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Bears RB Forte talks about contract talks

BOURBONNAIS — Phil Emery downplayed the angst that others felt over Matt Forte's uncertain contract status, which wasn't resolved until last week when the Pro Bowl running back signed a four-year, $32 million deal that was a year in the making.

Emery, the Bears' general manager, said he wasn't anxious about having what would have been a disappointed Forte playing on a one-year, $7.742 million deal as the team's franchise player.

“(That's) because both parties the whole time stayed in it, both of them worked very hard towards the goal of signing Matt and him being a member of our team now and in the future,” Emery said.

Forte, who arrived on campus late Tuesday evening, described the process as: “Long. One word: ‘long.'”

Forte downplayed the length of the talks, which began over a year ago and grew contentious at times, as when Forte expressed feeling disrespected when the Bears signed unrestricted free-agent running back Michael Bush to a three-year, $12 million deal that included $7 million in guaranteed money.

“It wasn't really difficult,” Forte said. “I played last year during the contract situation. I was prepared to do it again if I had to, if it came down to that. It wasn't really that difficult, but it is relieving to not have to worry about that now and just go and play football.

“I'm happy just to not get the questions of, ‘What's going to happen man?' and ‘When are you going to get paid?' It's nice to not have to answer those meaningless questions now.”

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