Five Bears Make Pro Bowl

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 28, 2011 2:45PM

Charles Tillman makes his first Pro Bowl.

The Bears season went from playoff aspirations to disappointment faster than a snowball headed for Hell as soon as Jay Cutler and Matt Forte went down with injuries. But the team can take some measure of comfort with the announcement that five of its players made the Pro Bowl yesterday.

Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, running back Matt Forte, cornerback Charles Tillman and special teams standout Corey Graham were selected to the team. For Urlacher and Briggs the nods have become common place. Urlacher was named to his eighth Pro Bowl squad while Briggs, who leads the Bears in tackles with 140, earned his seventh straight Pro Bowl nod. He becomes the fourth player in Bears history to do that.

Forte, Tillman and Graham each earned their first Pro Bowl selections. For Forte, it seemed like a foregone conclusion even after his season was cut short with a knee injury. He also becomes the first Bears running back selected to the team in 20 years and the first offensive player selected who was drafted by Jerry Angelo. Forte and Graham are both unrestricted free agents after the season and will use the selections as bargaining leverage during contract negotiations.

For Tillman, who will likely go down as one of the best cover men in team history, the Pro Bowl recognition was long overdue. He leads the team in pass breakups; is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries; has two interceptions on the season (one returned for a touchdown); and often is assigned to cover the opposing team's best wide receiver, Tillman's 23 forced fumbles since 2003 lead all NFL cornerbacks in that category. He also has 29 interceptions in nine years, ranking ninth among league cornerbacks.