EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook's breakout season has garnered plenty of attention. It also got him his first Pro Bowl selection in the process.
Cook was one of three Minnesota Vikings selected to this year's Pro Bowl. Joining the third-year back is All-Pro safety Harrison Smith and defensive end Danielle Hunter. Cook and Smith were both named starters.
The Pro Bowl is selected by fans, coaches and fans.
"A big accomplishment," said Cook. "A shout-out to all of my teammates and the o-linemen and everybody that contributed to me getting to this point."
Cook has rushed for 1,135 yards this season -- just the eighth Viking to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season -- and is just the fourth player in team history to rush for 13 or more TDs. His pass-catching ability has allowed him to total the third-most yards from scrimmage (1,654) in the league this season.
"Just buying into everything the coaches and the whole system is set up for me," Cook said. "Whatever they had set up for me, it was just buying in to what they had going on each and every week."
Smith is making his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl a week after surpassing Antoine Winfield for third-most tackles by a Vikings defensive back. This year, Smith has 80 total tackles, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack. He also has 11 passes defensed, which ranks him third among safeties in the league.
"It’s always great to be recognized by players, fans, coaches, and it’s really a tribute to the Vikings being such a great organization," Smith said. "They kind of help you get to that success. Personal accolades are great, but it’s not really what the game’s about. I think there’s a bunch of guys on our team that should be in there. It’s cool, but we’ve still got other things to do."
For Hunter, its his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection after becoming the youngest player in NFL history to record 50 career sacks. He has 13½ sacks this season, which ties him for third-most in the league. He's also top 5 in total tackles (65), sack yards (112½), tackles for loss (14) and quarterback hurries (21).
"Ever since I came in, Everson [Griffen], B-Rob [Brian Robison], L.J. [Linval Joseph], Coach Rob [Rodriguez] and Andre Patterson, they paved the way for all the things that are happening now in my life," said Hunter. "I became a student of the game and they took me under their wing and coached me up. It’s year five now and I am just going out there and I am just playing with the fundamentals that they taught me and all the things that I’ve learned from all of those guys. I am thankful for that. It’s a blessing."
Comments on the KARE 11 Facebook page suggest fans feel that a number of deserving Vikings were snubbed. Among those mentioned were middle linebacker Eric Kendricks, quarterback Kirk Cousins and safety Anthony Harris, who is having a career year.
In fact, NFL.com's Nick Shook says Cousins is the biggest Pro Bowl snub in the entire league. "Hey, stop laughing. I'm serious about this! Cousins gets a bad rap for being a quarterback who seldom gets it done in prime time, but for a second straight season, he's statistically wonderful," Shook writes.
The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. in Orlando, Fla.
