The Morning After: Pair Of Bears Honored As Knox Makes Pro Bowl Debut

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Feb 1, 2010 4:00PM

Last night's NFL Pro Bowl was an experiment of sorts, being the first time in 30 years the game had been held outside of Hawaii and the first time it was held the weekend before the Super Bowl. The game also boasted its highest attendance in 50 years - over 70,000 - even though rain and cool temps chased away many fans by the second half of the AFC's 41-34 win. It also marked the Pro Bowl debut for the Bears' rookie wide receiver Johnny Knox. Knox was officially listed on the roster as a kick returner, filling in for one of the many originally slated starters (almost 40 percent) who bowed out of the league's all-star game. While he didn't have any catches despite being thrown to twice, Knox had a solid appearance as a kick returner, returning four kicks for 103 yards, including a 30 yard return. Not a bad debut at all.

Meanwhile, off the field, the NFL announced their All-Decade team and it featured a pair of Bears: punt/kick returner Devin Hester and linebacker Brian Urlacher. Hester had that magical two-year stretch in 2006 and 2007 when he racked up over 2,700 return yards and 11 return TDs. Urlacher, meanwhile, was one of the most feared linebackers of the Aughts, making over 1,000 tackles - over 800 of them solo - during the decade even though he missed almost the entire 2009 season due to injury.