Thread: 5 Bears make Pro-bowl, Tillman's first

Didnt see a thread on it, so here it goes:

Tillman among five voted to Pro Bowl

Although Charles Tillman has enjoyed several productive seasons since joining the Bears in 2003 as a second-round pick, the veteran cornerback has finally been selected to his first Pro Bowl.Joining Tillman on the NFC team are middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, outside linebacker Lance Briggs, running back Matt Forte and special teams standout Corey Graham. The five players are the Bears’ biggest contingent since they sent eight in 2006, the year they reached the Super Bowl.

Veteran cornerback Charles Tillman is headed to his first career Pro Bowl.

Tillman tops the Bears with 11 pass breakups, is tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, ranks third with 107 tackles and also has two interceptions.“It feels good,” Tillman said. “When I found out, I had my family there—my wife, my parents, my in-laws, my kids—and everyone started jumping for joy. It couldn’t have come at a better time with everyone in town. With my family being there, it was a great moment, it really was. Everyone was just so joyful.“I’ve been blessed this season; a lot of good things have happened to me. It’s an honor and I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in one.”Tillman conceded that his selection was bittersweet given the Bears’ failure to make the playoffs this season.“I would gladly trade in going to the playoffs and playing for a Super Bowl over the Pro Bowl any day,” Tillman said. “It’s a team game and a team sport, and that’s the kind of guy I am.”Urlacher has now been voted to eight Pro Bowls, tying Dick Butkus, Doug Atkins and Bill George for the third most in franchise history behind only Mike Singletary (10) and Walter Payton (9). All five of those former Bears are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Urlacher ranks second on the Bears with 125 tackles, is tied for the team lead with three interceptions, ranks third with seven tackles-for-loss and also has recorded two fumble recoveries and one fumble return touchdown.Briggs is the ninth Bears player to be selected to seven Pro Bowls and the seventh to be chosen seven years in a row. He tops the defense with 140 tackles and is tied for the team lead with eight tackles-for-loss while also registering one interception and two forced fumbles.
Selected to his first Pro Bowl, Forte was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a sprained MCL in his knee he sustained Dec. 4 in a loss to the Chiefs. At the time of his injury, he led the NFL with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and was third in rushing with 997 yards. Forte is the first Bears running back named to the Pro Bowl since Neal Anderson in 1991.

Like Tillman and Forte, Graham was also selected to his first Pro Bowl. He leads the Bears with 20 special-teams tackles this season and is tied for second in the NFL with 74 special-teams stops since entering the league in 2007. Graham is an integral part of a punt-coverage unit that ranks second in the NFL this season, allowing just 5.4 yards per return.

Defensive end Julius Peppers and return specialist Devin Hester were selected as first alternates.

The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, in Hawaii. The all-star squads are based on the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third toward determining the 43-man rosters

Crazy year...Tillman, Graham and Forte make their first pro-bowls, Peppers and Hester as first alternates. Thought Hester was always gonna be a lock for ST'er, but congrats to Corey in any case.