The Bears will restart talks with Matt Forte regarding a contract extension this weekend, according to a source. Chicago has a new general manager in place, having named Phil Emery to replace Jerry Angelo. The previous offer to Forte amounted to between $13 and 14 million in guaranteed money, according to a source, and talks broke down just before the start of last season.

The family of former Bears player Dave Duerson has filed a wrongful death suit against the NFL over his suicide, according to an ESPN.com report. The suit was filed Thursday in Chicago on behalf of Duerson's children. Duerson died on Feb. 17, 2011, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

While the Bears could still decide to slap the franchise tag on free agent running back Matt Forte before the March 5 deadline, coach Lovie Smith believes the two sides will ultimately agree to a long-term contract extension. "Matt is going to play his football for the Chicago Bears, you start with that," Smith said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine.

Vernon Davis has spent his free time early this offseason supporting President Barack Obama. "I'm inspired by President Obama the same way I'm inspired by my grandma," Davis said in San Francisco on Thursday night, telling how his grandmother kept him out of trouble as a child in Washington, D.C. "I want to thank Vernon Davis for being here. If you want to come and play for the Bears, you are welcome to do it," the president said in a nod to his favorite team.

The NFL will begin allowing teams to use their franchise tag on Monday and the Bears could do so with Matt Forte immediately. Teams can apply the tag over a two-week period as a way of preventing players from hitting the open market. Chicago hasn't said they'll use the tag on Forte, but if a long-term deal isn't reached, they'll will want to prevent him from becoming a free agent. "We'd like to (sign Forte to a new deal)," president Ted Phillips told "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 wife of former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris is on life support and fighting for her life, according to a family friend. His wife, Ashley, is 29 years old and she suffered either a stroke or brain aneurysm. She gave birth to the couple's second child just four months ago.

The Bears have hired former Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to be their quarterbacks coach. The team was searching for a new quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator after they severed ties with veteran coordinator Mike Martz and assistant Shane Day immediately following the regular season. Bates previously worked with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in Denver. While Bates served as the Broncos' quarterbacks coach (2007-208), Cutler made his lone trip to Pro Bowl after throwing for a franchise record 4,526 yards in 2008. "I'm very excited to be working with Jeremy Bates again," Cutler said via the Bears' website. "We got the right guy for the job."

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.