In a reflection of the team missing the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ representation on the AP All-Pro first team plummeted.
A year after leading the league with four first-team honorees after going 13-3, the Steelers were shut out on the team announced Friday. Center Maurkice Pouncey was named to the second team in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, an alumnus of Penn Hills and Pitt, was the only unanimous choice for the first team.
Last year, Le’Veon Bell (“flex”), Antonio Brown (wide receiver), David DeCastro (guard) and Cameron Heyward (interior defensive linemen) were first-teamers.
Brown, DeCastro and Heyward were all named to the AFC’s Pro Bowl team last month.
Brown, though, was in the news over the past week while balloting was taking place – and for the wrong reasons. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did not activate him for Sunday’s season finale after Brown did not show up for Saturday’s walkthrough and did not return attempts to reach him. NBC’s Peter King, for example, cited Brown’s actions in saying he removed Brown from his ballot.
Brown led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions and topped 100 catches and 1,200 yards for the sixth consecutive season.
Heyward’s sack total dropped from 12 to eight, a likely factor in him not making All-Pro again (the return of Houston defensive lineman J.J. Watt from two injury-riddled seasons also contributed to a spot being taken up).
DeCastro had been first-team All-Pro in 2015 and last season and was second-team in 2016, but he missed two games because of a broken hand this season. Perhaps made a difference.
Pouncey was named All-Pro for the first time since 2014. After making first or second team in every season he was healthy from his rookie 2010 through ‘14, Pouncey was absent from the team in 2016 and ‘17 (he missed all of ‘15 because of injury).
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Information from the Associated Press is used in this report. Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.
