Bears Take the Spotlight in Today’s Pro Bowl

Eighty-four players chosen by their peers as the best at their positions will bring an end to the football season today in the National Football League’s Pro Bowl.

The nationally televised game (Channels 7 and 10, 1 p.m. PST) pits the top players from the NFC, coached by the Rams’ John Robinson, against the AFC, coached by the Miami Dolphins’ Don Shula.

As expected, most of the focus will be on the nine players representing the Super Bowl XX champion Chicago Bears, including five who will get starting calls for the NFC.

If Robinson wishes, he can put together five members of Chicago’s vaunted “46” defense by lining up Richard Dent, the Super Bowl’s most valuable player; Mike Singletary; Dan Hampton; Otis Wilson, and Dave Duerson at the same time.

The Bears’ offensive representatives include Walter Payton, quarterback Jim McMahon, and linemen Jim Covert and Jay Hilgenberg.

Phil Simms of the New York Giants will start at quarterback for the NFC, with Payton and Roger Craig of San Francisco as the running backs. The receivers include Mike Quick of Philadelphia, Art Monk of Washington and Doug Cosbie of Dallas.

Quarterback Dan Fouts of San Diego, Marcus Allen of the Raiders and Freeman McNeil of the New York Jets will be in the backfield for the AFC, with Louis Lipps of Pittsburgh, Steve Largent of Seattle and Ozzie Newsome of Cleveland the starting receivers.