Chicago Bears: Matt Forte Contract Extension Talks Put on Hold Until Season End

One of the biggest offseason priorities for the Chicago Bears has been to re-sign running back Matt Forte to a contract extension. Bears GM Jerry Angelo has now put such talks on ice for the time being.

Angelo told news radio WBBM 780AM and 105.9FM in Chicago, the team’s flagship station, the immediate focus rests on the season debut and not Forte’s deal.

“We’ve decided that we’re just going to focus on the season and that’s something we talked about when we went into the negotiations,” Angelo said in his interview on the station. “We were hopeful, I’m not saying the door is shut, but right now our focus is going to be on the season.”

Angelo further went on to mention that “there was a mutual understanding. We visited a few times. In our last meeting we felt like with the season upon us that right now we want to focus and Matt wants to focus on the season and having the great year that we all expect and know that he will.”

Forte has more than lived up to his rookie contract, the final year of which he is about to enter. The 2011 season will profit Forte approximately $600,000, which is extremely low compared to his productivity and similar running backs around the league.

The Carolina Panthers re-signed DeAngelo Williams to a five-year, $43 million contract. The Tennessee Titans recently ended holdout talks with Pro Bowler Chris Johnson by giving him a record-setting six-year, $55.26 million deal. Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers received a three-year, $21 million extension just last week.

All of these backs cashed in this offseason for big deals. Meanwhile, Forte remains unsigned to an extension. He did state he would honor the final year of his rookie contract, though he is not pleased to be doing so.

The life on an NFL running back is short-lived. Most backs receive one considerably large deal during their professional career. Because of the number of hits and the grueling demand running the football takes on a back’s body, most elite rushers last a decade if that.

Fans can’t blame Forte for wanting to re-up his deal now while the team is comfortably under the salary cap. His statistics on the field are comparable to some of the most versatile players in the league. In 2010 Forte became the first Bear to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 500 additional yards since the late great Walter Payton.

"I have to stay positive and hope it gets done to eliminate distractions in the regular season, (but) I'm human,'' Forte told the Chicago Tribune’s David Haugh last week. "I'm going to be distracted by something like this. I just hope it does get done.''

Despite losing the contract negations, Forte has handled this process like a professional and should receive payment next season prior to free agency.

"I’m under contract,’’ Forte said to Vaughn McClure, also of the Chicago Tribune. "I’m disappointed, kind of frustrated that (an extension) didn’t get it done. As a player, you’re taught that this league is based off of production. You expect for a team to notice that and to get paid based off your production.

"I was expecting to get paid just like some of the other backs who produced similar to me. That didn’t happen, so obviously I’ve got to continue to play under my regular contract.’’

Only time will tell whether or not Forte’s play on the field is negatively affected by the dark cloud looming over his head. The Bears begin their regular season campaign this Sunday when they host the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field.

Brett Lyons is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or from official interview materials.

Follow Brett Lyons on Twitter  @BrettLyons670.