The Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith recently spoke with CSN Chicago about the current contractual impasse between RB Matt Forte, saying he felt the signing of free RB Michael Bush makes a "perfect compliment" to the 26-year-old Forte:
According to Smith, the Bears did not necessarily sign Bush as insurance in the case that Forte holds out. Rather, Smith claimed Bush was a insurance over current backup RB Kahlil Bell:
"You need more than one good running back. Kahlil Bell can do a lot of good things too, but to pick up a player like Michael Bush that had a great year last year... an NFL starting-caliber running back that will bring a different dimension to us. Of course he can run in between the tackles; he can catch the ball outside. I think he's the perfect compliment to Matt [Forte]."
And did Matt Forte's comments on Twitter make coach Smith concerned?
"No. In the offseason, that's when guys should take care of their contracts and feel comfortable with it. Negotiation should go on in the offseason. I look at is as no more than that. Matt's trying to get his contract situation taken care of. Eventually it will get taken care of; it's no more than that."
In four seasons with the Bears, Forte has started all but 4 regular season games, amassing 4233 rushing yards, 1985 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns. Here is a look at Forte's season stats from 2011:
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