With just 38 days remaining for Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears to sort out a contract, the running back said for him it was not about being the highest paid back in the NFL.
Forte has been given the franchise tag by the Bears; meaning if he fails to come to a long-term agreement, the running back will have to play on a short-term one year deal which will earn him $7.7 million.
In an appearance on the NFL Network after Forte was ranked No 33 in the network's top 100 players of 2012, the 26-year-old said: "I just want to be given a contract where I rank among some of the top running backs," Forte said. "Not the top paid or anything like that. I just want to be recognized as one of the best.
"It's unfortunate that the organization (can) treat it as a business, when the player does he gets frowned upon.
"But you have to make do with what's best for you and your family. All my teammates know I'm going to be there for them and give them the best in my heart out there on the field."
Forte has missed the voluntary off-season program which is set to conclude with OTAs on Thursday at Halas Hall. The Bears are scheduled to have a mandatory minicamp next week, but Forte is not obligated to attend as he hasn't signed on the one-year tender yet.
The last Bears player to get the franchise tag, Lance Briggs sympathised with Forte's situation. "We are all grown men and we know that everyone here, individually, we have to do what we have to do," Briggs told the Chicago Tribune.
"So whatever Matt has to do, I completely understand.
"He isn't letting me down, he isn't letting any of his teammates down because it's Matt life and he has put his life and his mind and body on the field for all of this."
