Bears' Briggs pulls out of Pro Bowl



Bears linebacker Lance Briggs pulled out of the Pro Bowl Tuesday, making room for Dallas' Greg Ellis to take his place.

Briggs, one of the top free agents available this season, isn't expected to be back with the Bears next season. He signed a one-year tender as the team's franchise player this past season.

Briggs became the second Bear to withdraw from the Pro Bowl. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who battled a knee injury all season, gave way to Arizona's Darnell Dockett.

Special teamers Devin Hester and Brendon Ayanbadejo will represent the Bears in Hawaii.

The Bears also signed punter Glenn Pakulak to a reserve/future contract today.

Pakulak, a Kentucky product, originally entered the NFL in 2003 as an undrafted free agent of the Seattle Seahawks. He's also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans, though he has never appeared in a regular-season game.

He spent the 2006 and 2007 NFL Europa seasons in Amsterdam and averaged 42.8 yards per punt with the Admirals.

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