Bears' Forte hopes franchise tag isn't used as patch
Running back Matt Forte said he will be all right with the Chicago Bears using the franchise tag on him as long as it leads to a long-term contract from the team.
Forte is wary that the Bears may be using the tag just to hold his rights for another season and prevent him from entering free agency.
"It depends on the motive of (the franchise tag)," Forte said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "If they are doing the franchise tag just to get more time in order to negotiate a long-term deal, then I would be OK with it. But, if it's just to hold me another year and just, 'Let's throw some money at him right now to keep him quiet,' that's not going to solve anything."
Forte turned down a contract offer from the Bears prior to the season, according to ESPNChicago.com. But a change in general managers may help Forte and the Bears come to an agreement. Chicago hired Phil Emery to take over for Jerry Angelo on Jan. 28.
"I would expect (a new GM) to affect (the talks) positively," Forte said. "Hopefully, if we don't reach a deal by the time the franchise tag has to be placed, if they do franchise me, it's in order to get a deal done."
Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said Tuesday on the radio that the Bears have no intention of letting Forte become a free agent.
Forte missed the final four games of the regular season because he sprained his right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. Since coming to the Bears as a second-round pick in 2008, Forte has 4,233 rushing yards. He's also added 1,985 receiving yards. Forte returned to play in last Sunday's Pro Bowl.
--New general manager Phil Emery is not yet ready to divulge how active the Bears will be in free agency. But he clearly sees the draft as the main source of talent in building a team that he will consistently challenge for championships.
"The most important part of that plan is to correctly evaluate what is available," he said. "We may have needs in one area, but there may not be free agents that will fill those needs in our eyes. We will target them in the draft. There may be more than one player that can fill those needs. We will target those players and develop a game plan to execute the plan, to bring them to the Chicago Bears.
"Obviously our orientation would be toward the college players if they can fill our needs. Our goals are continuing to add good players through the draft. We want to raise our own."
--Emery, the fifth general manager in franchise history, claims he was not consumed by the goal of becoming a general manager during his 14 years as a scout in the NFL.
"I don't think that I've ever actively (sought) that out," Emery said. "It came together very quickly. Did I want to be involved in a leadership role? Absolutely. That's why you get involved in coaching, you want to lead and help others along. But in terms of seeking out a GM's role, in my mind, if you do your job and you try to achieve excellence, people will notice and then good things can happen.
"But if you spend your focus in the wrong place in terms of (worrying about) the next job or where am I going, it's not likely to happen, and you may not learn the expertise that you need to excel in that role when you get (the next job)."
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's not up to me. Either one of two things, I get franchised or I don't." -- Bears running back Matt Forte.
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