New Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery has plenty of issues to address as he gets to work at Halas Hall. With three weeks to decide whether to apply the franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte, Emery's boss said Tuesday that the Bears won't let the Pro Bowl running back reach free agency.

Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after he suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. He finished the season with 1,487 yards from scrimmage, good enough numbers to earn Forte his first-ever spot on the NFC Pro Bowl roster.

Forte, who played in Sunday's Pro Bowl, turned down a contract offer from the Bears before the season with $13 million to $14 million in guaranteed money, ESPNChicago.com reported.

Earlier this month Forte hinted at the possibility of a holdout if the Bears decide to place the franchise tag on him.

"I wouldn't say holdout, but people probably wouldn't know where I was," Forte said Jan. 19 on "The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show" on ESPN 1000.