Back in training camp, running back Matt Forte said that he trusted the Bears to make a long-term contract extension happen for him. General manager Jerry Angelo was public with the Bears commitment to getting that done.
Nearly six months later, with no deal done and the two sides dug in, Forte said he has not seen the effort Angelo said would be there.
Of course hes going to say that, Forte said. And as far as effort, a deal didnt get done. He can say whatever he wants to say about effort and all that stuff, but it didnt get done. So well see what happens.
The Bears have had an offer in front of Forte calling for guaranteed money in excess of 12 million on a multi-year deal. They are not expected to alter that to any significant degree if only because they have a franchise tag available to use, which would pay Forte nearly 8 million but only for one season.
Their feeling is that there is no reason to up an offer that they already believe to be fair. Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams signed a mega-deal worth more than 8 million per season but Forte insisted that was not the framework standard for his contract.
We werent even close to that at the beginning of the season, Forte said. My agent told me the longer we wait, the harder its going to get to do.