Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice has pulled out of the Pro Bowl, according to ESPN. Rice was extremely banged up after Sunday's loss to the Saints in the NFC Championship game. He will be replaced by Atlanta's Roddy White.
Rice is the fourth Vikings player to withdraw from the Pro Bowl, joining Brett Favre, Antoine Winfield and Percy Harvin. There could be more too.
Left guard Steve Hutchinson battled several injuries this season and defensive tackle Kevin Williams was listed as questionable last week because of a knee injury.
Williams said Monday that he planned to play but we'll see if that changes in the next few days.
UPDATE: It didn't take long to get than answered. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Williams has pulled out and will be replaced by San Francisco's Justin Smith.
The Vikings had an NFL-high 10 Pro Bowl players.
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