Bears’ three Pro Bowl participants had loftier goals

ORLANDO, Fla. — One year ago, the Bears invaded this city like toddlers with mouse ears on.

Seven players — including starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who was thought to be on the brink of becoming the Bears’ long-awaited franchise quarterback — jogged through Pro Bowl practices, posed for pictures and signed autographs at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

Somewhere back home, outside linebacker Khalil Mack rested up for what was certain to be a better second season with the Bears.

Even after a crushing playoff loss, the Bears’ future was as bright as one of those late-night Disney parades.

Thursday felt different. Rather than having eight players named to the game, the Bears had three at the second practice of Pro Bowl week: safety Eddie Jackson, cornerback Kyle Fuller and special-teams player Cordarrelle Patterson. Mack stayed home again this year.

Jackson and Fuller weren’t as gobsmacked as they were last year, when they both made their Pro Bowl debuts.

‘‘Last year was a surreal feeling,’’ Jackson said. ‘‘This year is more numb.’’

Like last year, Fuller could appreciate sharing a field with the best players in the game.

‘‘I guess I had the experience last year, so I know what to expect, I know how to feel,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s a cool experience.’’

None of the three could be blamed for the Bears’ disappointing 8-8 season. Patterson was a first-team All-Pro return man. Jackson and Fuller were standouts despite each finishing with four fewer interceptions than he did last season.

All three had Super Bowl expectations for the Bears and Pro Bowl expectations for themselves. They proved to be half-right. At the start of the season, they had hoped to be able to skip the Pro Bowl while preparing for the Super Bowl.

Patterson was doing just that as a member of the Patriots at this time last year. As fun as his third career Pro Bowl week feels — ‘‘It’s a blessing, getting the opportunity to come out here with the best of the best, and some of these guys are Hall of Famers,’’ he said — last year felt more substantial.

This offseason has taken some getting used to.

‘‘It’s long as [heck], man,’’ he said. ‘‘Now I’m out here, and I’m done in January. Dec. 29, we were done. That was kind of weird.

‘‘That gives you a long time to really reflect on your year and look back and critique yourself and see what you can do to fix all your stuff.’’

Patterson said he didn’t have a strong opinion about the Bears’ offensive coaching changes. He insisted, however, that he left yards on the field on offense and as a returner.

‘‘Next year, I’ll try to double what I did last year,’’ he said. ‘‘Every year, you just want to be better than you were the year before then.’’

Watching the Chiefs and 49ers reach the Super Bowl only has added to the offseason motivation.

‘‘Just seeing where we ended up and where we wanted to be,’’ Fuller said. ‘‘Seeing these teams in the playoffs and that get to play in the Super Bowl, I think that speaks for itself.’’

Former Bears coach John Fox once said he rather would have Super Bowl players than Pro Bowl players. He got none of the former and three of the latter during his three-year stint with the Bears.

The Bears’ Pro Bowl threesome this year looks abundant by comparison. Fuller has reached the Pro Bowl twice since signing a lucrative extension, and Jackson is mere weeks removed from a signing four-year, $58.4 million deal.

‘‘They even took an opportunity with me, giving me a chance to come in and prove myself after my [leg] injury [during his senior year at Alabama],’’ Jackson said.

‘‘I’d rather it be a Super Bowl, obviously. But coming out here and being selected [to the Pro Bowl] and being around the guys, it’s always a blessing.’’

Jackson smiled when he was asked whether the contract means he plans on being one of the faces of the franchise going forward.

‘‘I’ve been feeling like that — with the money or without,’’ he said. ‘‘We have a job. Everybody has a role to play. Ours is to go out there and lead and win.’’

In that sense, Fuller said, this offseason won’t be different from the last one.

‘‘I think we’ll approach it the same way,’’ he said. ‘‘Just work hard and try our best to have a better year.’’