Matt Forte's contract dispute with the Chicago Bears has no easy solution, but it shouldn't be that big a concern for Bears fans.
Forte is due $7.7 million if he signs his franchise tag. That's more than double the amount of money he made in his first four seasons combined. Even if he doesn't get a long-term deal, he's not going to miss those 17 pay days during the regular season.
Speaking to the Bears radio network on Friday, Forte confirmed that he won't sit out the 2012 season. That's no surprise. The question is when he will show up to work.
"We're still talking," Forte told NFL Network's Kimberly Jones on Friday. "Negotiations are going on right now, so that's about it."
However, he said he didn't know whether he would show up to training camp on time or not.
"I don't know, I can't answer that right now," Forte said. "We're just talking right now. ... I know what to do training-wise so I go out and train hard every day and prepare myself for the season so that I can go out there and play well each year. So I just go out there and work hard every day. I know what to do going into the season."
It's a positive sign that Forte promised to play this season. It's also a positive sign that the two sides continue to talk contract. Considering Maurice Jones-Drew's situation with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bears fans shouldn't be that worried about Forte's status.
