VIDEO: Matt Forte Highlights Show Bears RB Brings An Explosive Element To Offense

The Chicago Bears finally locked up Matt Forte to a long-term contract on Monday, and with their star running back in the fold once again it's time to enjoy some highlight clips from the 2011-12 NFL season. The Bears' team website put out a nice compilation of big plays from the previous campaign, and it's enough to get anyone excited about the new four-year deal Forte and the Bears recently reached.

RELATED: Matt Forte's Contract Extension May Mercifully End Chicago Sports' Darkest Timeline

Bears offensive tackle J'Marcus Webb believes the offense will be especially explosive in 2012-13 now that Forte is under contract, as he recently told Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune:

"With (Forte) being in the backfield, and Brandon (Marshall) and (Devin) Hester being over there on the outside (as receivers), it makes our offense really explosive. That is something that (offensive coordinator) Mike Tice has really emphasized in the off-season, so it should be a great time for us."

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation's NFL news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.

Matt Forte's Contract Extension May Mercifully End Chicago Sports' Darkest Timeline

The Chicago Bears and Matt Forte agreed to a four-year extension on Monday. SB Nation Chicago's Ricky O'Donnell is hoping the deal signals the end to a particularly rough stretch for our local teams.

Matt Forte Contract Details Revealed

Jason La Canfora has the details of Matt Forte's new deal with the Chicago Bears, which includes a $4 million signing bonus and a $5 million roster bonus in 2012.

Full Forte contract: $4M sign bonus, $5M roster bonus in '12, $800k base sal. $4m roster bonus in '13; $1.7m base. $5.5M base '14, $6.65 '15

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 16, 2012

Related: Chicago Bears Players Congratulate Matt Forte On His New Contract Via Twitter

Forte has $300k in workout bonuses and per game roster bonuses totalling $500k iin 13, $865K in 14, $1.05M in 15. Has $1M in incentives...

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 16, 2012

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation's NFL news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.

Chicago Bears Players Congratulate Matt Forte On His New Contract Via Twitter

Matt Forte Contract Update: Bears RB Gets $18 Million Guaranteed, Wanted $20 Million

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting the new, four-year contract tendered to RB Matt Forte comes with $18 million guaranteed:

BREAKING: #Bears RB @MattForte22 will receive over $18 million in guarantees, according to source close to the situation.

— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) July 16, 2012

Forte had previously been looking for $20 million guaranteed, but the team was offering only $15 million.

The $18 million averages out to $4.5 million per year. By comparison, in the MLB -- where all contracts are guaranteed -- Chicago White Sox reliever Jesse Crain makes $4.5 million annually on his three-year contract. Though Forte now ranks among the better-paid running backs in the league, his salary still does not necessarily equate with other pro athletes.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation's NFL news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Forte, Bears Agree To Four-Year Contract

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte had until 3 p.m. today to sign a long-term deal and avoid playing the 2012 season under the franchise tag. That deadline, according to various reports, has been met. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Monday morning that Forte and the Bears agreed to a four-year contract, with ESPN's Adam Schefter adding that the deal is expected to be worth $8 million a year.

The amount of guaranteed money in the deal has yet to be revealed, though. According to earlier reports, Forte was seeking $20 million in guaranteed money, while the Bears were offering something closer to $15 million guaranteed over the lifetime of the deal.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation's NFL news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.

If Matt Forte Doesn't Sign An Extension Today By 3:00 P.M., He'll Play For The Franchise Tag

Matt Forte Contract: Bears Making 'Considerable Progress' On 5-Year Deal

Contract negotiations between running back Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears may have seemed contentious and unproductive earlier in the NFL off-season, but there are serious signs that Forte and the Bears are making "considerable progress" on a new five-year deal. Back on July 2, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports characterized talks between the two sides as "fruitless" and called the chances of reaching an extension "weak," but he has drastically changed his tune for his July 12 column.

With the deadline approaching, La Canfora says a five-year deal is taking shape, but the structure of the first three years is still at issue:

League sources said there has been considerable progress between the Bears and Matt Forte as well. There are still issues to hash out regarding the average per year on the deal over the first three years, and how it could compare to say Marshawn Lynch's new deal, but there has been movement on what the deal might look like over five years.

La Canfora's new found optimism pairs well with Chris Mortensen's prediction that the Bears and Forte reach a deal before the July 16 deadline.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation's NFL news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Dispute: Bears Not The Only Team That Can Sign Forte, According To Report

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is reporting the Chicago Bears are not only team able to sign RB Matt Forte. According to Florio, players such as Forte -- who have been offered, but have not signed franchise player tenders -- can still outside offers, though at a great cost:

Lost in the details regarding the operation of the franchise tag ... is the fact that, while restricted free agents go off the market before the draft, franchise and transition players remain available to be signed into May and beyond.

And so, in theory, if a team decides to pursue one of the non-exclusive franchise players, like Bears running back Matt Forte ... it can still happen. Specifically, the player would sign an offer sheet, the current team would have an opportunity to match it, and if the current team doesn’t match within a week, the current team would receive a first-round pick in 2013 and a first-round pick in 2014.

Given the incredible value of first round draft picks -- and the relatively low value of veteran running backs -- it is unlikely the Bears will have any offer sheets sent their way, but the possibility still exists in an ever-changing NFL environment.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation's NFL news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.

Matt Forte Update: Chicago Bears Concerned About Running Back's Knees, According To Report

Reminder: The Bears Have More Than Enough Cap Space To Give Matt Forte An Extension

Matt Forte Contract Dispute: Bears RB Refuses To Discuss Negotiations With Reporters

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte refused to discuss the current contract negotiations between the him and the team on Thursday afternoon, according to Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago. Forte added that he appreciates the comments of support that his teammates have given in public, but it's unclear whether significant progress is being made.

Back in March, Forte was designated as the Bears' franchise player by the club. The two sides have continued to work out a long-term deal given the running back's public displeasure with being given the franchise tag. If the two sides can't agree to a long-term extension by July 16, Forte is required to play the 2012 season for a $7.74 million salary.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation NFL for more news and notes from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Dispute: Jay Cutler Discusses Impasse Between Bears, Forte

On Monday afternoon, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler talked a bit about the team's contract dispute with star running back Matt Forte.

"Yeah, I talk to him. Last time I saw him, he said he was lonely. I get it. Everyone was gone last year, with the lockout, and you do get that itch to get back in the office and see guys and work out. But Matt’s got to do what’s got to do for him. Maybe they get a deal, maybe they don’t. But, at the end of the day, we’ll have him the first game."

Related: Matt Forte Contract Update: Chicago RB Will Reportedly Only Sign Long-Term Deal

Cutler added that while he'd like to see Forte get signed and get back to work, he's not worried about Forte showing any ill effects when he does finally get back on the field.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation NFL for more news and notes from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Dispute: Bears RB Will Be A No-Show At Voluntary Workouts On Monday, According To Report

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte is not expected to show up for the team's voluntary workouts on Monday. The Bears placed the franchise tag on Forte earlier in the offseason, and the two sides have not been able to work out the long-term deal that Forte desires.

Related: Matt Forte Contract Update: Chicago RB Will Reportedly Only Sign Long-Term Deal

Forte has refused to sign his franchise tender, according to Schefter; while the franchise tag means Forte would make over $7.7 million in 2012, it's just a one-year agreement.

Forte ran for 997 yards and three scores in 12 games during the 2012 season. He has 4,233 rushing yards in four seasons with Chicago.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation NFL for more news and notes from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Chicago RB Will Reportedly Only Sign Long-Term Deal

It appears as if the standoff between Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears is only getting started. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, as reported on Sportscenter and relayed by Pro Football Talk, Forte is refusing to sign any contract offer that isn't a long-term deal, and that includes the $7.7 million franchise tag tendered to him by the Bears this off-season.

That means that Forte is almost certainly going to miss the team's voluntary offseason workouts, which begin this coming Monday, and he may miss Chicago's mandatory June minicamp and possibly even some games into the season depending on how serious both sides are in sticking to their guns. Forte has famously been pleading for a long-term deal for much of the past year and change, and though the Bears say that they have made him a long-term offer, the details of that offer have not been disclosed to the public, and obviously Forte has yet to agree to the terms.

The longer that Forte holds out, the bigger the spotlight will get on free agent acquisition Michael Bush, who was jokingly nicknamed by many as the "Matt Forte Insurance Policy." But as the negotiations between Forte and the Bears trudge along, that moniker will get more and more serious.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation NFL for more news and notes from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Dispute: Bears Running Back Expected To Miss OTAs

The Chicago Bears continue to work around their ongoing contract dispute with All-Pro RB Matt Forte. According to Peggy Kusinski of NBC, Chicago anticipate the fifth-year running back will miss the beginning of organized team activities next Monday:

#Bears Lovie Smith confirmed @MattForte22 won't take part in OTA starting Monday - has not signed franchise tender

— peggy kusinski (@peggykusinski) April 10, 2012

Forte has played all four years of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears. With the conclusion of his rookie contract in 2011, Forte began campaigning for a long-term, top-tier extension, but negotiations have since stalled. The team tendered Forte a franchise player contract, but Forte has yet to sign the deal.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. And drop by SB Nation NFL for more news and notes from around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Dispute: Bears RB Expected To Miss Offseason Workouts

The Chicago Bears may be without RB Matt Forte for at least the first of their offseason workouts. According to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune, the Bears' star running back has yet to sign the franchise player contract the team tendered in early March. Biggs shares that the contract impasse has had "no sign of progress," and the 4-year veteran would need a "breakthrough" in order to complete a long-term contract in time for the voluntary workouts.

Forte entered the NFL in 2008 as a second round draft pick. He has played 60 games in the NFL, rushing for 1014 yards for an average of 70.6 yards per game and a total of 29 rushing and receiving touchdowns.

For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For more news and notes around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Chicago Bears, Running Back Stuck In Stalemate (SB Nation Chicago Podcast)

Matt Forte Contract: Chicago Bears May Be Concerned About Durability And Short-Yardage Situations

The Chicago Bears and running back Matt Forte have not been able to work out a long-term contract extension, and according to CSN Chicago's Kip Lewis, there may be a couple of factors weighing heavily on the Bears' front office in this case.

Related: Matt Forte Contract Squabble: Michael Bush, Twitter, Disrespect, And The Chicago Bears

The first is the durability of running backs in general:

The Bears look around the league and see the shelf life of a runner as five to six years before a backs production begins to decline. That would mean Forte is at least halfway to that point.

The Bears see others at the position constantly being slowed or missing games due to injury so they are hesitant to overpay. Ted Phillips echoed such thoughts at the owners meeting on Monday.

The Bears also may feel some trepidation about giving a big contract to Forte because they're concerned about his ability to run with power in short-yardage situations, according to Lewis.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron. And for more news from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Contract: Reports Say Bears Have Made 'Strong Offer' To Forte. Is It A New Offer?

The contract dispute between the Chicago Bears and Matt Forte took another turn last week when Forte showed his displeasure with Chicago inking running back Michael Bush before working out a new deal with the incumbent starter. Monday evening, both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times reported the Bears had a made a "strong offer" to Forte. But is it a new offer, or same deal Forte has been rejecting all along?

Here's what the Sun-Times says:

Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips told the Sun-Times Monday evening that the club has made Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte a "strong offer" and that they're hopeful he'll accept it.

"I think not only do we appreciate him and have told him so, but I think the offer we've made him shows that, too. Now, different people can disagree on the ultimate value," Phillips said. "But we feel we've made a strong offer to him, and are still hopeful he accepts it."

Here's what the Trib says:

Phillips said general manager Phil Emery and team negotiator Cliff Stein have had contract discussions with Forte agent Adisa Bakari and there is a long-term contract on the table. Phillips said Forte has been given a "very strong offer," which is reflective of Forte's value as one of the NFL's top running backs.

Again, there's no way of knowing if the Bears have increased their offer.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron. And for more news from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Contract Squabble: Michael Bush, Twitter, Disrespect, And The Chicago Bears

When the Chicago Bears signed free agent running back Michael Bush to a four-year contract on Thursday, seemingly everyone was happy. Everyone, that is, expect for incumbent running back Matt Forte, who is still waiting for a new deal.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Chicago Bears Place Franchise Tag On Running Back

On Friday evening, the Chicago Bears announced that they have placed the franchise tag on running back Matt Forte. This ensures Forte will be with Chicago in 2012, but his future with the organization beyond that remains unsettled.

In a move that comes as no surprise, the club placed the franchise tag on Forte on Friday, tendering him a one-year offer that will pay him $7.7 million for this season -- a raise of $7.1 million over what he made in 2011.

Related: Matt Forte Contract Update: Franchise Tag May Result In Holdout

The two sides can continue to negotiate a long-term deal, but Forte has made it very clear that he would be upset if he were tagged, going so far as to suggest he might holdout prior to the start of the 2012 season. How he reacts now that the tag is a reality remains to be seen.

Forte and the Bears have until July 15 to work out a long-term contract; if no agreement has been reached by that deadline, Forte will have to play under the franchise tag in 2012.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron. And for more news from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Bears Won't Let Running Back Hit Free Agency

The Chicago Bears recently settled on hiring Kansas City chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery as their new general manager, and now comes the situation with star running back Matt Forte. According to Bears CEO and president Ted Phillips, the Bears have no intention of letting him reach free agency. ESPN Chicago has the quotes:

We'd like to (work out a long-term deal with Forte). But as Phil pointed out we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him. We don't have any intention of letting Matt hit the open market. We'll sit down with him privately, Phil will, and discuss what the plans are prior to the Feb. 20 franchise tag date.

Forte has previously hinted that he could holdout if the Bears try to place the franchise tag on him. He's been gunning for a long-term contract in Chicago for a while now, with the process becoming increasingly public as his free agency nears.

For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For more news and notes around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Franchise Tag May Result In Holdout

In a recent interview, Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte indicated he would be none-to-pleased if the Bears offer him a franchise tag for the 2012 NFL Season. Forte said that if the team offered him the franchise tag without an intention to continue negotiations for a bigger contract, he would potentially be a no-show at training camp:

"I wouldn't say holdout, but people probably wouldn't know where I was," said Forte...

The former Tulane running back has been Chicago's top running back for the last four years since entering the league as the Bears' 2nd round draft pick in 2008 -- and has been seeking an extension all season, publicly stating his displeasure along the way.

The Bears offered Forte an extension before the season, reportedly worth $13-15 million in guaranteed money, but he declined at the time. Forte was having a career year in 2011 when an ankle injury made him miss the team's final four games -- a fact that did not bother the 4th-year pro:

"A lot of people said do I regret turning down the money and then playing and getting injured, I would say no, because I'm not going to let anyone undervalue me as a player," Forte said. "I know what type of value I have to the team and the offense. And I'm not going to just accept a deal because that's what their offer was and they're not going to budge..."

In Forte's absence, the team received strong performances from the young duo of RB Kahlil Bell (4.3 yards per carry on 79 attempts in 2011) and practice squad call-up RB Armando Allen, presumably giving the Bears extra leverage in the on-going negotiations.

For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For more news and notes around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo Hopes To Get Matt Forte Deal Done

The Chicago Bears and star running back Matt Forte have been unable to agree on terms for a contract extension, and Forte has publicly expressed his frustrations over the lack of progress. But Chicago GM Jerry Angelo told the team's website that he's optimistic and very much interested in getting a deal done:

"Matt was the only player we targeted, and we made him what I feel is a very lucrative offer on a contract extension," Angelo told the team's website. "The deal did not get done, but we definitely want Matt to play many more years with the Bears. Any suggestion otherwise simply is not true. We buy into Matt as both a player and a person."

Angelo was vague about a timetable, though, saying "hopefully, we'll have something to announce at some point."

For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For more news and notes around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Continues To Make Media Rounds: 'Hopefully They Don't Put The Franchise Tag On Me'

Matt Forte is certainly making sure he finds platforms to voice his opinion on the ongoing contract dispute with the Chicago Bears. In a recent interview with ESPN on NFL 32, he spoke on the contract issue again, saying:

"It's constantly on my mind, so I've got to just continue to play football and not have animosity out there on the field thinking about it, so I can play...but having animosity towards the organization is something that starts to build the more I play and nothing is going on." 

The Bears have offered a reported $13-$15 million in guaranteed money in a long-term deal, but Forte has rejected that offer in hopes to get more guaranteed money upfront. He has been producing at a high level and wants a longt-term contract commensurate with the top running backs in the league. From the perspective of the Bears' organization, the franchise tag is the likely option if Forte won't bring his demands in line with their offer. This isn't exactly Forte's favorite scenario, and in the same interview he said that if the Bears don't want to give him the deal he is looking for, "hopefully they don't put the franchise tag on me and another team can pick me up."

For analysis of the issue, make sure to check out the most recent feature piece on the subject at SB Nation Chicago.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Bears Running Back Voices Frustration

For essentially the entire Chicago Bears season, the contract situation of running back Matt Forte has been a running theme. Forte is having a dominant year as he continues to establish himself as one of the game's elite at the position, and he's been openly frustrated about the lack of progress that's been made on a contract extension.

Forte spoke to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun Times on Wednesday, and he continues to voice his frustration with how he feels that the team has treated him.

To continue to give me the touches I’ve had since my rookie year but not award me a long-term contract sends the message that you’re OK grinding me into a pulp.

Obviously, that's not the kind of message that any team should be sending to one of its best players. Forte has been worked harder than nearly every other running back in the game over the past four years, having never missed a game since being drafted in 2008.

While both sides were initially quite optimistic, things have progressively gotten worse of late. The Bears have publicly said that they expect to place the franchise tag on Forte if an extension can't be agreed to, and Forte has essentially responded by noting that such action will make him a very unhappy camper.

If they think by just slapping the franchise tag on me that’s going to silence anything, they’re sadly mistaken. That’s not going to cure everything. It’s not a solution, I would say.

The Bears are a team that really, really can't afford to have an unhappy Matt Forte. He's one of the game's elite running backs, and essentially the lone weapon on Chicago's offense that other teams really have to plan for. Without any top-level wide receivers and a poor offensive line, Forte's developed into one of the most valuable backs in the league. The consensus is essentially that the Bears will have to pay him sooner or later, which is leaving some to wonder why the Bears continue to insist upon tightening the purse strings. At this point, Forte seems like he's genuinely offended.

It’s kind of getting old right now. Every time you talk to somebody, ‘How come they’re not paying you, man?’ I have no idea. I feel like if it was anybody else on any other team, I think they would have rewarded their player.

That's a pretty powerful comment. Clearly Forte feels underpaid, and as a result of that, utterly unappreciated. Given how important he is to essentially everything that the Bears do on offense, this is a situation that needs to be resolved soon.

For more on the Bears, check out Windy City Gridiron, SB Nation's Chicago Bears blog.

Contract Situation Makes Forte Question Bears' Loyalty

With the rumors the Bears might franchise their star running back the next two seasons, instead of signing him to a long term contract, have made Matt Forte not feel like he is wanted by management. Forte told reporters after practice on Tuesday that he doesn’t feel the Bears are being very loyal.

“I know I’m loyal to my teammates and my team are my guys, but it doesn’t seem like the organization is to me,” the Bears’ running back said Tuesday after practice. “But that doesn’t keep me from going out on the field and putting my best out there.”

Forte also mentioned on Tuesday he is isn’t surprised that the Bears would use the franchise tag even though he was promised a long term contract earlier this year.

“It wasn’t a shock. I knew it was an option,” he said. “My agent informed me about that before we started negotiating with them. (But) we were looking to get a deal and the franchise tag is not going to be a solution.”

“I play for myself and my teammates and my family. I learned that it really is a business and that they really don’t care about your personal life or anything like that. It’s the National Football League and these organizations are in a business. That’s the bad part about it.”

In response to all of the “Pay the Man” websites and fans trying to get a deal done for him.

“It shows me I’m playing well and doing my job, but it also gets kind of old,” he said " ‘Pay the man’ doesn’t get me paid. It’s nice to hear but it’s not a solution to anything."

This whole situation seems to be getting more and more hostile as the days go on. Since the Bears are right in the middle of the playoff race they need to sit down with Forte and either work out a deal or agree to work on something after the season. The longer this drags on the more it will become a distraction and could start to effect things on the field.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Without Extension, Bears Will Use Franchise Tag

The Chicago Bears plan to place the franchise tag on star running back Matt Forte if the two sides can't come to an agreement on a contract extension before the offseason, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. That means that Forte's 2012 salary would be the average of the five highest-paid running backs in the NFL for this season, a figure of roughly $7.71 million according to the report.

Forte, 25, has been one of the best players in the NFL this season, as he currently leads the league in yards from scrimmage with 1091 through his first seven games. He's the first player to get to 1000 yards from scrimmage through seven or less games since Priest Holmes and Tiki Barber did it in 2004, and easily the most dynamic offensive player that Chicago has had in years.

The running back has been outspoken in his desire for a long-term deal, saying that he has no interest in taking a one-year deal. Of the franchise tag, Forte even said, "that's kind of a cheap way to go out."

The Bears reportedly haven't offered more than $14 million in guarantees to Forte, even though elite NFL running backs have typically gotten more in the past. Earlier this year, Tennessee's Chris Johnson got $30 million in guarantees on a four-year deal, while Minnesota's Adrian Peterson got $36 million guaranteed from the Vikings.

For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Chicago Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For more news and notes around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Matt Forte Contract Update: Forte Says Franchise Tag 'A Cheap Way To Go'

Matt Forte is not exactly thrilled about potentially being given the franchise tag by Chicago.