him with the Franchise tag) and does not negotiate another contract with that team, then the one year salary is guaranteed. Also, if the prior club elects to withdraw the qualifying offer, the player becomes an UFA.

Each Club can also designate one UFA or RFA as a Transition Player. Additionally, (in the final year of the CBA) each club may, in lieu of designating a Franchise Player, designate an additional Transition Player during the same designation period as the Franchise Player designation period. Whew! What that means is that a team may elect to tag two players with the Transition tag or one Transition Player and one Franchise Player in the final capped year. Any Club that designates a Transition Player shall receive the Rights of First Refusal. In order to designate an UFA or RFA as a Transition Player, the team must tender the player a one year contract for the average of the ten largest prior year salaries for players at the position at which he played the most games during the prior year, or 120% of his prior year salary, whichever is greater.

I love Forte and ultimately would like to see him re-signed to a long-term deal, but those two first round choices are enticing. lol If it came to that, when would those two choices be awarded? And are they just slapped on to the end of the round?

Ya but no team in their right mind is going to give you 2 first rounders for a rb, no matter how good they are. I love Forte, and I do believe we should sign him as he is an important piece to this O; but I'm not crazy enough to think he's worth 2 firsts either. (That being said I didn't think, still don't think Cutler was worth 2 firsts, so you can see I have a high regard for 1sts)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Ya but no team in their right mind is going to give you 2 first rounders for a rb, no matter how good they are. I love Forte, and I do believe we should sign him as he is an important piece to this O; but I'm not crazy enough to think he's worth 2 firsts either. (That being said I didn't think, still don't think Cutler was worth 2 firsts, so you can see I have a high regard for 1sts)

You have to look at it from this perspective: Cutler was easily worth two Jerry Angelo first round picks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Bear

I love Forte and ultimately would like to see him re-signed to a long-term deal, but those two first round choices are enticing. lol If it came to that, when would those two choices be awarded? And are they just slapped on to the end of the round?

They are the first round picks of the team that signs him for the next two years. So we would get that teams 1st in 2012 and 2013.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Bear

I love Forte and ultimately would like to see him re-signed to a long-term deal, but those two first round choices are enticing. lol If it came to that, when would those two choices be awarded? And are they just slapped on to the end of the round?

I'm not 100% certain but I think they are in whatever position that team drafts in. The other thing I don't know for certain is whether a team having two first round picks must give them both up that year or whether it's one pick each in consecutive years. I believe it's the latter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Ya but no team in their right mind is going to give you 2 first rounders for a rb, no matter how good they are. I love Forte, and I do believe we should sign him as he is an important piece to this O; but I'm not crazy enough to think he's worth 2 firsts either. (That being said I didn't think, still don't think Cutler was worth 2 firsts, so you can see I have a high regard for 1sts)

If we designate him a non-exclusive rights FA and they sign him they don't have a choice unless we're willing to negotiate something else. But I do agree with you. A franchise QB like Cutler yeah but a RB, even AP, no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

They are the first round picks of the team that signs him for the next two years. So we would get that teams 1st in 2012 and 2013.

That's the way I believe it works 4Da. As Ric points out it very unlikely anyone would give up two 1sts for any RB let alone Forte who does have some miles on him. It's always possible they agree on something else though. Maybe a player and a pick???

I think the point of doing this is to let the market set his value so the Bears aren't bidding against themselves. That was the point Angelo was making relative to the deal DWill got. So he made the mistake of low-balling him and as Forte said, now it will get more expensive since he'll probably attract some offers and it would be up to the Bears to decide whether to match those or not.

knowing the Bears... he will just walk as FA without any compensation.

but I'd take the 2 1sts and sign a FA RB. Not a bad year with FA RBs