Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice said Tuesday that he'll skip this weekend's Pro Bowl in Hawaii "for family reasons," according to the Carroll County Times.
Rice rushed for 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, marking the third consecutive time that he has topped 1,000 yards in a season. He also caught 76 passes for 704 yards and three scores. The Pro Bowl appearance would have been Rice's second, after he earned a trip in 2009.
The Ravens were eliminated by the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.
Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ryan Mathews of the San Diego Chargers and Willis McGahee of the Denver Broncos are the other running backs currently on the AFC Pro Bowl roster. Houston Texans running back Arian Foster made the team but will miss the game with an injury.
Also on Tuesday, The Indianapolis Star reported that Colts defensive end Robert Mathis won't play in the Pro Bowl. Mathis' fiancee gave birth to twin boys earlier this month. He had been in line to replace injured Patriots defensive lineman Andre Carter.
Mathis, 30, had 9.5 sacks in his ninth season in the NFL. He was named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
