Why Matt Forte Has Every Right to Be Pissed Off at Chicago Bears
Published by Gary Davenport on March 22, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The news that the Chicago Bears have signed free-agent running back Michael Bush to a four-year contract has apparently reached at least one of his new teammates, and the man who accounted for nearly half of Chicago’s total offense last year when on the field appears none too happy about having company in the backfield.
Starting running back Matt Forte, who gained nearly 1,500 total yards in 12 games last year before suffering a knee injury, took to Twitter Thursday to make his feelings known about the signing, and if Forte’s tweet is any indication, negotiations between the Bears and the four-year veteran on a contract extension just took a decided turn for the worse.
There’s only so many times a man that has done everything he’s been asked to do can be disrespected! Guess the GOOD GUYS do finish last….
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 22, 2012
Forte, who is set to make just under $8 million in 2011 after being franchise tagged by the Bears, has been engaged in negotiations with the Bears on a long-term deal for over a year, but the gap between what the Bears are willing to pay Forte and what the former Tulane star is seeking appears to be a fairly wide one, especially given that Chicago just gave a $14 million dollar deal to Bush despite already having Khalil Bell on the roster, who played fairly well in relief of Forte last year.
This gap exists in spite of the fact that Forte has gained at least 1,400 total yards in each of four seasons in the National Football League, but it would appear that the Bears are among the growing number of teams in the NFL unwilling to invest large sums of guaranteed money in the running back position.
The signing of Michael Bush would seem to signify not only that unwillingness, but also the fact that the Bears are preparing for the possibility of a Matt Forte holdout. Given that’s he’s spent most of his career carrying the offense in the Windy City and that his best bargaining chip just got yanked from underneath him, it’s understandable that Forte is far from being a happy camper about the Bears’ newest back.
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