Matt Forte opened training camp threatening to hold out if he didn't get a contract, but thought again.
Then he threatened to hold out of preseason games fearing injury without a new deal, but still played.
Now, Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo has declared a mutual decision to end contract talks with the 4th year Running Back playing in the final year of his rookie contract.
"He said that?" Forte asked Wednesday, "I didn't say that, so I guess it wasn't mutual... The door's always open on my end."
Forte has run out of threats and said he'll be a professional and put his contract desires aside.
"Disappointed, kind of frustrated it didn't get done" Forte admitted. "As a player you're taught that this league is based on production. You expect a team to notice that and to get paid based off your production."
That pay day could still come after the season, when Forte's contract runs out, if he again outperforms. Forte enters the 2011 season with 4,731 yards from scrimmage, 33 yards shy for seventh in Bears annals.
"I've always had a fire in me since I came into the league, coming out of a small school," the Tulane product said. "I am human. I am going to be thinking about the contract situation and that stuff and what happened, but I just got to focus on playing football."
