Bears insist Forte will stay
INDIANAPOLIS — Just because Matt Forte still doesn’t have the lucrative long-term contract that he’s been pining for the past year doesn’t mean the Bears don’t love him.
The Pro Bowl running back is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent March 13, but before that day arrives, the Bears will either have given him the security of a multi-year deal or tagged him as their franchise player — guaranteeing him a $7.7 million salary for 2012.
Teams have until March 5 to assign the franchise tag, and the Bears have reportedly begun contract negotiations with Forte’s agent Adisa Bakari.
“The team hasn’t changed its approach to Matt Forte at all,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said at the Scouting Combine. “I think we’re on record of how important Matt is to our organization. Matt’s going to play his football for the Chicago Bears. So you start with that. In time, hopefully he can get an agreement in place that suits Matt and we feel comfortable with. I think it’s just a matter of time; that will happen eventually.”
With the NFL relying more heavily than ever on throwing the ball, the status and value of running backs appears to have dipped around the league.
“I wouldn’t say that in Chicago; maybe other places,” Smith said. “The running back position will always have value for us. With the (weather) elements and all the things we want to get done, just our basic philosophy, there will always be a premium placed on the running back.”
Forte was having the most productive season of his four-year career in 2011 when a sprained knee ended his season after 12 games. At the time he was leading the league in yards from scrimmage with 997 yards on the ground and 490 yards on receptions. His 4.9-yard average per carry last season is a career best.
Plan B:The original plan was for the Bears#146; new quarterbacks coach to also have the title of #147;passing game coordinator.#148; But Jeremy Bates, who succeeded Shane Day, did not get the additional title.#147;I think people jumped the gun a little bit on #145;passing-game coordinator,#146; coach Lovie Smith said. #147;That was out there a lot. You discuss it, and I thought about a lot of different things. But in the end, I didn#146;t feel like we needed one.#147;We have a (offensive) coordinator in Mike Tice. We don#146;t have a defensive run-game coordinator or anything like that, and I didn#146;t feel like we needed it. I was trying to get the perfect group that I could on the offensive side of the ball.#148;Bates was the Broncos#146; quarterbacks coach in 2007 and #146;08, when Jay Cutler threw for 8,023 yards, and he will contribute to Tice#146;s offensive game plan. #147;Everybody will have input,#148; Smith said. #147;Jeremy Bates has been a coordinator in this league (with the Seahawks in 2010). I know what he#146;s done, and I know his history with Jay Cutler. I just didn#146;t feel like we needed any more titles.#148;Tough break:Prospect High School grad and Iowa offensive tackle Markus Zusevics tore his left pectoral muscle doing bench presses at his NFL combine workout Saturday, ending his weekend.Zusevics, who measured in at 6-feet-5 and 303 pounds Thursday, was considered a mid-round prospect. But his prospects will be hurt by the injury, which is expected to take several months to recover from. He was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Hawkeyes and was considered a tough, mobile and athletic player who needs to add some strength.ŸFollow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.