Bears Pro Bowlers (5 starters)

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The Bears have 5 starters in this season's Pro-Bowl .

Brandon Marshall (WR)
Julius Peppers (DE)
Henry Melton (DT)
Charles "Peanut" Tillman (CB)
Tim Jennings (CB)

My initial thoughts:

-I was surprised that Lance Briggs was not voted in as a starter. He lost out to Aldon Smith (San Francisco), DeMarcus Ware (Dallas), & Clay Matthews (Green Bay).

-Henry Melton's contract negotiations just became tougher .

-No Devin Hester as kickoff/punt returner for the first time in a while . I hope that Hester realizes he's done something wrong this season regarding his approach to the game.

The NFL named its Pro Bowl team Wednesday with five Chicago Bears making the NFC roster, including starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings.

The defense produced four of the club's five Pro Bowlers, with receiver Brandon Marshall being the only Bears representative on the NFC team from the offense. Defensive tackle Henry Melton and Jennings earned their first trips to Pro Bowl. Tillman, meanwhile, earned Pro Bowl recognition for the second consecutive season after receiving the nod in 2011 for the first time of his then nine-year career. Defensive end Julius Peppers receives the honor for the eighth time in his career, and the fifth year in a row.

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Interestingly, linebacker Lance Briggs missed making the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2004. Last season, Briggs became the ninth player in franchise history to be voted into seven straight Pro Bowls, and the fourth Bears linebacker to accomplish the feat, joining Hall of Fame players at the position in Dick Butkus, Bill George and Mike Singletary.

Jennings, meanwhile, considers the opportunity to line up opposite Tillman as one of the NFC's starting cornerbacks in the Pro Bowl "one of the special moments."

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... owl-roster

[randybrown]

Wow Melton is not a Pro Bowl starter.
Who in their right mind would take Melton over Ndamukong Suh?

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Wow Melton is not a Pro Bowl starter.
Who in their right mind would take Melton over Ndamukong Suh?

This is ESPN's Kevin Seifert's take on it:

It was surprising to see Bears linebacker Lance Briggs left off the roster for the first time in seven years. He has two touchdown returns and has been a sideline-to-sideline playmaker. The Lions' Ndamukong Suh had seven sacks this season, second-most among all NFL defensive tackles, but was passed over for the Bears' Henry Melton, the San Francisco 49ers' Justin Smith and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Gerald McCoy. Suh has had a nice rebound season in 2012, and you could make arguments for Melton, Smith and McCoy to be voted ahead of him. But you always wonder how reputation factors into voting.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... analysis-4

-Henry Melton has 41 tackles & 6 sacks

-Ndamukong Suh has 34 tackles & 7 sacks

-Gerald McCoy has 30 tackles & 5 sacks

-Justin Smith has 66 tackles & 3 sacks

Henry Melton deserves to be a starter in the Pro-Bowl, IMO.

[Jake0890]

Wow Melton is not a Pro Bowl starter.
Who in their right mind would take Melton over Ndamukong Suh?

There's no reason Melton isn't pro-bowl caliber. Just because he doesn't have the publicity of Suh doesn't mean he shouldn't be there.

[bearadonisdna]

Clay Matthews over briggs is a travesty. Matthews was even injured for a chunk of the season.

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Clay Matthews over briggs is a travesty. Matthews was even injured for a chunk of the season.

Clay Matthews is the NFL's new "Golden Boy". His sacks are the only impressive stat for this season.

-Clay Matthews 40 tackles, 12 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 touchdowns, 2 passes defended, & 1 forced fumble

-Lance Briggs 96 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, 9 passes defended, & 2 forced fumbles

[bearadonisdna]

^ And i know a % good of his those sacks happened vs the bears early in the year.

[Jake0890]

Now that Melton made the probowl, the Bears better be ready to shell out money for him. His contract won't be small. It'll be interesting to see whether the Bears are willing to do that.

[heir_jordan22]

Suh should be in over McCoy. And Briggs damn sure should be in over Mathews. Also BOTH of the 49ers safeties starting? AT LEAST one of the Seahawks safeties should be starting.

Opinion.

[randybrown]

Wow Melton is not a Pro Bowl starter.
Who in their right mind would take Melton over Ndamukong Suh?

There's no reason Melton isn't pro-bowl caliber. Just because he doesn't have the publicity of Suh doesn't mean he shouldn't be there.

Never said caliber, i said starter.
So you would take Melton over Suh???
Suh is an asshat, but is on another level than Melton.

[bearadonisdna]

Now that Melton made the probowl, the Bears better be ready to shell out money for him. His contract won't be small. It'll be interesting to see whether the Bears are willing to do that.

This is a reality.

[MVP Rose]

Wow Melton is not a Pro Bowl starter.
Who in their right mind would take Melton over Ndamukong Suh?

There's no reason Melton isn't pro-bowl caliber. Just because he doesn't have the publicity of Suh doesn't mean he shouldn't be there.

Never said caliber, i said starter.
So you would take Melton over Suh???
Suh is an asshat, but is on another level than Melton.

No, actually, he really isn't. According to profootball focus, Melton is the 2nd best DT in the game against the run, and 3rd in sacks generated (despite missing 2 1/2 games). He has the most sacks out of any DT since the beginning of last season. He's every bit as good as Suh, but since he doesn't get put on ESPN, people won't notice.

[RedBulls23]

Yeah Henry Melton just isn't an house hold name so people don't know to give him credit, But he has had a great season and definitely belongs in as a starter.

[randybrown]

No, actually, he really isn't. According to profootball focus, Melton is the 2nd best DT in the game against the run, and 3rd in sacks generated (despite missing 2 1/2 games). He has the most sacks out of any DT since the beginning of last season. He's every bit as good as Suh, but since he doesn't get put on ESPN, people won't notice.

Wow. So you are going to compare stats between a DT who gets double teamed every play & a DT who plays next to a DE who gets double teamed every play. Smart

I like how no one is answering this question.
Would anyone take Melton over Suh on the Bears? Anyone?

[Jake0890]

No, actually, he really isn't. According to profootball focus, Melton is the 2nd best DT in the game against the run, and 3rd in sacks generated (despite missing 2 1/2 games). He has the most sacks out of any DT since the beginning of last season. He's every bit as good as Suh, but since he doesn't get put on ESPN, people won't notice.

Wow. So you are going to compare stats between a DT who gets double teamed every play & a DT who plays next to a DE who gets double teamed every play. Smart

I like how no one is answering this question.
Would anyone take Melton over Suh on the Bears? Anyone?

Yes.

[MVP Rose]

No, actually, he really isn't. According to profootball focus, Melton is the 2nd best DT in the game against the run, and 3rd in sacks generated (despite missing 2 1/2 games). He has the most sacks out of any DT since the beginning of last season. He's every bit as good as Suh, but since he doesn't get put on ESPN, people won't notice.

Wow. So you are going to compare stats between a DT who gets double teamed every play & a DT who plays next to a DE who gets double teamed every play. Smart

I like how no one is answering this question.
Would anyone take Melton over Suh on the Bears? Anyone?

You seriously haven't seen Melton get double teamed this season? Have we been watching the same game?

And yes, I would. At the very least, I sure as **** wouldn't spend the #2 overall pick on Suh especially when you can get somebody just as good (Melton) in the 4th round.

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2012 AP All-Pro Team

First Team

Offense

Quarterback - Peyton Manning, Denver.
Running Backs - Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Marshawn Lynch, Seattle.
Fullback - Vonta Leach, Baltimore.
Tight End - Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta.
Wide Receivers - Calvin Johnson, Detroit; Brandon Marshall, Chicago.
Tackles - Duane Brown, Houston; Ryan Clady, Denver.
Guards - Mike Iupati, San Francisco; Jahri Evans, New Orleans.
Center - Max Unger, Seattle.
Placekicker - Blair Walsh, Minnesota.
Kick Returner - Jacoby Jones, Baltimore.

DEFENSE

Ends - J.J. Watt, Houston; Cameron Wake, Miami.
Tackles - Geno Atkins, Cincinnati; Vince Wilfork, New England.
Outside Linebackers - Von Miller, Denver; Aldon Smith, San Francisco.
Inside Linebackers - Patrick Willis, San Francisco; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco.
Cornerbacks - Richard Sherman, Seattle; Charles Tillman, Chicago.
Safeties - Earl Thomas, Seattle; Dashon Goldson, San Francisco.
Punter - Andy Lee, San Francisco


SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay.
Running Backs - Alfred Morris, Washington; Jamaal Charles, Kansas City.
Fullback - Jerome Felton, Minnesota.
Tight End - Jason Witten, Dallas.
Wide Receivers - A.J. Green, Cincinnati; Andre Johnson, Houston.
Tackles - Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Joe Staley, San Francisco.
Guards - Marshal Yanda, Baltimore; Logan Mankins, New England.
Center - Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh.
Placekicker - Phil Dawson, Cleveland.
Kick Returner - David Wilson, New York Giants

DEFENSE

Ends - Justin Smith, San Francisco; Julius Peppers, Chicago.
Tackles - Justin Smith, San Francisco; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit, and Haloti Ngata, Baltimore.
Outside Linebackers - Chad Greenway, Minnesota; Ahmad Brooks, San Francisco, Clay Matthews, Green Bay, and DeMarcus Ware, Dallas.
Inside Linebackers - Daryl Washington, Arizona; London Fletcher, Washington.
Cornerbacks - Champ Bailey, Denver; Tim Jennings, Chicago.
Safeties - Eric Weddle, San Diego; Jairus Byrd, Buffalo.
Punter - Thomas Morstead, New Orleans.

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I didn't feel it was thread-worthy, so I figured I'd put it here:

Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall needs to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his hip, according to an NFL source, who called the upcoming surgery "nothing," before adding it could put the Pro Bowler out of action "probably two weeks."

Given the timeframe for recovery, the source indicated it's doubtful Marshall will play in the Jan. 27 Pro Bowl, but that hasn't yet been decided.

Marshall plans to have the surgery late Monday or Tuesday morning, but it's unknown which hip he'll have repaired. The receiver has undergone at least one arthroscopic procedure on each of his hips over the course of his career.

A four-time Pro Bowl receiver, Marshall caught a Bears single-season record 118 passes for 1,508 yards, both career highs, in addition to being named Saturday to the Associated Press All-Pro team.

Marshall underwent a right hip procedure in 2010, and the previous offseason he had surgery on his left hip. Marshall also underwent surgery in March 2009 as a member of the Denver Broncos to repair a hip injury that slowed him throughout most of his 2008 campaign. After undergoing that surgery, Marshall finished 2009 with his third consecutive 100-catch season, gaining 1,120 yards receiving in addition to catching a then career-high 10 touchdowns.

Despite hip surgery prior to the start of the 2010 season, Marshall caught 86 passes for 1,014 yards and followed that up in 2011 with 81 catches for 1,214 yards and six TDs.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... cedure-hip

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Kevin Seifert@espn_nfcnblog
Marshall had hip surgery RT: @CardsMarkD: @larryfitzgerald: named to replace injured Bears WR Brandon Marshall at Pro Bowl

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We're continuing to have NFC North movement on the Pro Bowl roster with the game just five days away. The latest includes the injury withdrawal of Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, the addition of Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph and the news that Bears linebacker Lance Briggs passed on playing, presumably as an injury replacement.

Marshall had hip arthroscopic hip surgery earlier this month. Rudolph is replacing Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez. Briggs said via Twitter that he needed an MRI on his knee and thus informed Pro Bowl officials he wouldn't be available to play. All three of the NFC's original Pro Bowl outside linebackers -- Aldon Smith, Clay Matthews and DeMarcus Ware -- have withdrawn.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... re-changes

Good move Briggs. They passed him over, then came crawling to him for his participation.