Bears’ Matt Forte takes Pro Bowl snub in stride

If you’re not a fan of Bears running back Matt Forte, that’s OK, because he’s been overlooked all season as Chicago struggled through a disappointing year.

But you can’t help but like a guy who shrugs off a Pro Bowl snub despite having a stellar season.

You see, Forte posted All-Pro statistics this season and helped carry an offense that sputtered at times because of the inconsistent play of quarterback Jay Cutler.

“No reason,” he told reporters Wednesday when asked whether he felt snubbed. “It’s not going to change anything.”

The six running backs chosen to the Pro Bowl were Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles and Houston’s Arian Foster in the AFC and Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch, Dallas’ DeMarco Murray and Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy in the NFC.

“The running backs that were picked, they’re really good too,” said Forte, who has 1,772 yards from scrimmage, which is 400 more than McCoy.

Forte needs 13 yards rushing for his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season and seven receptions for 101, which is the single-season record for running backs, set by Arizona’s Larry Centers in 1995.

Let teammate Kyle Long, an All-Pro guard, explain what makes Forte so special.

“There’s not a better person on our team,” Long said. “In terms of a guy who does it the right way, leads by example, from Bible study to blitz pickup meetings, Matt Forte is the professional elite in our locker room. He’s somebody I try to mold myself after.”