San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead was not happy when asked on Wednesday about not being named to the Pro Bowl's NFC roster.
"I'm mad, definitely," Armstead told reporters. "It's something you dream about getting. You work hard for it, and you feel like you deserve it, and you don't get it. It's beyond my understanding."
Armstead is an alternate, however. That means he could play in the January all-star event in Orlando, Florida, should others choose to or have to sit out the game.
The 49ers are tied for the best record (11-3) in the NFC, yet only four players, Nick Bosa, Richard Sherman, George Kittle, and Kyle Juszczyk, were selected to the Pro Bowl. On Wednesday, both Sherman and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh had an opportunity to discuss their disappointment that more 49ers players were not selected.
On Thursday morning, it was head coach Kyle Shanahan's turn to share his thoughts on the matter via his regularly-scheduled KNBR interview.
"We've got four guys who made it, but I told the guys yesterday it doesn't mean a lot to the team or the organization because it's a Pro Bowl and stuff," Shanahan told Paul McCaffrey, Adam Copeland, and Bonnie-Jill Laflin. "But it's a ton for the players to get that recognition and everything. They got four guys who made [it as starters]. They've got a number (10) of alternates. But I do believe we should have more than four. That's kind of what I tell the guys because they all want to fight and get that stuff.
"I tell them not to get too down on it because a lot of it is right on and there's guys who deserve to go, and then some of it is just a popularity contest. But I tell them kind of the key to that is when you do good in the playoffs, that's to me when the country remembers your name.
"You see a lot of guys who do well in the playoffs, and then don't do that good next year, but they go to the Pro Bowl next year. It doesn't mean anything to me and our team, but if you want to fight that perception, and you guys are upset you didn't make the Pro Bowl, then do something in the playoffs about it and get those other votes next year."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.