By Alan Robinson
http://triblive.com/sports
Published: Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, 10:27 p.m.
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown's record-breaking season earned him his second Pro Bowl selection. Safety Troy Polamalu's comeback season earned him his eighth trip.
This is the 13th consecutive year and the 22nd time in 25 seasons the Steelers will send multiple players to the Pro Bowl, which will be played Jan. 26 in Honolulu.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was one of the more significant players passed over, but he is expected to be selected if any of the other quarterbacks pass on the invitation. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Philip Rivers were selected from the AFC.
Brown, whose 1,412 yards receiving with one game remaining are a single-season Steelers record, was chosen as a wide receiver and a punt returner. He also was selected in 2011, when he won the first of his two Steelers MVP awards; the second came this season.
Of his play this season, Brown said, “I just want to continue to remain positive, continue to provide the team with situational plays and continue to never take anything for granted.”
Brown has 101 catches — eight for touchdowns — and his 94.1 yards receiving per game average is the highest in franchise history.
“AB's had a great year for us,” Polamalu said. “He's our team MVP. He's made a lot of splash plays on special teams and offense.”
A season after he was limited to five games by a torn calf, Polamalu is back in the Pro Bowl for the third time in four seasons. He has a career-high five forced fumbles, his fifth career defensive touchdown and two sacks plus two interceptions.
Asked if he thought he's played at a Pro-Bowl level, Polamalu said, “I don't know. I just look at ways to get better. I'm not looking at accomplishments.”
Polamalu's previous selections were from 2004-08 and 2010-11.
This will be the first time the Pro Bowl is played without the teams representing their conferences. Players will go into a pool and will be drafted, with no consideration to team or conference affiliations. The Chiefs and 49ers each had eight players selected. The Broncos had five, including Manning for a 13th time.
The Steelers had two Pro Bowl players last season, center Maurkice Pouncey and tight end Heath Miller.
Alan Robinson is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at arobinson@tribweb.com or via Twitter @arobinson_Trib.
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