Thread: Matt Forte Working With Youth Football in La., Has Comments About Contract.

Well we don't know anymore from this than we did before as far as the amount expected vs the amount offered is concerned. These were always the outside parameters in the beginning but I would think by now they've narrowed the difference somewhat.

It sure sounds like Matts's stance is shifting. Maybe softening a bit. He talks about being tagged along with Ray Rice and about his excitement over the coming season. "I just prepare to play football and when the time comes to go out there that's what I'm gonna do" doesn't sound like the attitude of a guy planning to hold out.

Emery reinforces the Bears position that they would prefer to have him signed long term so hopefully both sides can move towards and middle ground that each finds acceptable. I'm sure the Bears would much rather have the cap flexibility that goes with a contract than the way his salary hits the cap. That could be a major benefit as far as offering other extensions later this year.

Whatever the outcome I think this a pretty firm confirmation that he'll be there when it's time to get serious.

I'm pretty ignorant on contract issues, so I don't claim to know squat here. But it seems to me like the only thing that matters is guaranteed money. The rest of the contract is written on toilet paper. Maybe the Bears and Matt can split the guaranteed difference & maybe cut a deal with $17 mil or so guaranteed. To me this makes sense to the Bears financially due to the fact they'll have to pay around $17 mil for two franchise years anyway ($7+ mil this year and $9+ mil next year). And there is NO way I can see Forte falling off the map talent-wise in 2 years. He has too many skills to lose everything in 24 months. So why not give him a long term contract - but the only part that really matters is that $17 mil guarantee. It looks like a win/win thing.

Or am I missing something here?

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I'm pretty ignorant on contract issues, so I don't claim to know squat here. But it seems to me like the only thing that matters is guaranteed money. The rest of the contract is written on toilet paper. Maybe the Bears and Matt can split the guaranteed difference & maybe cut a deal with $17 mil or so guaranteed. To me this makes sense to the Bears financially due to the fact they'll have to pay around $17 mil for two franchise years anyway ($7+ mil this year and $9+ mil next year). And there is NO way I can see Forte falling off the map talent-wise in 2 years. He has too many skills to lose everything in 24 months. So why not give him a long term contract - but the only part that really matters is that $17 mil guarantee. It looks like a win/win thing.

Or am I missing something here?

No you're not missing a thing. I think most of us have been saying all along that a guarantee of around $17 mil seems about right on a four year deal. That's what Marshawn Lynch got with a total of $32 mil. I think Forte is a far better back than Lynch but I also think both Lynch and DWill were overpaid so I doubt the Bears are using those benchmarks.

You're right when you say the most important part of the deal is the guaranteed money and how that's paid. A lot of these deal signed by the other backs over this last year have significant amounts due in the later years of the deal. They're "backended" and it's doubtfull these guys will ever see all of that money.

The Bears typically do not "backend" contracts so very few of their players become "cap casualties". Guys who are still productive players but not for the amount of money their contract calls for. So they either renegotiate their deal or they get released and try to latch on somewhere else often for far less money than they were making under their old contract.

Based on the way the Bears generally structure contracts I think there's a higher likelihood that as long as he stays healthy and productive Forte will see all of the monies from his deal. He may not appreciate thay right now but historically the Bears have cut very few players for cap reasons. Tommie Harris is about the only high profile guy I can think of right now.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

JAB99 many here think the Bears have already offered 17-18 mil, others aren't so sure. This article doesn't make it seem like they did though. If not that explains why he hasn't even thought of signing that FT. In the end though all that matters is him playing 16 games for Chicago.

Yep, there's no indication here that the Bears upped their or Forte has come down in his demands. That's why I was pointing out we really don't have anything more certain to go on than we did. We can probably guess that there's been some movement because their was a second offer made by the Bears earlier this year they continue to talk. That's promising at the very least. It means they both haven't folded their arms across their chests and refused to budge or even listen to what the other side has to say.