The number of Vikings in the Pro Bowl is now up to five.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, linebacker Anthony Barr and safety Harrison Smith were added to the Pro Bowl roster Monday.
Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune wrote that the Pro Bowl suddenly has become a “very Vikings affair."
They will join running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Everson Griffen in the annual showcase game, giving the Vikings, who went 11-5 and won the NFC North in 2015, five representatives.
That's the most for the Vikings since 2012, when they sent seven players to Hawaii. Only Peterson was among the initial selections to the Pro Bowl.
Walsh shows support for fellow kicker
In the days after Minnesota's 10-9 loss to Seattle in the Wild Card round, Vikings kicker Blair Wash received plenty of support after he missed a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Brian Jones of 247sports.com wrote that Walsh recently returned the favor to another kicker.
New England Patriots kicker **Stephen Gostkowski* has not missed an extra point in nine years before the AFC Championship game on Sunday vs. the Denver Broncos. That changed as he missed an early one in the game and that made the score 7-6 in the Denver Broncos' favor.** *
That [miss] came back to haunt the Patriots as they fell to the Broncos 20-18 and they missed out on defending their championship. Gostkowski blamed himself for the Patriots losing, but Minnesota Vikings kicker **Blair Walsh* had his back afterwards.*
Minnesota connections to Super Bowl 50
The Vikings will be watching from home next Sunday when the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers square off in Super Bowl 50.
Jason Gonzalez of the Star Tribune tallied nine players and coaches (six with Carolina and three with Denver) who have ties to Minnesota.
The most obvious is Carolina defensive end Jared Allen.
Quarterback Joe Webb, tackle Mike Remmers, safety Kurt Coleman and guard David Yankey are all Carolina players who previously suited up for the Vikings. Center Ryan Kalil is the older brother of Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil.
The Broncos also have connections to the Minnesota area in tackle Ryan Harris, outside linebackers coach Fred Pagac and defensive backs coach Joe Woods.
