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Make that four Buffalo Bills players that will be playing in the 2014 Pro Bowl this Sunday in Hawaii: the team on Monday evening announced that Marcell Dareus will be making the trip, replacing San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith in the player field.
Dareus, in his third season as a former Top 5 pick out of Alabama, played through a few minor injuries and recorded career highs in tackles (71) and sacks (7.5) - along with a forced fumble and three batted passes - for Buffalo's productive defense.
His inclusion in the all-star game brings an end to the two-year streak in which he was the only Top 7 pick from the 2011 NFL Draft that hadn't yet made it to the Pro Bowl. Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones and Aldon Smith had all made it prior to the start of this season (as had J.J. Watt, Mike Pouncey and Ryan Kerrigan).
The Bills now have four defenders scheduled to play on Sunday in Honolulu: Dareus, Kyle Williams and Mario Williams on the defensive line, and Jairus Byrd at safety.