Chicago Bears coach John Fox famously said he prefers Super Bowlers to Pro Bowlers.

Well, he has neither.

The Bears (3-11), who routinely sent four to six players to the Pro Bowl most seasons under Lovie Smith, were shut out of the 2016 Pro Bowl, at least until all the replacements are announced.

Even during Year 1 of the short-lived Marc Trestman era, the Bears had five players (Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Tim Jennings, Kyle Long and Brandon Marshall) selected to participate in the NFL’s annual all-star game.

Times have changed in Lake Forest, Illinois. Only former tight end Martellus Bennett (now with the Patriots) and Long have earned Pro Bowl recognition since 2014, the season everything crumbled for the franchise.

Remember, though, it could be worse. The Bears went from 1995 to '99 without a single Pro Bowler, until return man Glyn Milburn broke the skid in 2000.

My guess is the Bears won’t experience that kind of futility again. There are several young players on the roster with Pro Bowl potential, including Leonard Floyd (seven sacks), Cody Whitehair and Jordan Howard (1,059 rushing yards and six touchdowns). Special-teamer Sherrick McManis also deserves a mention.

There is hope that Long and Josh Sitton (another perennial Pro Bowler in Green Bay) bounce back in 2017 after they suffered through down seasons because of injuries. Next year is probably a different story.

Selections: None

Snubs: Akiem Hicks, defensive line: Hicks enjoyed a career year in 2016, sacking the quarterback seven times and winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after his two-sack, 10-tackle, one-forced fumble performance against San Francisco. Hopefully, Hicks will play in the game if others bow out. Hicks is a breath of fresh air not only on the field but also in the locker room, where the Bears lack strong personalities. Hicks certainly outperformed the modest two-year contract he signed last offseason.