FOXBOROUGH — The Pro Bowl campaigns are long over, but that didn’t stop Dont’a Hightower and Matthew Slater from stumping for some of their favorites Wednesday.
Both players thanked and credited their teammates for being named to the all-star game roster, though they thought there easily could have been more Patriots honored. Stephon Gilmore was the only other Patriot to earn a spot.
“It’s a huge honor, man,’’ Hightower said. “I definitely was not planning on that this year. I definitely have, obviously, bigger goals ahead, but I appreciate my teammates, all the fans, everybody that voted, colleagues, and all that good stuff. But hopefully, we’ve got bigger fish to fry.’’
This is the second time Hightower, the club’s second-leading tackler (60), who also has four sacks, and a fumble return for a touchdown, has been named to the Pro Bowl.
Hightower pointed to two specific guys on the Patriots’ top-ranked defense he believes also were deserving.
“I guess there’s a lot going on but Devin McCourty, obviously, has been, arguably one of the better safeties of not only in the Patriots decade but in this decade,’’ said Hightower. “He just does so much, it’s kind of hard to put a guy over him.’’
McCourty has 50 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
Then, of course, there was the team’s leading tackler/Boogeyman, Jamie Collins.
“I think Jamie has like four touchdowns or something like that and picks and stuff,’’ said Hightower, who was simultaneously laughing and exaggerating.
For the record, Collins has 72 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions (one for a touchdown), 7 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery on the season.
“Arguably we’ve got a lot of guys that deserved it and being one of the guys that actually got voted, it’s an honor, but a lot of guys deserved it,’’ Hightower said.
Tom Brady, a 14-time Pro Bowler, was not selected this season and though that’s hardly a surprise based on his statistics, it didn’t stop his teammates from backing him.
“He’s the best football player that’s ever played,’’ said Slater. “I think that’s all you need to know. The best football player that’s ever played.’’
Hightower believes Brady’s omission might be a positive in the long run.
“I don’t think that changes anything about him or anything about his legacy or his work ethic or anything,’’ said Hightower. “Honestly, if anything, it might drive him a little more.’’
A notable omission is Julian Edelman, who leads the team and is second in the AFC with 92 catches and is fourth in the AFC with 1,019 yards.
Edelman, who has been battling injuries, the latest a knee ailment, appeared to be moving slowly at Wednesday’s practice but it’s likely he’ll answer the bell for Saturday’s game.
“I thought there was a lot of guys on this team that were very deserving of that honor. I think we’re a pretty good football team and in order to have a good football team you have to have a lot of guys playing well and I certainly think that my former roommate is one of those guys,’’ Slater said of Edelman. “So, I’m a little biased, but I think he’s had a tremendous season. I don’t think we’d be where we are without him.’’
CB Jones out again
Cornerback Jonathan Jones (groin) was the only player missing from the team’s shells-and-sweats practice. It was the second straight day Jones has been out, casting doubt on his availability for the Bills game . . . Five players were listed as limited, including Edelman (knee), linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee) and Collins (shoulder), cornerback Jason McCourty (groin), and defensive tackle Danny Shelton (shoulder). Collins was not on Tuesday’s injury report . . . Bills coach Sean McDermott is looking forward to Saturday’s game as “an opportunity for us to continue to grow as a football team.’’ He noted there’s still much work to be done by his 10-4 club. “We certainly respect the Patriots — they’ve reigned over this division, by far, for a long time,’’ McDermott said. “So, to have a game like this at this point in the season, our players have worked hard for it. So, you earn everything you get in this league, and so they’ve earned that, but we’re going to have to earn it this weekend because the Patriots, they play well, especially down the stretch.’’ . . . According to an ESPN report, the Patriots worked out a couple of Canadian Football League free agents: running back William Stanback and cornerback Marcus Sayles. Stanback rushed for 1,048 yards (third-best in the CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes in 2019. He played at Central Florida and Virginia Union. Sayles was a CFL All-Star and won the Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He has spent time with the Rams’ and Bills’ practice squads.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.