Four Vikings named All-Pro

The Vikings are sending six players to the Pro Bowl, four of which also made the Associated Press first-team All-Pro squad, named on Friday.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson can add Associated Press All-Pro to his growing list of honors. Peterson was the Vikings’ lone first-time All-Pro selection, joining guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Jared Allen as repeat All-Pros.

Unlike the Pro Bowl, which names a full team of all-stars for both conferences, the Associated Press’ All-Pro team is just one starting lineup – 14 offensive players and 13 on defense. The team is selected by a vote of 50 media members that cover the NFL.

Peterson became the first Viking to lead the league in rushing with 1,760 yards and had 10 100-yard games in 2008.

In his eighth NFL season, this is Hutchinson’s sixth time voted to the All-Pro team. He has blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his eight NFL seasons, the latest being Peterson, whom he will block for at the Pro Bowl in February. Hutchinson has been part of 53 100-yard games rushing in his increasingly more decorated career.

Williams was named to his fourth All-Pro team, adding to his honors from 2004, 2006 and 2007. Williams tied the Vikings record with four career defensive touchdowns and is the only defensive lineman in team history with more than three scores. He finished second on the team in 2008 with 8.5 sacks.

Allen had 14.5 sacks this season, one behind his 2007 total that led the league. He was also named a first-team All-Pro in 2007. Allen leads all NFL players since he entered the league in 2004 with 57.5 sacks. In his first season in purple, Allen led the team with 14.5 sacks, the most by a Viking since 1997 and the most by a first-year Viking in the history of the franchise. That total was fifth in the NFL this year after he finished first in the NFL in 2007 with 15.5 sacks.

He also tied Williams for the team lead with 53 quarterback hurries.

The Vikings traded to obtain Allen in April and signed him to a six-year contract worth almost $74 million (with $31 million in guarantees). He made the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season, but this was his first All-Pro selection.

Only 11 players from the NFC made the Associated Press All-Pro team, and the Vikings had four of them.

Cornerback Antoine Winfield was named second-team All-Pro, and defensive tackle Pat Williams was the only Vikings Pro Bowler that didn't make the All-Pro team.