Another Pittsburgh Steelers player has decided to back out of the 2017 Pro Bowl.
Pro Football Talk reports Monday night that Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has decided not to play in the annual NFL all-star game that will take place in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday. Brown was voted to the Pro Bowl a fifth time in December. He will be replaced by Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
One has to wonder if Brown backed out of the game to avoid having to interact with the media and answer questions about his Facebook Live video that he broadcasted from the Steelers locker room following the teams win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Brown, by the way, reportedly declined to talk to the media following the Steelers Sunday loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.
Last week, Brown held a press conference during which he apologized for his locker room video. On Sunday, it was reported that head coach Mike Tomlin had fined the wide receiver $10,000 for his actions. It was also reported that same day that Brown has a six-figure deal with Facebook to do live videos on their social media platform.
Earlier on Monday it was reported that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and center Maurkice Pouncey had all backed out of the Pro Bowl as well. That now leaves guard David DeCastro and linebacker Ryan Shazier as the only two Steelers players who will play in the game. Shazier was named as a replacement on Monday for Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley.
