Kyle Long on Pro Bowl: 'Want to earn it next year'

SAN FRANCISCO — With the same self-effacing attitude that accompanied him throughout his first season as a right tackle, the Bears’ Kyle Long said Thursday that he wants to earn his next Pro Bowl berth. He made the team after being an alternate this year.

Long has been to three in a row, the first two as a right guard and, last week, as a tackle.

“I really want to earn it next year,” he said. “There’s gray area. Gray area’s not good enough.”

Long didn’t expect the call.

“Obviously I was surprised to hear that I made it, then you find out from a lot of guys that regardless of position it’s all about if you’re a good football player,” he said. “To be able to be there with a lot of those guys was great.”

Long attended Super Bowl festivities hawking Snickers alongside a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “It’s motivation not to be on Radio Row again and be in the Super Bowl.”

Long maintained that he believes he’ll play right tackle again next season.

Asked whether he could talk about a contract extension this offseason, Long was unsure. It could benefit him, he said, to have another good season at right tackle before talking dollars.

“Who knows,” he said. “It’s so out of my hands. The more film I put on, is in my best interest.”

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Email: pfinley@suntimes.com