Falcons fullback Pat DiMarco and left cornerback Desmond Trufant were added to the Pro Bowl rosters as alternates on Monday.
“I was jacked,” DiMarco said. “I was so excited. It is definitely something that every athlete works toward and to fulfill that goal of mine’s is awesome. I’m definitely honored to go represent the Falcons and (owner) Mr. (Arthur) Blank out there in Hawaii. I’m just excited to get another game.”
The Pro Bowl will be played at 7 p.m. Sunday at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii.
DiMarco and his wife Kirstin are expecting their first child. She’s about a month way, but after consulting with the doctor, she will stay back with her mother while DiMarco plays in the all-star game.
“We met with the doctor this morning and he was kind of on the border on if she should come or not,” DiMarco said. “Hopefully, the baby stays inside for a while.”
DiMarco, 26, signed a two-year, $1.495 million last February. He’s sent to make only $760,000 in 2016 unless the Falcons elect to renegotiate and put his pay more in line with the top fullbacks in the league.
Carolina fullback Mike Tolbert, 30, the player that DiMarco is replacing is finishing off a four-year, $10 million contract that paid him $2 million in 2015.
DiMarco, who played at South Carolina, was an undrafted rookie. He played with Kansas City in 2012 before making the Falcons in 2013. He has played in 46 games for the Falcons and has made 22 starts over the past three seasons.
“We were reminiscing about some of the tough times that we had at the beginning of my career and just how far we’ve come,” DiMarco said. “It’s been a journey and I wouldn’t change any of it. It’s help to mold me into the player and the man that I am. I just excited to see what the next few chapters have for me.”
DiMarco, who’s 6-1, 240-pounds, made the team on the strength of his lead-blocking for running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. He also added 13 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
Trufant, 25, who was selected in the first round of the 2013 draft with the 22nd overall pick, had 42 tackles, a sack, 11 pass breakups and one interception last season.
Trufant, who played at Washington, has steadily developed into one of the league’s top cornerbacks.
Teams around the league started to show him a great deal of respect and rarely threw passes on his side of the field.
Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and Freeman will also play in the Pro Bowl.
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