Bucs Gameday

Buccaneers' Star Player's Father is Furious About Son Being Snubbed From the Pro Bowl

After his son was snubbed from the 2024 Pro-Bowl despite his incredible performance this season, Antoine Winfield Sr. took to social media to voice his displeasure.

Collin Haalboom

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As a three-time Pro-Bowler himself, Antoine Winfield Sr. knows a thing or two. Not just about playing defensive back in the NFL, but about what sort of criteria is worthy of consideration for the honor. 

That being said, it doesn't take an expert to recognize that his son, Antoine Winfield Jr., represents one of the most egregious omissions from the Pro-Bowl roster in recent memory.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' All-Pro Canidate Ridiculously Snubbed From Pro Bowl

Shortly after the news broke that Winfield Jr. was not selected to the Pro Bowl, fans in Tampa, and intelligent football minds around the league, were quick to express their frustration with the result.

Antoine Winfield Sr. was one of those people.

Winfield took to Instagram, where he posted a screenshot of Greg Auman's Twitter account, comparing Antoine Winfield Jr.'s stats to Arizona Cardinals' safety, Budda Baker, who was voted in as a starter for the NFC. 

Winfield Sr. offered the following caption:

"WE DEMAND A RECOUNT🤬🤬🤬.@nfl somebody has some explaining to do!!! Ain’t NO WAY in HELL Buddha Baker goes to the ProBowl ahead of My lil man with NO STATS🤬. I know how important ProBowls are on the Resume & it just so happens to be his Contract year🤔. We ain’t going for the Bullshit. Somebody Need to Holla at me🤬🤬🤬."

He's not wrong. 

The absurd contrast in production between the two players — who play the same position, in the same conference — is truly astounding. Winfield Jr. has been one of the best safeties in the NFL this year, putting up historic numbers. Meanwhile, Budda Baker has played in just 11 games, putting up pedestrian numbers when compared to the Bucs' safety, who has a legitimate case to be named a First-Team All-Pro by year's end. 

Although fan voting does play a role in determining Pro-Bowl roster spots, it accounts for just 1/3 of the final result. Which makes this conclusion all the more perplexing. 

The fact that this decision does have financial implications for Winfield Jr., who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, surely makes the situation extremely frustrating for him and his family. 

Star Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Wide Receiver Named to 2024 Pro Bowl

For the fans in Tampa Bay, it's just another example of one of their team's best players being overlooked on a national level. Look no further than Lavonte David, who despite being one of the greatest linebackers in the NFL for over a decade, has just one Pro-Bowl on his resume.

Hopefully, this Pro-Bowl snub will only add more fuel to the fire for Antoine Winfield Jr., who has already proven to be one of the best all-around players in the NFL. 

You can follow Collin Haalboom on X.

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.