Lovie Has a Talk With Forte..............

Lovie Smith talked to Matt Forte


Updated: March 25, 2012, 8:11 PM ET

ESPNChicago.com


Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said he has spoken to Matt Forte since the running back's angry reaction to the signing of Michael Bush. While Smith didn't say the situation had been resolved, he seemed confident that it would be.

"We love him, he's going to rush for a lot of yards for us," Smith told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. "It's going to work out fine."

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After the Bears signed Bush, an Oakland Raiders free agent, on Thursday, Forte took to the internet to voice his displeasure that his own contract extension hasn't been completed yet.

"There's only so many times a man that has done everything he's been asked to do can be disrespected!" read a post on Forte's Twitter account early Thursday afternoon. "Guess the GOOD GUYS do finish last ..."

He later clarified, "for the record I'm not mad at the signing of another running back. This is 4th time that's happened. I embrace competition as well as help." He added, "But as for not taking care of ur own and undervaluing a player under his market value is another story! #twitterrant"

Bush signed a four-year contract worth up to $14 million, including $7 million in guaranteed money, according to a source.

Forte recently was designated the club's franchise player as the sides continue to work on a long-term deal. The signing of Bush could be viewed as somewhat of an insurance policy for the Bears in the event Forte decides to hold out. The sides have until July 16 to come to an agreement on a multiyear extension. After that date, Forte must play under the tag, which comes with a salary of $7.74 million.

I hate these situations, as I wonder how it will look for UFA's in the future looking to join a team that, by all accounts is shortchanging their stars who have been very vocal about how unhappy they are over the past few years.

Part of me wants to see them make their star happy and pay the man, another wants to see him take his millions and play

This probably could have gone several other places and I'll post it there too but it kind of fits with what I was saying about the feeling I have that things are subtlety different around Halas Hall these days. Things are happening for aggressively than in the past but at the same time there's a sense of balance and and Lovie's role seems more pronounced than before and in a very positive way.

It's almost as if JA guarded his GM turf far more jealously than Phil Emery guards his. It's like Phil Emery isn't threatened by sharing responsibility and the front office load with Lovie, Ted Phillips and even George McCaskey. I think we may all have gotten the sense that JA could be a little prickly at times when criticism was directed at him and I always had the sense he was more of a micro manger in his style of doing things. I don't get that feeling with Emery. I think thought flows more freely and decisions are reached more rapidly.

This just connects very well with Phillips announcement that they've answered Matt Forte's rant in a proactive manner and not shunned him for being outspoken. Lovie connects with him and assures him he's the guy and Phillips follows it up with an announcement that they've made a "strong offer" (whatever that means) and it appears they intend to leave it on the table.

So all this is happening and so far Phil Emery is nowhere to be found because he's begun to prepare for the draft and let these other guys handle this. Can anyone imagine Jerry Angelo being this hands off and out of the limelight. Spring is in the air and I like the smell better this year than I did last.

just imagine if we win the SB with 2 great RBs :lol-032: in a passing league... because of good running game

GBH, it's not as far off as it sounds. Last year the NYG's won w/the lesser qb, lesser passing game and the better D and better run game.
Was Eli still great and the passing game still great yes; but they were able to keep Brady off the field w/2 rb's and a great D when they had to. And your top passing teams(GB/NO) didn't even make it to the NFCC, it was SF/NYG(great run/great D).

yeah, everybody now talks about passing league, TEs are a big reason or DEs for the D. RBs are lost right now in terms of importance, but imagine if we win the SB because of the RBs with both of them having a 100+ yard SB :D

50% would change their philosphy and mindset


but on the other hand, I think that RBs should be bargains. Easy to find and get some production for little money

yeah but NY has talent on the OL and Nicks/Manningham/emergence of Cruz/Ballard shit on Cutler's weapons last season.

I can hear Lovie saying "Matt Forte is our starting running back" in training camp already.

With the draft right around the corner, Forte will just have to respect the fact that to the front office he just isn't the top priority at the moment because of the mid-July deadline to sign him to a long term deal. The Bears have always made a strong push to sign their rookies quickly and I'm sure the negotiations with Forte's agent will heat up again at this time. Common ground will be found eventually now that the Bears have played their last card (i.e. franchise tagged him) in the negotiation process and now Forte can control the process some by threatening with a hold out.

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