Bud Dupree didn’t just get snubbed for the Pro Bowl, he isn’t even an alternate

When it was announced the Pittsburgh Steelers had five players selected to the NFL’s 2020 Pro Bowl, I started to run through the names of players I thought would be worthy of such an honor.

The names which came to mind immediately were:

T.J. Watt
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Cam Heyward
David DeCastro

After those four players I started to wonder who was the fifth. By now we all know Maurkice Pouncey was the final player selected, but I was expecting Bud Dupree to get the nod alongside Watt. Having the Steelers’ book end pass rushers being in the NFL’s All-Star game would be pretty awesome, but Matthew Judon of the Baltimore Ravens and Von Miller of the Denver Broncos were given the honor ahead of Dupree.

My line of thinking was that even if Dupree wasn’t on the initial list of players selected, he would certainly be a player who would be selected as an alternate if someone like Miller elects not to play.

Wrong.

This per Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports:

Things can always change. For instance if Miller elects to skip the game, and Judon is preparing for the Super Bowl with the top-seeded Ravens, Dupree might be getting a phone call.

Not that the Pro Bowl even matters, it is more of a popularity contest than All-Star game, but a few commenters on the site have pointed out how Dupree being left off the list could potentially help the Steelers in contract negotiations this offseason.

I’m not sure I completely buy into that theory, but if it keeps Watt and Dupree together for the foreseeable future, I’m all for it.

Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the New York Jets in Week 16 at Metlife Stadium.