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Bears, Packers Notes

>>Bears WR Jeffry Signs Franchise Tender

 

Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery has signed his one-year, $14.6 million franchise tender offer.

 

The announcement Tuesday was more of a procedural development after the team placed the franchise tag on him last week. The Bears and Jeffery have until July 15 to agree to a multiyear contract.

 

Calf, hamstring, groin and shoulder injuries limited Jeffery to nine games last season. But he still led the team in receiving with 807 yards.

 

Jeffery played in all 16 games the previous two years, finishing with 1,421 yards in 2013 and 1,133 in 2014.

 

>>Packers Interested in Former Bears RB Forte

 

The Bears' decision to let running back Matt Forte walk away in free agency could end up backfiring on them.

According to ESPN.com, Forte is drawing interest from the last team that Bears fans want to see him sign with: the Green Bay Packers.

 

Although the sight of Forte in a Packers uniform would probably make any Bears fan cringe, it would likely bring a smile to the face of Aaron Rodgers.

 

During his eight years as the starting quarterback in Green Bay, Rodgers has had a lot of weapons, but he has never had a running back like Forte who easily catch passes out of the backfield.

Since Rodgers' first year as a starter in 2008, no Packers running back has caught more than 43 passes in a season. Forte has caught 44 or more passes in each of his eight NFL seasons.

 

The obvious upside for the Packers here is that they would get to add a proven player to a backfield that's full of question marks. For one, the Packers have no idea what they're going to get out of starting back Eddie Lacy.

 

Lacy spent most of the 2015 season out of shape and the Packers want to see him cut some weight before the 2016 starts. Although Lacy has been on a roll with his workouts lately, the team has no idea if that motivation will last all offseason.

 

Behind Lacy, there's not much right now because the Packers are expected to lose backup running back James Starks, who's set to become a free agent Wednesday.

 

For Forte, the upside of a potential deal is that he would finally get to play for a contender. During Forte's eight seasons in Chicago, the Bears only made the playoffs once.

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