Though Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte will almost assuredly play for the team in the 2012 season, he has not yet signed any contract with the team, and he will be unavailable for offseason workouts until he does, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears officially tendered Forte a contract with the team's franchise tag, but as the two sides reportedly continue to negotiate a long-term contract, Forte has yet to sign the tender, and is thus barred from working out or practicing with the team.
Chicago's first offseason workouts begin on Monday April 16th, but they are voluntary, and it's unclear whether or not Forte would've shown up anyway. The Bears star ball carrier skipped offseason workouts last year as well and certainly saw no ill effects, as he was one of the top rushers in the league until going down with a knee injury in Week 13.
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