On Sunday, the 2017 Pro Bowl will take place in Orlando, Florida and the NFL’s best (or most recognizable) players of the season will match up against each other in an exhibition game. Yet, the two best teams will not be a part of it: The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are preparing for their Super Bowl matchup.
Consequently, the NFL needs to replace both teams’ Pro Bowl nominations for Sunday’s game. In New England’s case, this means the following:
QB Tom Brady: QB Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals)
LB Dont’a Hightower: LB Zach Brown (Buffalo Bills)
FS Devin McCourty: FS Eric Weddle (Baltimore Ravens)
ST Matthew Slater: ST D.J. Alexander (Kansas City Chiefs)
While Brady, Hightower, McCourty and Slater will not be part of the Pro Bowl, they will still receive a pay check for being nominated to it. Thus, each player will get $45,500 – exactly the middle ground between what the players on the winning team ($61,000) and those on the losing team ($30,000) will get.