Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) calls a play during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Saints beat the Cowboys 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Stafford was a huge Pro Bowl snub a year ago but an opportunity to rectify that issue, albeit a year late, opened up with Robert Griffin III unable to participate due to injury.

Stafford wasn’t as good in 2012 as he was in 2011 but he was still named a Pro Bowl alternate.

RGIII’s replacement has been named and it isn’t Stafford, although it’s hard to argue against the choice.

Drew Brees will replace Robert Griffin III on the NFC Pro Bowl roster #Saints

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 9, 2013

Stafford still has an opportunity to make his first Pro Bowl appearance if the Packers or Falcons make it to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan are the other quarterbacks on the NFC roster but one will be replaced if his team wins the NFC.

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) is hit by Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) after throwing during the first quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game at FedEx Field. Griffin III was injured on the play. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Griffin III gave his best effort in the Washington Redskins’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately for Griffing, his best effort wasn’t at the level NFL fans saw for most of the year as a result of a knee injury he suffered last month.

Things went from bad to worse in the fourth quarter when RGIII tried to field a low snap and had his knee buckle underneath him. It was the type of sight that would make any football fan wince.

The Seahawks recovered the ball deep in Redskins territory and added a field goal to pad their lead to ten. When it was time for the Redskins offense to come back on the field it was former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, not RGIII, who was at quarterback.

It’s one thing to leave it all on the field in a playoff game, particularly when it is the first of a young career like in RGIII’s case, but there is no reason for Griffin to take the field in Honolulu at the Pro Bowl. He has a bright future ahead of him and there is no reason to risk the health of his knee in a game that is a farce even for healthy players.

That potentially opens up the door for Matthew Stafford, who was named a Pro Bowl alternate, to head to Hawaii.

While it is hard to see RGIII playing in the Pro Bowl, there is a possibility Stafford gets there even if he does. Super Bowl participants will not play in the Pro Bowl which means Matt Ryan or Aaron Rodgers may need to be replaced on the NFC roster.

Stafford’s season, while the nearly threw for 5,000 yards for a second-straight season, wasn’t what comes to mind when thinking of Pro Bowl-worthy seasons. That being said, after being a horrific snub a year ago Stafford will have the correct number of Pro Bowl appearances over the last two seasons if he is indeed able to get there as a replacement.

It was previously announced that Robert Griffin III would appear on the cover of the NCAA Football 13 video game and that another former Heisman winner would also be featured based on the results of a fan vote.

EA Sports has tallied the votes and former Lions running back Barry Sanders is the winner.

Barry defeated Herschel Walker in the final round of voting after defeating Andre Ware in the first round and Doug Flutie in the second.

Here is what the cover will look like when it hits store shelves in July:

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