Not entirely unexpected as Kruetz goes every year and Briggs stands to cash in this year and does not want to risk injury, but Bears center Olin Kruetz and MLB Lance Briggs are both opting to skip the Pro Bowl.
As always injuries are the reason. Briggs has a left foot injury and Kruetz has a right knee injury.
Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks will replace Briggs and continue his run of 10 straight Pro Bowl apperances. Kruetz will be replaced by Dallas center Andre Gurode.
#55 Lance Briggs
Position: OLB
Height: 6-1
Weight: 240
Born: 11/12/1980
College: Arizona
NFL Experience: 4
#57 Olin Kreutz
Position: C
Height: 6-2
Weight: 292
Born: 06/09/1977
College: Washington
NFL Experience: 9
#55 Derrick Brooks
Position: OLB
Height: 6-0
Weight: 235
Born: 04/18/1973
College: Florida State
NFL Experience: 12
#65 Andre Gurode
Position: C
Height: 6-4
Weight: 312
Born: 03/06/1978
College: Colorado
NFL Experience: 5