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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice has capped a memorable 2009 season with his first Pro Bowl selection. Rice will represent the NFC in the Jan. 31 event in Miami.

Rice, the NFL’s breakout player of the year in 2009, has 77 catches for 1,200 yards (15.6 per catch) and six touchdowns with one regular-season game left in his third year in the NFL.

Rice joins Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals, DeSean Jackson of the Eagles and Miles Austin of the Cowboys as wide receivers on the NFC squad. Fitzgerald and Jackson are the starters.

Rice, who has become Brett Favre’s favorite target in the Hall of Fame quarterback’s comeback year, had just 46 catches for 537 yards in his first two years in the NFL.

Rice, a second-round draft pick (44th overall) by the Vikings in 2007 out of South Carolina, has become known for his big-play ability, and at 6-4, 208 pounds, can out-leap and out-muscle most cornerbacks.

Sidney has earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors once this season. His yardage total is second in the NFC.