Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
As Antoine Winfield took the podium Wednesday to talk about the Buccaneers making the playoffs for the fourth time in his four NFL seasons, he had a shiny gold wrestling-style championship belt slung over his right shoulder.
He smiled as he displayed it over his head — the fine print crowned him as the “undisputed best DB in the league,” as awarded by former NFL safety Jason McCourty on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” show.
For much of the past week, that accolade has, in fact, been disputed. Despite a statistically historic season in leading the Bucs defense to a third straight division title, Winfield was left off the Pro Bowl team, an omission widely recognized as a glaring snub for one of the league’s best at his position.
“It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is,” the 25-year-old said. “I can’t control that. The only thing I can control is what I do on the field.”
What he does on the field is pile up a collection of key statistics unseen by a defensive player. He tied for the league lead — at any position — with six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries, the second time since 2000 that one player had a share of the league in both. His six sacks are twice as many as any defensive back in the NFL, and he also had three interceptions and 122 total tackles.
And yet he wasn’t among six safeties to earn Pro Bowl honors last week, nor was he among the two safeties on the NFLPA All-Pro team revealed Wednesday. The Associated Press All-Pro team, due out Friday, selects a first and second team, but there’s no telling if he’ll be honored there.
“He can get us to the playoffs, just like he did,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said of the disrespect Sunday. “Winning playoff games and Super Bowls, that’s what helps your Pro Bowl snubs.”
On Sunday, Winfield came up with the two biggest plays in the Bucs’ first shutout in 13 years. Carolina didn’t have many shots at scoring, but the two…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/bucs-antoine-winfield-piles-up-snubs-sacks-picks-and-motivation
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Publish date : 2024-01-10 18:25:54
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