Matt Forte (Photo via: urban1on1.com)

After mishandling the Urlacher injury for about 8 months, it’s pretty much common knowledge that the Bears aren’t the best at handling injury-statuses with the media. And so far I’m getting that same impression regarding Matt Forte’s situation. 

After Forte’s injury that occurred against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears immediately came back and said it was NOT  high ankle strain, and that they’d be taking it day by day with Forte and prep him for his return. He has been sitting out of practice and did not play against the Rams on Sunday. But more recently, Lovie told the media that he was eyeing Forte’s return for the Monday Night Football game against the Cowboys next week. And I have already come across reports saying that he will not be playing after all, although no ‘official’ word has been made.

And in addition to all of that, the Bears brought in Ryan Grant for workouts on Tuesday which raised even more eyebrows. Now the public is speculating that Forte’s return is even further away than anticipated, which of course contradicts what the team has been saying all along.

If the Bears don’t know for sure what the healing process is looking like for Forte, than it’s fine that they don’t release a ton of information. But at the same time, they shouldn’t be making statements about his return at all. We have great backups for Forte, but the communication between the team and the media need to improve before they start getting criticized further. Forte is our stud, and giving fans and fantasy owners high hopes about his return when it’s not really going to happen is basically cruel.

Matt Forte Suffers a High Ankle Sprain (Photo via: USAToday.com)

During the beat down the Bears faced on Thursday, Matt Forte sustained a high ankle strain. And just like that, everything could be different for the remainder of the season. So far the Bears have been very quiet about the situation, although I’m sure it’s the first thing that will be addressed with the media on Monday. And in case you were wondering, they are already seeking additional coverage at running back, re-signing Kahlil Bell this afternoon after releasing him a month ago. Kahlil will join Mike Bush, who so far, is very impressive and his presence alone is keeping the majority of Bears fans breath a sigh of relief.

Forte’s presence is enough to change games (obviously). He is one of the best running backs in the league, and a key player in the Bears new and developing offense. Recently signed to an extended contract, all eyes are on Forte this year as we work towards a (very) possible playoff run.

Hopefully, the long week off will help determine the severity of the injury, but the signing of Kahlil happened pretty quickly, so don’t be surprised if Forte is out for a while, Bears fans.

BUT if Matt Forte can be back and ready to play against the Lions week 7 (if not sooner, this is a worst case scenario in my mind right now), then I am confident that this will not impact our season as much as some think. Yes, long term, we need Forte. But in the meantime, Bush and Kahlil will have to hold down the fort and perform accordingly, which they are capable of doing. This is their time to shine and they need to take advantage of it. Hopefully, the passing game also improves, making our offense more of a threat. And what is even better, is that the schedule works in our favor for the next six weeks. So if Forte’s injury does require that kind of time to heal, this is the time to use.

Don’t hit the panic button quite yet, Chicago.

Chicago Tribune Bears beat writer Brad Biggs noted on Twitter Monday the official deadline was set for the team and running back Matt Forte to come to an agreement on a multi-year extension.

Biggs wrote in his tweet that the deadline is set for July 16 at 3 p.m., which gives both sides a month to get something done.

Whether or not both sides can come to an agreement will no doubt be determined in the next few weeks.

Forte is holding out for a new contract after being franchise tagged during this offseason. The tag would be $7.7 million, if no contract extension is agreed to. Forte held out during the Bears mini-camp last week.

With Forte out of the picture at last week’s mini-camps, a couple of running backs have taken an opportunity to really impress the organization. Many on the team have been impressed with new running back acquisition Michael Bush, including starting quarterback Jay Cutler.

Whether Bush will compete with Forte for the starting job or not remains to be seen. However, if Forte holds out during training camp, it certainly doesn’t hurt Bush’s chances of fighting for an opportunity.

And that is not to suggest Bush will be the starter for week one. Forte still could be starting at that point. But Bush has a chance to make an impression on head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Tice. That said, the Forte contract clock is ticking and we’ll certainly see if a deal gets done between now and July 16.

Kahlil Bell will be a Bear through 2013.  After three seasons with the team, he signed a one-year tender offer of $1.26 million Wednesday. 

Unlike another running back in Chicago (*cough* Matt Forte *cough*), Bell seems overjoyed by his situation.  He took to Twitter to express his happiness with the deal.

If only the Bears could squeeze this kind of reaction out of Forte in the near future.  Then they would be the real “blessed” ones.

The Bears begin their off-season workout program Monday at Halas Hall, but Matt Forte is expected to be absent.  He will not report until a long-term deal is in place, according to ESPN.

The team placed the franchise tag on Forte at the end of his rookie contract in 2011, which left the runningback feeling dissatisfied and disrespected.

Hoping to reach a multi-year agreement with Chicago, Forte will likely skip the upcoming voluntary workouts and possibly training camp.  Right now, his only option under the tag is to sign a one-year offer worth $7.7 million.

Bears fans adopted the motto “Pay the man!” in 2011 as “the man” produced a Pro Bowl season before suffering a knee injury.  It’s time the Bears took some advice from the fans and give Forte what he wants.

The Bears signed Lance Briggs to a one-year extension Wednesday.  This comes just a year after the linebacker requested a trade from Chicago if the team could not accommodate a boost in his 2011 and 2012 base salaries. 

Briggs is an integral piece of the Bears defense, racking up seven consecutive Pro Bowl nominations.  The eight-year veteran proved his 31-year-old body can still be a dominant force by leading his team in tackles in 2011.

Now that he’s locked up until 2014, it appears he will finish his career in the Windy City.

“My dream is to retire a Bear. And I know that I will retire a Bear,” Briggs said Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

While the extension of Briggs is a step forward in the Phil Emery era, the looming question of Matt Forte’s contract situation remains a pressing issue.  It’s nice to know Briggs will likely be a Bear for life, but it would be even better if Forte were to don the Bears blue and orange for many years to come.

When my oldest niece was about 18-months old, I was helping my sister watch her while my brother-in-law was out of town.  We had just picked her up from day care, and rather than sitting in her stroller, she decided that she wanted to walk.  My sister said she could walk only if she held one of our hands, and she refused.  When my sister put her back in the stroller, my niece threw a giant tantrum and was screaming and crying for the next 20 minutes.

That’s the episode I think of after the Twitter Tantrum Matt Forte threw yesterday (that term copyrighted by my friend Tom).  I mean, really.  You just got a franchise tag, a 7000% raise (or something, I don’t do math) and the respect you were looking for.  What is the issue with the Bears signing another solid running back in Michael Bush?

After Jay Cutler got injured last season, Forte was really the only offensive producer on the team.  When HE got injured, it was like watching a very slow train wreck, since we had to live through it for the remainder of the season.

The NFL is a business.  There is nothing wrong with the Bears trying to make their business better and stronger with another talented running back.  I seriously do not understand the problem.  If going from making $600K/year to $7.7 million is not enough to make Forte happy and feel appreciated, then I’m at a loss for words.  Did you see Jay Cutler go on a Twitter rant when the Bears signed veteran QB Jason Campbell?  No, you did not.  The reason?  Probably because Cutler was relieved that the Bears acknowledged that they were missing a viable option for the backup QB position.

Forte should feel relieved as well.  He’s going to have to do less work to make more money.  We should all be that lucky.

The Bears signed running back Michael Bush to a four-year deal, the team announced Thursday.

The deal is worth $14 million with $7 million guaranteed, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Bush was a fourth-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2008.  In four seasons with the Raiders, he played in 61 games while gaining 2,642 yards on 632 attempts.

2011 was his most productive year as starter Darren McFadden’s season was ended due to injury.  Bush picked up the slack, rushing for 977 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bush’s addition means Marion Barber’s days in Chicago are most likely over.

The effect this will have on Matt Forte is uncertain.  Forte received the franchise tag this year and could hold out.

No matter what Bush’s role on this team ends up being, he is a solid back that provides depth at the running back position.

The Bears placed the franchise on RB Matt Forte yesterday, a move that gives him a 400000% raise or something (he made 600K last season and will make $7.7 million in 2012).  This is a move that Bears fans had certainly hoped for, as Forte was a key member of the offense until he missed the last four games of the season due to a knee injury.  He was third in the NFL for rushing (997 yeards) prior to his knee sprain.

Fortunately, the injury did not turn out to be serious, but unfortunately it battered the already depleted offense that was missing its QB Jay Cutler.

With both Cutler and Forte healthy in 2012, there is reason for the team and fans to be optimistic about the upcoming season.

It is also promising to see the front office making smart decisions about building a successful team (I can say this as a person who has built zero successful NFL teams, including fantasy, but that’s beside the point here).

Onward and upward, folks!

Matt Forte’s future in Chicago is speckled with question marks, but one possibility that can be ruled out is free agency.  Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said Tuesday that he will not allow the running back to test the free agent waters.

Matt Forte played in his first Pro Bowl Sunday (Photot Courtesy of Perry Knotts/NFL).

Phillips also expressed his desire to sign the Pro Bowler to a long-term contract in an interview on ESPN 1000.  However, he did not eliminate the option of utilizing the franchise tag.

General manager Phil Emery will sit down with Matt Forte to discuss the team’s plans for him before the February 20 franchise tag date, according to Phillips.  Forte is not fond of the idea of being franchised, though.  He has discussed the possibility of holding out if the tag is placed on him.

In January, Forte voiced his displeasure on ESPN 1000 saying, “I wouldn’t say holdout, but people probably wouldn’t know where I was.”

Matt, we Bears fans want to know where you are…at all times during the season.  Please.  You belong on the field, blowing through defenders, carrying the offense, being a Pro Bowl caliber running back.  Where you don’t belong is sitting on your couch on Sundays, fuming because the Bears dissatisfied you.

Chicago simply cannot afford to lose the talent embodied by Forte.  The Bears need to give the man what he wants.  As fans proclaimed throughout the 2011 season, “pay the man.”