RealGM

Matt Forte's season ended Tuesday when the Bears placed him on injured reserve but the day brought some good news as the running back was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.

Forte becomes the first offensive player general manager Jerry Angelo has drafted in 10 years to be selected to the all-star game, although he can't play because he was placed on IR with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Angelo now has selected eight Pro Bowl players in the last nine drafts.

Forte was one of five Bears players named to the NFC squad, joining linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, cornerback Charles Tillman and special teamer Corey Graham. Like Forte, Tillman and Graham are first-time selections.

"To be honest, I was very excited," said Graham, who was an alternate last year. "I didn't want to get my hopes up. But I'm very happy that I'm finally getting recognized for my efforts."

Forte and Graham will be unrestricted free agents after the season and surely they'll look to use their status as leverage in contract negotiations. The Bears are expected to put a franchise tag on Forte if they cannot reach an agreement with him. Briggs made it known before the season he wants his contract re-worked and he now has made the NFC's Pro Bowl team seven consecutive seasons.

"I would hope (making the Pro Bowl raises my value)," Graham said. "Making it can never hurt your resume. Being recognized as one of the best in the world at what you do is a great achievement and I'm just happy for all the blessings."

Forte is the first Bears running back to be named to the Pro Bowl since Neal Anderson in 1991. Before he was injured Dec. 4 against the Chiefs, Forte led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487) and was third in rushing (997).

It is the eighth time Urlacher has been picked, making him the sixth player in franchise history to be named to that many Pro Bowls. Tillman, 30, had a chance to play in the game as an alternate after the 2009 season but a punctured lung and fractured ribs prevented him from going.

Graham is the eighth special teams player to be named to the Pro Bowl for the Bears since Dave Toub was hired as coordinator in 2004. Returner Devin Hester, who scored three touchdowns this season, lost in his bid for a fourth Pro Bowl as Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson was chosen. Peterson has four return touchdowns. Defensive end Julius Peppers also was excluded. He has 10 sacks and the three NFC defensive ends have more: Jared Allen (181/2), Jason Babin (18) and Jason Pierre-Paul (151/2).

Five Pro Bowlers is the most the Bears have had since eight in the 2006 Super Bowl season. The Patriots, 49ers, Packers and Ravens Colts were the only teams to have more players selected than the Bears, who are the only team with a losing record to have more than three Pro Bowlers. The Patriots and 49ers have a league-high eight.

First-time players like Tillman and Graham typically play in the game. Urlacher has not played in the Pro Bowl since 2004. Briggs last played in the game in 2009 and has participated in just one of the last five. Each conference typically has a dozen or so players back out of the game, creating openings for alternates.

Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers will replace the Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul in the Pro Bowl. Peppers, who was voted a first alternate, will play for Pierre-Paul, who is playing in the Super Bowl.

Peppers, who had a team-high 11 sacks, makes his seventh Pro Bowl in 10 seasons. He is the first Bear defensive end to make two straight Pro Bowls since Richard Dent in 1984-85.