>>Fox Looking Forward To Challenges of Bears
John Fox wasn't backing down from the challenge he faces as the Chicago Bears' new coach.
Fox says he's "looking forward" to tackling the job and help spark a franchise coming off a disappointing season.
The Bears went 5-11, missed the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years and fired general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman. They hired Ryan Pace as GM and then turned to Fox last week, just days after he coached the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, to replace Trestman.
On Monday, the Bears introduced their new coach.
Fox did not provide any answers about the futures of quarterback Jay Cutler or receiver Brandon Marshall. He is more focused on filling out his staff.
>>Bears Hire Special Teams Coordinator
The Chicago Bears have hired Jeff Rodgers as special teams coordinator.
Rodgers spent the past four years in the same role with the Denver Broncos under coach John Fox , the Bears' new coach, and spent two seasons on Fox's staff in Carolina.
The Broncos ranked 10th in the NFL in gross punting average and 11th in net punting average under Rodgers. Kicker Matt Prater made the Pro Bowl after setting franchise records for field goal percentage (96.2) and points scored (150) during the 2013 season. He also set an NFL record that year with a 64-yard field goal.
This season, Connor Barth's field goal percentage (93.8) was second-highest in franchise history.
Rodgers was Carolina's special teams assistant in 2009 and coordinator in 2010.
The Bears announced the hiring Monday.
>>Bears TE Bennett Added To Pro Bowl
Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett and Cleveland Browns safety Donte Whitner have been selected for the Pro Bowl.
They replace New England's Rob Gronkowski and Seattle's Earl Thomas, with the Patriots and Seahawks headed to the Super Bowl.
Bennett's selection is the first for him and the first by a Bears tight end since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka earned one for the 1965 season. He led NFL tight ends with a club-record 90 receptions and was third at the position with 916 yards receiving.
Whitner, headed to his third straight Pro Bowl, had 106 tackles in his first season with the Browns. A Cleveland native, he signed with them after spending his first eight seasons with Buffalo and San Francisco.
The Pro Bowl is Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.
>>Pair of Packers Picked For Pro Bowl
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb and cornerback Sam Shields were named to their first Pro Bowl on Monday.
The NFL announced that Cobb will replace Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant and Shields will take the place of New England corner Darrelle Revis, who will play in the Super Bowl.
The Packers fell to Seattle in overtime Sunday in the NFC Championship Game after the Seahawks mounted a comeback in the final minutes of regulation.
The Pro Bowl will be held Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a week before the Super Bowl takes place in the same stadium.
>>Rams Looking To Interview Van Pelt, Chudzinski For OC
(St. Louis, MO) -- With the Packers and Colts out of the playoffs, the Rams may be looking to lure away one of their coaches. They have asked permission to speak to Packers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt and Colts special assistant Rob Chudzinski about their vacant offensive coordinator job.
