Wide receiver Sidney Rice, left tackle Bryant McKinnie and special-teams ace Heath Farwell were named to the Pro Bowl for the first time on Tuesday as the Vikings had an NFL-high eight players selected to the NFC squad for the Jan. 31 game at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida.
Other Vikings picked include quarterback Brett Favre; running back Adrian Peterson; left guard Steve Hutchinson; defensive tackle Kevin Williams; and defensive end Jared Allen. Peterson, McKinnie, Hutchinson, Allen and Williams were named starters.
It was the 11th time that Favre has been selected to a Pro Bowl. He passes Hall of Famer John Unitas, who had 10 Pro Bowl appearances, and now has the most selections of any quarterback in NFL history.
The Vikings' eight selections are the most since 1998 when the Vikings placed 10 players on the team during a 15-1 season.
The Colts, Cowboys and Eagles each had six players named to the all-star game; the Chargers and Saints had five apiece.
Vikings rookie Percy Harvin, who was atop the fan balloting for the kick return job, lost out to Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson. Here are the complete rosters.
The teams were picked based on votes by fans, players and coaches. Each group counted for one-third of the voting. Last season, the Vikings had six players selected to the Pro Bowl.
Last year the Vikings sent six players to the Pro Bowl. That list included Peterson, Hutchinson, Allen, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Antoine Winfield.
