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Antoine Winfield Sr. Calls Out Son's 'Bulls--t' 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Snub

Adam WellsJanuary 4, 2024

ATLANTA, GA  DECEMBER 10:  Tampa Bay safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) warms up prior to the start of the NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons on December 10th, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.  (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Former NFL cornerback Antoine Winfield Sr. has some thoughts about his son, Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., not making the Pro Bowl roster.

After the rosters were announced on Wednesday, Winfield called it "bulls--t" and demanded someone from the NFL explain why his son didn't make it ahead of Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker.

Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate

Antoine Winfield Sr. on his son not making it to the Pro Bowl... <a href="https://t.co/yCMSfAPPZP">https://t.co/yCMSfAPPZP</a> <a href="https://t.co/ubksmZpzsP">pic.twitter.com/ubksmZpzsP</a>

Winfield, who made three Pro Bowls during his playing career, did go down the conspiratorial route by pointing out that Pro Bowls are important for a player's resume and this "just so happens to be his (son's) Contract year" along with a thinking-face emoji.

Antoine Winfield Jr. has been a Pro Bowl selection before, in 2021, so he can go into contract talks with that on his resume. He also has the numbers to support him in negotiations.

The 25-year-old has already registered career-highs in combined tackles (117), pass breakups (12), quarterback hits (seven), forced fumbles (five), sacks (five) and interceptions (three) with one game remaining in the regular season.

Winfield Jr. has also played in every game thus far, while Baker missed five games early in the season due to a hamstring injury.

The simplest explanation is there's probably no conspiracy beyond Pro Bowl voters are lazy and inertia is very real.

Baker made the Pro Bowl in each of the previous four seasons and five times in his first six years. He didn't finish among the top-10 safeties in the fan voting, but coaches and players gave enough support to get him in the Pro Bowl Games.

But there's certainly a strong statistical argument that Winfield should be on the NFC Pro Bowl roster.