The last time the Bears had a player in the Pro Bowl, center OlinKreutz and running back Curtis Enis were juniors in high school,Steve McMichael and Richard Dent were starters and Steve DeBerg wasthe oldest player in the league at 39.
It was the 1993 season, when Dent, Mark Carrier and DonnellWoolford represented the Bears in the Pro Bowl. The Bears have beenshut out in the Pro Bowl voting the last four years and are likelyto make it five in a row this season.
"I don't think we have anybody deserving, to be honest,"defensive tackle Mike Wells said. "Guys haven't made the plays.That's the bottom line. You win with players, and we haven't won.Some of the guys that would be worthy haven't made all the plays theycould have. That's what you have to look at. You have to be honestwith yourself."Offensive tackle Andy Heck disagrees."We certainly have one or two guys who are deserving of it,"Heck said. "The way things have worked in the past, our (record)could work against us. Jim Flanigan (7 1/2 sacks) has played ProBowl football. Something tells me he's going to get the recognition.He's gotten a fair amount of exposure."I played on a 2-14 team (in Seattle in 1992) where CortezKennedy was chosen the Defensive Player of the Year. So it canhappen. I think Flanny will be honored."Flanigan, Wells, wide receiver Bobby Engram and kick returnerGlyn Milburn are probably the Bears who will get the mostconsideration. Players and coaches vote Monday and Tuesday for thePro Bowl team.Engram statistically is having the best season (53 catches, 868yards, five touchdowns). But he's up against tough competition:Randy Moss (14 touchdowns), Antonio Freeman (1,070 yards, ninetouchdowns), Terrell Owens (11 touchdowns) and Jerry Rice (69catches, seven touchdowns) are playing on winning teams."It's tough to get any Pro Bowl votes on a losing team,"Flanigan said. "So I wouldn't be surprised if we get shut outagain."OVERDUE: Only three Bears - tight end Ryan Wetnight, guard ToddPerry and wide receiver Curtis Conway - have played in a Bearsvictory against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears won 30-17 on Dec.5, 1993, at Soldier Field.Flanigan and John Thierry are 0-for-8 against Green Bay."It burns deep," Thierry said. "You know how it is here: Wecould lose every game and if we beat Green Bay, it's like we won thelottery."
No comments:
Post a Comment