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Florio: Bush Signing Gives Bears Leverage Over Forte

(WSCR) The Bears may have gotten more than just a backup running back when the team signed Michael Bush last week.

One football expert said the Bears may have some room to bargain when it comes to the contract situation with Matt Forte.

"Having Michael Bush gives the Bears leverage," Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk told The McNeil and Spiegel Show. "They can withstand a hold out. Bush did a nice job last year for the Raiders when Darren McFadden missed most of the season with a foot injury. It also results in a smaller line item for Matt Forte on the Bears' budget for 2012, which make a hold out more likely.

LISTEN: Mike Florio on The McNeil and Spiegel Show

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"I think one of the reasons Matt Forte was upset last week when Michael Bush was signed isn't just because it goes out and undermines Forte from a value standpoint. It also means that when Forte does show up, he's not going to be the every-down back. They're going to use Bush. That results in a lower price tag that the Bears will budget for Matt Forte. They're not going to pay him to be Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson. He's going to be paid to be 1A and Michael Bush is going to be 1B. Maybe it's going to be more of a gap between the two guys."

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