Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr added to Pro Bowl

Teddy Bridgewater and Anthony Barr have been named as Pro Bowl replacements, joining Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith and Adrian Peterson on the team.

The Minnesota Vikings had only one player selected as a Pro Bowler during the actual process, but drop-outs have now raised the team’s total number of Pro Bowl participants all the way to five.

Three new Vikings were named to the Pro Bowl squad on Monday as more big-name players elected to pass on their free Hawaii trip due to injury or indifference.

Earlier in the day, Harrison Smith was named as an injury replacement for safety Earl Thomas. Many thought Smith deserved to be voted to the team ahead of Thomas anyway.

Later in the day, Teddy Bridgewater found out he would be going to Hawaii after Carson Palmer elected to drop out. Bridgewater will be joined by linebacker Anthony Barr who replaces New England’s Jamie Collins.

Everson Griffen was added as an injury replacement for J.J. Watt two weeks ago while Peterson was actually voted to the team and thus far has not dropped out.

Smith, Bridgewater, Griffen and Barr are all first-time Pro Bowlers. Adrian Peterson has been selected to the team seven times.

Next: Vikings sign CFL WR Sinkfield

All the players who dropped out on Monday were participants in playoff games the last two weeks. The Vikings lost in the first round of the playoffs so their players are all rested up and ready to go.

The Pro Bowl game is set for Sunday, January 31st with kick off at 6 PM CT. Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice are the team captains for this year’s game.