The NFL’s All-Star Game—also known as the Pro Bowl—will not only be without all 14 Super Bowl participant selections (as is custom), they'll also be minus all seven New England Patriots.
Quarterback Tom Brady (ankle), tight end Rob Gronkowski (knee, back), outside linebacker Jamie Collins (back), defensive end Chandler Jones (toe, abdomen), cornerback Malcolm Butler (unknown), special-teamer Matthew Slater (newborn child), and kicker Stephen Gostkowski (also unknown) have all been begged out of the exhibition for an assortment of reasons and been officially replaced from the Jan. 31 game.
They’re not alone though. In all, a record 133 players—topping the previous-high of 119 set in 2009—were named as either original selections or injury-replacements this year. In fact, Russell Wilson is the only one of the six quarterbacks still on the roster who was an original selection.
In addition, five of the six outside linebacker picks have been replaced, as well as all three free safety selections.
