NFL

Matt Forte Gets Paid, Agrees To New Deal With The Bears

In the 23rd hour of contract negotiations, the Bears and Matt Forte finally agreed to a deal. Chicago locked up the Pro Bowl running back with a four-year contract that averages $8 million a year.

Today is the last day for teams to sign players that were tendered a franchise tag. With Drew Brees already getting his mega deal, there was still a group of very talented players (Forte included) who received the franchise tender but had yet to sign.

Forte was originally for about $9 million per, while the Bears only wanted to shell out around $7 million. $8 million, it seems, was the logical compromise.

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times broke the story, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the figures.

BREAKING: #Bears agree to terms with Pro Bowl RB Matt Forte on a long-term contract, according to source close to the situation.

— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) July 16, 2012

Bears and Matt Forte agreed to a four-year deal. The deal will average about $8 million per year.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 16, 2012

Some other big-name players that have received the franchise tag and have still yet to sign include Ray Rice, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker, and Dashon Goldson. As for Forte: tweeting videos of yourself running uphill with a massive sled attached to your body looks like it paid off.

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