Bears, Forte Reach Deal

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 16, 2012 4:55PM

Sun-Times Bears beat reporter Sean Jensen is reporting that the team has reached a deal with running back Matt Forte on a long-term deal, hours before a 3 p.m. deadline would have attached the franchise tag to their top running back.

Jensen isn't offering much in the way of details right now, either on his blog or talking with WSCR-AM midday hosts Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel, but he is reporting the deal is a four-year contract. The deal, at least in years, must be a relief to Forte, who would have earned $7.7 million with the franchise tag this year, as far as fulfilling his wish to stay with the Bears. Over the past several months Forte has expressed his wish to have a long-term deal with the Bears, but wouldn't disclose what compensation he was seeking.

Throughout, the Bears have had the leverage in the negotiations with being able to apply the franchise tag to Forte and signing former Oakland running back Michael Bush as backup in case Forte decided to hold out. We'll update with the details of the contract once they're known.

[Update]: Jensen now reports the deal is worth $32 million, with $18 million of that guaranteed.