Antoine Winfield Gets “The Belt”

January 9th, 2024

Antoine Winfield gets props.

Eff the Pro Bowl. You got “The Belt,” son!

Joe is still triggered by how people who walk the streets didn’t vote Antoine Winfield or Mike Evans into the Pro Bowl. Joe doesn’t know which was worse.

This infuriates Joe so much, Joe would like to pull a Commanche trick on them and tie them to a stake on top of a red ant hive.

Well, Jason McCourty decided to help Winfield out. The former Super Bowl-winning cornerback this morning on “Good Morning Football,” seen weekdays on NFL Network, McCourty called the Pro Bowl slap in the face to Winfield “unbelievable.”

In an effort to ease Winfield’s pain, McCourty awarded Winfield “The Belt” for being the best defensive back in the NFL.

Not safety, but defensive back. Winfield is the best, McCourty said.

“OK, you didn’t get a Pro Bowl, but you got “The Belt,” McCourty said. “That can take the place of the Pro Bowl. Just put in on Wikipedia.

“Antoine Winfield, Jr. has made impact plays for this team all season long. Six forced fumbles from the safety position. Making interceptions — three of those. Making big tackles, sacks.

“He has lined up and he has made plays on every level of the defense.”

Then McCourty showed highlights of Winfield in action. Awesome piece.

Joe understands that this all will be a pale substitute for a Pro Bowl. Winfield quite likely has bonus money wrapped up in a Pro Bowl nominations.

And as Winfield’s dad sadly pointed out, Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors use Pro Bowl nominations as sort of resume builder. Yeah, that’s nuts but it is also true.

Anyway, it’s good to see people at the NFL Network trying to correct this Pro Bowl outrage and insult to Winfield.

26 Responses to “Antoine Winfield Gets “The Belt””

  1. T. Says:

    His highlights this year , most wish for in a whole career.

  2. SteelStudBuc Says:

    Did he get 2 or 3 goal line touchbacks?

  3. Boss Says:

    dude has earned his due. love it when a genuinely nice guy balls out

  4. Todd Says:

    That was pure awesomeness!!!

  5. HC Grover Says:

    Great player. Not once but twice at the goal line plays. Superb.

  6. infomeplease Says:

    The best of the best!!!

  7. Boge Says:

    I sure hope we keep this guy. Can you imagine our D without him?

  8. Mark Plant City Says:

    Morale has improved knowing Winfield got the BELT!

  9. Not Says:

    No way we don’t keep Winfield.
    He’s our next Lavonte.

  10. BucfaninMi Says:

    This is a franchise player, the Barry Sanders of DBs. Make sure he retires a Buccaneer, Glazers. Then give him a job for life in the front office. As long as Winfield is a Buc, the will be winners.

  11. kaimaru Says:

    @Joe

    Rooking contracts can have one incentive only. Playing time. Not 1,000 yard seasons. Not Pro Bowl nod. Nothing other than playing time. Please stop with the ongoing narrative that this or that person on their rookie contact lost bag for not reaching this or that incentive. Didn’t happen

  12. Captain Dan Lawrence Says:

    Best player on the field in nearly every game!

  13. heyjude Says:

    That is wonderful!

  14. Crickett Baker Says:

    I hope winning this made him happier like it did me. 😀

  15. Rod Munch Says:

    If any HOF voter is still talking about the pro-bowl, they should be relieved from their duties.

    Yes, many years ago the pro-bowl meant something, but the minute they went to fan voting, that changed.

  16. Sheen Says:

    @steelstudbuc

    It was almost 3…darn near had 2 in the Falcons game I believe.

    Love that guy. Maybe he can say he got the belt when negotiating his contract, lol.

  17. Mike Says:

    Better get 1st Team All Pro, that is all I have to say about that!

  18. D-Rome Says:

    If any HOF voter is still talking about the pro-bowl, they should be relieved from their duties.

    Well said. Career numbers and impact on the game should be the criteria. Pro bowls as a criteria appeals to the lowest common denominator.

  19. Stanglassman Says:

    Kinda cheapened it that it took his father contacting this guy to plead his case. That should not have been necessary AWJ did enough on his own to been recognized. Bucs are still getting no respect.

  20. unbelievable Says:

    Rod Munch Says:
    January 9th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
    If any HOF voter is still talking about the pro-bowl, they should be relieved from their duties.

    Yes, many years ago the pro-bowl meant something, but the minute they went to fan voting, that changed.

    100000%

    It’s meaningless.

    When do they announce the all-pro selections?

  21. SlyPirate Says:

    JOE, PLEASE CLARIFY …

    “Joe is still triggered by how people who walk the streets didn’t vote … Mike Evans into the Pro Bowl”

    HUH WHAT?

    Mike is a Pro Bowl selection. NFC WR: C Lamb, AJ Brown, M Evans, P Nacua

  22. Shane Callahan Says:

    Winfield is a game-changing stud. But, like Evans, he plays for a team that nobody predicted would do well, and nobody likes eating crow.

  23. K_bassuka Says:

    Winfield didn’t get selected to the pro bowl because some sites (including the Bucs official site) focused all year in promoting the average to a tad below average play of Maybefield instead of promoting the great play of the Bucs superstar players.

    Good Job!

  24. 1#bucsfan Says:

    Pay the man and keep him in pewter and red for the rest of his career. Make him the highest paid DB. He deserves it. Dude balls out but him throwing the duces at cheetah in the SB is the best.

  25. orlbucfan Says:

    So, another snub cos AWJ is a Buc. SO WHAT??! Joe, that is a GREAT photo! Which game is it? Pro Bowl is just a joke anyway. I haven’t wasted my time on it in decades. AWJ will be here next year along with LVD. Future HOFamers.

  26. Cmccomeau Says:

    Next Tasmanian devil