LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Matt Forte says he’s “surprised” and “disappointed” he wasn’t able to get a new deal from the Chicago Bears.
The season opens Sunday against Atlanta, and the running back will go into the fourth and final year of his rookie contract waiting for the big payday he was seeking. General manager Jerry Angelo said earlier this week that both sides agreed to table the talks for now, although he wasn’t slamming the door on an agreement being reached by the end of the year.
Forte disputes the idea that it was a mutual decision, saying “the door’s always open on my end.”
If they don’t agree to a deal before the end of the season, Forte could test the market. The Bears could also slap him with the franchise-player tag.
