By Brandon Wallace
SteelerNation.com
In a game every player hopes to be selected to (but secretly doesn't want to play in because they'd rather be playing in the Super Bowl), six players were selected from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the 2019 NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando, FL. The selections included wide receiver Antonio Brown (7th appearance), offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey (7th appearance), David DeCastro (4th appearance), Alejandro Villanueva (2nd appearance), defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (1st appearance), and first-timer, running back James Conner.
This is the 27th time in the last 30 years that the Steelers are sending multiple players to the normally Hawaii hosted all-star celebration.
ANTONIO BROWN
Brown leads the NFL in touchdown receptions (13), but many say it's JuJu Smith-Schuster that's the one who is deserving of a selection spot. Smith-Schuster is currently sixth in total receptions this season (95), and sixth in total receiving yards (1,274) in the NFL. If you ask me though, they both should be attending the game as starters.
CAMERON HEYWARD
Many believe that this should be at least Heyward's second Pro Bowl appearance after such a dominant season last year. He did however make the Pro Bowl as an alternate in the 2017-18 season, but it's great to see him voted in during the early December 2018 voting period. Heyward currently has six sacks, 46 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery this season. “Cam Heyward quite frankly is just a dominant player,” said Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
MAURKICE POUNCEY, DAVID DECASTRO, ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA
“They are the best line in the league,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. This is the second consecutive year the three have been selected together to the Pro Bowl, and the second time they've also helped send a Steelers' starting running back to the Pro Bowl as well (Bell 2017-18, Conner 2018-19).
JAMES CONNER
Lastly, the "comeback story" of none other than James Conner is second to none. Check out this inspiring message sent from Los Angeles Rams' all-pro defensive lineman, Aaron Donald back in 2015 that has come full circle today:
To see the full 2019 Pro Bowl roster, click here: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001001792/article/nfl-reveals-rosters-for-2019-pro-bowl-in-orlando
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