Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said Tuesday that the team will not allow Matt Forte to hit the free agent market. Chicago has three weeks to decide whether to apply the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl running back. "We'd like to (work out a long-term deal with Forte)," Phillips said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "But as Phil [Emery] pointed out we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him. We don't have any intention of letting Matt hit the open market. We'll sit down with him privately, Phil will, and discuss what the plans are prior to the Feb. 20 franchise tag date." The Bears recently hired Emery as their new general manager.