NFL fans have declared Xavier Rhodes the best cornerback in the NFL. He does not disagree.

“Of course I believe I’m the best,” he said Wednesday.

Rhodes finished with more votes than any cornerback in fan voting for the Pro Bowl this week and was one of four Vikings selected for the game. Being picked for the second consecutive year and first time as a starter, Rhodes was joined by defensive end Everson Griffen, linebacker Anthony Barr and receiver Adam Thielen.

Rhodes has earned a reputation as a shutdown corner thanks to impressive games this season against Pro Bowl receivers Antonio Brown of Pittsburgh, Julio Jones of Atlanta, Michael Thomas of New Orleans and A.J. Green of Cincinnati. Related Articles Former Vikings tight end Stu Voigt: Vikings, game-day atmosphere missing ‘the juice’

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“It’s all about your play,” he said. “It’s all about how you go out there and what you do on the field and on the tape, and if your play shows that you’re the best, that’s what it is.”

Rhodes’ mentor, former NFL cornerback Terrell Buckley, is a tough critic. Since Buckley was a Florida State graduate assistant and coached Rhodes as a freshman in 2009, he has provided tough love and professional advice.

Buckley, though, said there isn’t much left he can offer Rhodes.

“I do believe he’s the best cornerback in the NFL,” said Buckley, who played in the NFL from 1992-2005 and is now defensive backs coach at Mississippi State. “This year, he’s said, ‘I’m the guy, and I’m going to play like it.’ ”

According to a stat put out by the NFL, Rhodes has held star receivers Brown, Jones, Green and Odell Beckham of the New York Giants to nine receptions for 94 yards in four games in throws into his coverage since last season.

“You’ve got to have the confidence going out on the field saying you’re the best out there,” Rhodes said. “You have to have the confidence saying, ‘I’m going to do the best to help my team.’ ”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Rhodes was taken with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2013 draft. He was a part-time starter as a rookie but began to come into his own after Mike Zimmer arrived as coach in 2014.

Rhodes was plagued by penalties in 2015, which might have kept him out of the Pro Bowl that season. It got so bad at one point that defensive backs coach Jerry Gray had him practice wearing boxing gloves to keep him from grabbing.

Rhodes cut down on the penalties last year and earned his first Pro Bowl berth in voting by fans, players and coaches.

“I always had confidence,” he said. “When I started feeling like I was a top-tier guy was somewhere last year. But coming into the league, I felt like I was capable of being the top guy. As time went on, I saw the ability in myself and I started believing in myself and my work and my craft.’’

Buckley, who keeps in regular touch with Rhodes, said the advice he provided after last season was to get in the best shape possible. In working to do that, Rhodes took up, of all things, boxing.

In July, Rhodes, 27, signed a five-year, $70 million contract extension that runs through 2022 and makes him the third-highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Buckley called it a “bargain.”

“He follows the top receiver and he’s able to play the left and right side, play physical and take the challenge,” Buckley said. “He’s the top corner, and he’s still young. You’re about to see a long stretch of some pretty good football from a pretty good football player.”

For now, Rhodes is simply happy to make his second straight Pro Bowl. He is the first Minnesota cornerback to achieve that since Antoine Winfield was chosen for three straight from 2008-10.

“It’s a great honor,” he said. “That was awesome. The fans saw me play, they believe in my talent. … I feel like I’ve played well this year, played well last year and played well in previous years, and I’m finally getting recognized for it.”