Forte: If Bears Don't See Value, Another Team Will
(WSCR) You could say Matt Forte is underpaid.
Forte, who accounts for more than half of the Bears total offense, is still playing under his rookie contract, which is set to expire at the end of the 2011 season. Before the season, it was reported the Bears offered their running back a contract worth roughly $14 million guaranteed.
Forte kindly rejected the Bears offer and decided to play on his current deal – for about $500,000 – and see what happens at the end of this season. Forte is inarguably the Bears most valuable weapon and he feels he should be paid that way.
Still, Forte is risking his fortune by playing on his current deal. If he is injured, his future contract will be dramatically altered.
"I'm just going to continue to go out and play and do well out on the field," Forte told The Boers and Bernstein Show on Friday. "If the Bears don't see the value in me, hopefully another team will. … I can't really worry myself with that.
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Forte said his agent is in constant contact with the Bears throughout the season, but the team is unwilling to negotiate at this point.
"My agent always calls, especially after I have a good game," Forte said. "The negotiating door on my end is always open, but you gotta have two sides that want to negotiate and get something done for something to get done.