The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... The Bears and representatives for Forte will open contract talks this weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine, a league source said Friday.
Diehards Line:Forte and the Bears have been at odds over the running back's value for over a year, and Forte is set to hit the free-agent market next month. But the Bears aren't expected to let him become a free agent, and many anticipate the team will use the franchise tag on Forte if the sides can't agree to a long-term solution. If Forte does in fact receive the franchise tag, his 2012 salary likely will be just $7.7 million -- down from the $9.6 million figure that franchised running backs received in 2011.