Jared Allen Is Flying Solo To Hawaii

Going into the day defensive end Jared Allen was the only Viking who was considered a shoe-in for a free trip to Honolulu to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl and when the rosters were released tonight it turns out Allen will be the only member of the Vikings going for his 5th trip.

Allen has been an absolute monster this season netting 18.5 sacks (a career high) and currently sits 4 behind Michael Strahan’s single season record with only one game left. If every Viking played with Allen’s intensity we’d certainly have a lot less to worry about. But unfortunately that’s not the case and 2-13 teams tend not to send a lot of guys to the Pro Bowl.

What’s most disappointing is other Vikings who tend to get an invite simply haven’t had the greatest of years. Antoine Winfield was playing like his vintage self until he was lost for the season in November. Kevin Williams began the year serving his StarCaps suspension, has missed Pat Williams’s presence tremendously and has had a down year. Then there’s Adrian Peterson who failed to net 1000 rushing yards for the first time in his career and is now on injured reserve. Looking back the Vikings sent 10 Pro Bowlers in 2010, 4 members last year and only have Allen going now. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Speaking of the mighty… Leading the way for the NFC were the San Francisco 49ers sending 8 and the Green Bay Packers sending 7 players. There’s always the potential the Packers could make the Super Bowl, which would force the NFC to name an alternative for the Cheesehead’s center Scott Wells. Perhaps that could lead to John Sullivan getting his first Pro Bowl in what has been a breakthrough season. But we wouldn’t want the Packers to make the Super Bowl now would we?

Jon Merckle may be followed on Twitter @thevikingpig