Urlacher thinking of skipping Pro Bowl

MIAMI -- Having already played in the most important game in February, Brian Urlacher might opt to pass on the month's second game.

Sources indicate the Bears middle linebacker might announce today that he will not travel to Honolulu to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl on Saturday (5 p.m., Ch. 2), a move that would reduce the Bears' contingent to six players, tying them for the most in the conference with Dallas.

Seattle's Lofa Tatupu will become the starter if Urlacher passes, and a new alternate would be named.

Urlacher suffered a painful sprained left big toe on Nov. 5 in the loss to the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field. He was questionable for the game the next week against the New York Giants but was able to play, and he has fought the nagging injury since, though he has appeared on the injury report only sporadically.

The injury -- not an unwillingness to play in the game -- is what would sideline him. A hamstring pull led Urlacher to back out of the Pro Bowl last season. He has been selected six times, missing only in 2004 because injuries cost his seven games.

Center Olin Kreutz will start for the NFC in his hometown. Kreutz also has been chosen to six Pro Bowls, and only three offensive players in franchise history have been to more: running back Walter Payton (nine), center Jay Hilgenberg (seven) and guard Stan Jones (seven).

He will be joined on the line by guard Ruben Brown, who at 34 was chosen to his ninth Pro Bowl in 12 seasons. Brown was an alternate and got the nod when Philadelphia's Shawn Andrews (neck) backed out.

Weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs will make his second consecutive appearance in the Pro Bowl, which was moved to Saturday this season. Bears make up three-fourths of the NFC special-teams unit: kicker Robbie Gould, returner Devin Hester and coverage specialist Brendon Ayanbadejo.

bbiggs@suntimes.com