Forte Threatens To Skip Training Camp, Says He Won’t Miss*Games

**Riczaj01** · 06-24-2012, 12:39 AM

JJ, this ain't no kids game. Kids games don't give you life long health issues. This is a big boy multimillion business w/lifelong repurcussions for the employees. They deserve every bit of dollars they earn. Ya you and I would play for free b/c we don't have the talent to get paid for it, but these guys do and should. It's on the Bears every bit as much as Forte to get this done; could have last year but they decided to low ball him and are now in this situation.

But it sounds like it's quickly coming to a head and should have a good deal in place before the deadline. Again, I look at this like I do the strike last year; neither side seemed to care until it was time to act; and now both are taking it seriously.

**GermansbombedPH** · 06-25-2012, 04:15 AM

I would stop negotiations, let him play under the FT and part ways with him next year.

Take what we offer you or walk next year. BTW Mr. Forte... if you come up with a holdout, don't say you won't miss games that matter. If Bush has a great camp and preseason, you may lose you starting spot for the first game. If Bush performs well, we have a steal for 4 years and Forte won't get a deal that is close to what he wants. Well done Mr. Forte.

**Riczaj01** · 06-25-2012, 07:05 AM

German, I don't necessarily disagree, but what you and I want and what is currently happening are 2 different things. They are negotiating and it sounds as if they MIGHT be able to work out a long term deal. Personally I would have offered 18 mil(guaranteed) in a 5 yr deal last year while uncapped and put 10mil of that in that first year then he is dirt cheap for the next 4. I don't think he could've turned it down; there were no 20 mil 40+ total contracts being thrown around so it would have been reasonable and you don't have the problems you have now. But that's not what happened.

Bush is not a starting qaulity RB, if he was he would have been picked up another team that needed one for more money. We got him for a total of 8mil for 4 yrs is near nothing for a starting rb. He is a GREAT backup, HE can start if Forte gets hurt, but that is not an ideal situation.

There is a flip to that scenerio also German; what if Bush gets hurt while in TC or PreSeason or performs like garbage that first game....now all of a sudden the Bears are in a pinch and have to give into Forte and all his demands....then it's Well done Bears you are now over paying.

**Shark86x** · 06-25-2012, 09:30 AM

My Forte jersey is "tagged". It's worth more than the market says it is, in my opinion, so I might not wear it this season. I might leave it on the hanger unless I can get a ridiculous amount of guaranteed cash for it. I purchased it at $120 originally, but it's worth a lot more because it's done everything I asked of it. Yeah, it's got some beer and wings stains, and it's slightly torn where it got roughed up on a play last year and I had to let it mend for a few games, but that just shows how dedicated the jersey is. It deserves it's payday. I want a better offer, and don't disrespect me.

**Riczaj01** · 06-25-2012, 09:34 AM

wouldn't pay $120 for any jersey....unless it was a signed Walter Payton Jersey in mint condition. Give me the cheap knock offs you find on the internet for $45 anyday. Or the even cheaper ones for the guys no longer on the team.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 06-25-2012, 10:45 AM

Last night I watched the NFL channel showcasing Matt Forte as one of the top players in the NFL last season, even though he was injured for a number of games. He was voted 33rd best football player in the entire NFL, by his peers, which is significant when you think that there are well over 1,000 players in the NFL, spread across 32 teams.

So being the 33rd best football player in the entire NFL is pretty awesome.

It was interesting to hear what other players had to say about his skills - some of these were the poor saps that had to try and defend against him.

In some ways he's like Walter Payton, in that he is the "full package" that can do much much more than run with the football (No, he's not Walter, I'm just pointing out that, like him, he is multi-talented at the position). He was our leading receiver, a solid blocker, a huge threat in space once he catches a pass, and on and on they talked about him being a big weapon...

Bush didn't make the list.

Bell will never make the list, and probably never start for any team in the NFL in his career, unless a team is riddled with injuries and has to start him (no disrespect here to Bell, but he's a backup quality RB).

1. We are really blessed to have one of the top RB's in the NFL.

2. He's only 26 years old, so he should be around for a number of years, helping us win a Super Bowl (or more).

3. We are a better team with Matt Forte, than without him.

4. Having quality depth at RB "is a great thing" to have in the NFL. Forte/Bush is a great combo. Bell is a serviceable backup in case one of these two guys goes down to injury.

5. The Bears can, and will, hammer out a long term contract that Forte will sign. It will be cost effective for the Bears to do so. That is why it will happen.

All of this angst over Forte holding out for a great contract is silly. This is the NFL, and how it works. Players would be pretty stupid to not try and get the best deal they can. This is their livelihood. They are looking out for their family and loved ones here - just like (I hope) you and I do in the "work world" today.

6. Yes. This is a "business" in the NFL. Does that surprise you? It isn't Pop Warner or high school football.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 06-25-2012, 11:14 AM

Some good points in this article by Moon Mullens. Thought I'd post it here rather than start the zillionth Forte contract thread

LINK to the article
Forte unintentionally setting his “deal” parameters

JOHN "MOON" MULLIN

June 25, 2012, 9:22 am

My sense is that a deal gets done when one or both sides move, meaning that Forte comes off the $20 million number and/or the Bears come off their $14-15 million. That means a deal in the range of $17.5 million guaranteed on a package of four or five years.

The length of deal is significant, because it makes Forte’s push for his max even more understandable. In all likelihood, this is Forte’s one and last big deal. He’ll be 30 or 31 when he is in the market for another one, and that is not where people talk guarantees anywhere close to what is on the table now.

**Shark86x** · 06-25-2012, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

wouldn't pay $120 for any jersey....unless it was a signed Walter Payton Jersey in mint condition. Give me the cheap knock offs you find on the internet for $45 anyday. Or the even cheaper ones for the guys no longer on the team.

Just a little comic relief. The discussion over "paying the man" is old and has been rehashed to death by everybody everywhere, except those actually involved. Just trying to lighten the mood during the summer doldrums waiting for the start of training camp and watching the Cubs in their century-old slide into oblivion.

**Riczaj01** · 06-25-2012, 12:00 PM

It's all good Shark. Got the joke. I was just trying to move the convo along your lines for the same reason :)

**Riczaj01** · 06-25-2012, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Last night I watched the NFL channel showcasing Matt Forte as one of the top players in the NFL last season, even though he was injured for a number of games. He was voted 33rd best football player in the entire NFL, by his peers, which is significant when you think that there are well over 1,000 players in the NFL, spread across 32 teams.

So being the 33rd best football player in the entire NFL is pretty awesome.

It was interesting to hear what other players had to say about his skills - some of these were the poor saps that had to try and defend against him.

In some ways he's like Walter Payton, in that he is the "full package" that can do much much more than run with the football (No, he's not Walter, I'm just pointing out that, like him, he is multi-talented at the position). He was our leading receiver, a solid blocker, a huge threat in space once he catches a pass, and on and on they talked about him being a big weapon...

Bush didn't make the list.

Bell will never make the list, and probably never start for any team in the NFL in his career, unless a team is riddled with injuries and has to start him (no disrespect here to Bell, but he's a backup quality RB).

1. We are really blessed to have one of the top RB's in the NFL.

2. He's only 26 years old, so he should be around for a number of years, helping us win a Super Bowl (or more).

3. We are a better team with Matt Forte, than without him.

4. Having quality depth at RB "is a great thing" to have in the NFL. Forte/Bush is a great combo. Bell is a serviceable backup in case one of these two guys goes down to injury.

5. The Bears can, and will, hammer out a long term contract that Forte will sign. It will be cost effective for the Bears to do so. That is why it will happen.

All of this angst over Forte holding out for a great contract is silly. This is the NFL, and how it works. Players would be pretty stupid to not try and get the best deal they can. This is their livelihood. They are looking out for their family and loved ones here - just like (I hope) you and I do in the "work world" today.

6. Yes. This is a "business" in the NFL. Does that surprise you? It isn't Pop Warner or high school football.

qft

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