Dec. 23--There are many ways to measure how the Bears' roster-building project stands under first-year general manager Ryan Pace, starting with their 5-9 record. Another came into focus Tuesday night when the NFL announced selections for the 2016 Pro Bowl and no Bears were among them.
If the club has no alternates added to the rosters in the coming weeks, it would be the first time the Bears aren't represented in the league's annual all-star game since the 1998-99 season.
The Bears were one of six teams without anyone included on the Pro Bowl rosters Tuesday night. The others were the Chargers, Colts, Jaguars, Saints and Titans. The undefeated Panthers led all clubs with 10 Pro Bowlers.
As bad as the Bears were a year ago, they still had two Pro Bowlers despite a 5-11 finish that triggered a house cleaning of the football operation. Offensive lineman Kyle Long was nominated and tight end Martellus Bennett made it as an alternate.
This year, however, the team switched Long to right tackle seven days before the regular-season opener, moving him from the right guard spot at which he made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two NFL seasons.
And Bennett this season failed to approach his career-high totals from 2014. He landed on injured reserve after 11 games with a fractured rib.
Other Bears with Pro Bowls on their resumes were either beset by injuries, didn't play to that level or both.
Most notably, running back Matt Forte missed three games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and he has split touches with rookie Jeremy Langford since returning in Week 12. Receiver Alshon Jeffery has missed five games with different leg muscle injuries and has not been at full health in other games.
Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee made a case for his first career Pro Bowl with five sacks and an interception through seven games, but a left knee injury in early November has limited his playing time and production.
The Bears declined to say whether anyone from the team was named an alternate.
In the Pro Bowl selection process, fan balloting counts for one-third, as do player voting and coaches' voting. The game is Jan. 31 in Honolulu.
