Running back Matt Forte has been a fixture in the Bears backfield virtually since the day he was drafted in 2008 in the second round. He understands market realities for a running back at age 30.
“There’s not much to hope for right now,” Forte said, “because I talked to [the Bears’ front office] earlier [this year] and they haven’t said anything back. So there’s nothing really to hope for.”
[MORE: John Fox's four core values will decide who stays, who goes]
But his hope is the Bears also value what he has meant to the organization as well as what he is capable to do at this point of his career.
“Something obviously respectful in that manner,” Forte said of his wish from the Bears next offseason. “You know, not obviously playing at league minimum or anything like that, but obviously respectful.”
That is a fluid concept. The Bears after 2012 offered Brian Urlacher a contract at $2 million, with $1 million guaranteed, something Urlacher decidedly did not consider “respectful.”
[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]
NFL
Forte last offseason approached the Bears about restructuring his contract, meaning extending it with cash to him in bonus form but a lower cap number for this year. The Bears weren’t interested at that time, a strong hint that they do not view him as part of a future that already includes Ka’Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford.
Forte went a step further on Wednesday, indirectly giving the Bears an indication that he will consider something of a hometown discount.
“I always look at staying home and being here where I’ve been the past eight years,” Forte said. “That’s a major factor.”