As we know, zero Vikings were deemed good enough to make this year’s NFC Pro Bowl team (though Jerome Felton did get picked as an alternate).
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The Associated Press was somewhat more kind to the Vikings when making their selections for this year’s All-Pro team.
No Vikings made All-Pro first- or second-team, but a pair of Minnesota defensive players did at least receive votes. Defensive end Everson Griffen got 1 vote, and safety Harrison Smith got a whopping 7.
Here’s how the voting broke down at both defensive end and safety (via SBNation):
Ends
J.J. Watt, Houston, 45; Mario Williams, Buffalo, 24; Calais Campbell, Arizona, 11; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia, 5; Cameron Wake, Miami, 5; Michael Bennett, Seattle, 3; Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore, 3; Everson Griffen, Minnesota, 1; Jerry Hughes, Buffalo, 1; Robert Quinn, St. Louis, 1; Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets, 1.
Safeties
Earl Thomas, Seattle, 39; Eric Weddle, San Diego, 16; Kam Chancellor, Seattle, 14; Glover Quin, Detroit, 13; Harrison Smith, Minnesota, 7; Antoine Bethea, San Francisco, 5; Devin McCourty, New England, 2; Tashaun Gipson, Cleveland, 2; Charles Woodson, Oakland, 1; Rashad Johnson, Arizona, 1.
Did Glover Quin have a better year than Harrison Smith? I know Smith was a little inconsistent in the middle part of the season but he was very strong early and pretty strong late.
Between Griffen and Smith, I would say Smith has the greater gripe. Smith at least deserved second-team recognition this year and should have at least been an alternate for the Pro Bowl.
Don’t worry fans, next year when the Vikings have a top 10 defense, the media will start giving them some respect. We’ll just have to suck it up for now.