Bears' Matt Forte will report to training camp on time despite contract dispute

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte is still in search of a new deal as he heads into the final year of his contract, but it doesn't appear he'll sacrifice preseason work to make his point.

Forte confirmed Wednesday he will report to training camp on time despite the Bears' apparent unwillingness to discuss an extension, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.

"Yeah, (I'll report to camp on time without a new deal)," Forte said. "Nobody wants to play on a one-year deal, especially the uncertainty of how football is with how it goes. You just figure like a guy who's been there since day one, continues to put in hard work and has produced, you figure that that guy should be rewarded. But in this business that doesn't always happen."

Though he's continued to produce at a high level, recording at least 1,000 rushing yards in three straight seasons, Forte will turn 30 years old in December.

Another strong year could set him up for a free-agent contract that Chicago would be unwilling to match, but all indications are the club would rather take that risk instead of giving him a multi-year deal at this stage.

Either way, one of the Bears' offense's top playmakers deciding against a training camp hold out can be considered a positive as the team looks to rebound after a difficult 2014 season.