Chicago Bears Forte and Marshall Selected to Pro Bowl, Alshon Jeffery Snubbed

Oct 20, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) is congratulated by Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) after scoring a touchdown during the second half at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL named the Pro Bowl selections and two Chicago Bears offensive players were named – wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte.   Second year wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was conspicuously left off the list as many thought Jeffery would get the nod.  Teammate Brandon Marshall had been lobbying to get his protege a trip to Hawaii.  This will make Marshall’s fifth trip to the Pro Bowl.

Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; .Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) makes a catch over Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The wide receivers making the Pro Bowl include Marshall, Antonio Brown, Andre Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, AJ Greene, Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant and Josh Gordon.  Jeffery may have been hurt by the new non-conference format for Pro Bowl selections, with the NFC getting three representatives and the AFC getting five players.

The format for the Pro Bowl this season is a little different and not divided up into NFC and AFC.  There will be a schoolyard style draft on January 22nd to pick teams ahead of the January 26th game, back in Hawaii the week between the conference championships and the Super Bowl.  Jeffery could still be added to the roster as many players – with injuries or a trip to the Super Bowl – often bow out of the game.