Pro Bowl Selections 2013: Alternates You Can Expect to See in Honolulu

All hope is not lost, Richard Sherman.

The Seattle Seahawks' lock-down cornerback, who is widely regarded as this year's biggest Pro Bowl snub, had to settle for an alternate selection. But if the past is any indication, a handful of spots will soon be opening up. 

Well, a giant's handful. 

Last year alone, 25 players opted out of the NFL's All-Star game either because of injury or the desire to play in some other game instead—I think they call it the Super Bowl or something.

Sherman might have a tough time jumping Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings or Patrick Peterson in the NFC, but several other players will soon be booking their flights to Honolulu.

Let's take a look at the most likely.

Note: A complete look at both Pro Bowl rosters can be found at the bottom of this page, or at NFL.com.

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Robert Griffin III may have been the only non-specialist rookie selected to this year's big game, but No. 1 pick Andrew Luck may soon be joining him.

According to everyone's favorite crazy tweeter, Colts owner Jim Irsay, Luck was selected as the AFC's first QB alternate:

"

Andrew Luck selected 1st alternate for Pro Bowl, Dwight is 2nd alternate.Congrats!

— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) December 27, 2012"

Chances are fairly strong that one of either Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Matt Schaub will be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, which would open up a spot for the rook. 

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Gresham has quietly had a career year to the tune of 64 catches, 737 yards and five touchdowns, but with Rob Gronkowski Bro-ing—not exactly sure what that means, but it's a good thing—all over defenses and Heath Miller also enjoying a career year, the Bengals tight end was forced to settle with a first alternate selection.

From Cincinnati radio host Lance McAlister:

"

4 Bengals players voted as alternates. Jermaine Gresham, Andrew Whitworth 1st alternates, and QB Andy Dalton & CB Leon Hall 3rd alternates.

— Lance McAlister (@LanceMcAlister) December 27, 2012"

No worries, though.

Miller is set to undergo surgery to fix his ACL, MCL, PCL and whatever other CL's are in his knee. Meanwhile, even if Gronkowski decides to turn into Superman—or Adrian Peterson— he is coming back from a fractured forearm and won't likely bother with a meaningless January game. 

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

That's right. The man who is quickly becoming known for hating Thanksgiving could soon be thanking Justin Smith for a trip to the Pro Bowl. 

The San Francisco 49ers' star interior lineman got the starting nod, but he's not exactly a picture of perfect health right now (via CBS Sports' Twitter account):

"

49ers stud DL Justin Smith reportedly has partially-torn triceps: cbsprt.co/Smithtriceps

— CBSSports.com (@CBSSports) December 27, 2012"

While San Fran is hoping Smith will be able to play through what sounds like one of the most painful injuries ever, the odds of him participating in the Pro Bowl are somewhat similar to me getting a date with Kate Upton. 

Suh, who was selected as an alternate, will likely replace Smith in the middle of the NFC's dominant defensive line. 

AFC Offense

Position	Player	Team
QB	Peyton Manning*	Denver Broncos
QB	Tom Brady	New England Patriots
QB	Matt Schaub	Houston Texans
RB	Arian Foster*	Houston Texans
RB	Jamaal Charles	Kansas City Chiefs
RB	Ray Rice	Baltimore Ravens
FB	Vonta Leach*	Baltimore Ravens
WR	A.J. Green*	Cincinnati Bengals
WR	Andre Johnson*	Houston Texans
WR	Reggie Wayne	Indianapolis Colts
WR	Wes Welker	New England Patriots
TE	Rob Gronkowski*	New England Patriots
TE	Heath Miller	Pittsburgh Steelers
T	Joe Thomas*	Cleveland Browns
T	Duane Brown*	Houston Texans
T	Ryan Clady	Denver Broncos
G	Logan Mankins*	New England Patriots
G	Marshal Yanda*	Baltimore Ravens
G	Wade Smith	Houston Texans
C	Maurkice Pouncey*	Pittsburgh Steelers
C	Chris Myers	Houston Texans
P	Dustin Colquitt	Kansas City Chiefs
PK	Phil Dawson	Cleveland Browns
KR	Jacoby Jones	Baltimore Ravens
ST	Matthew Slater	New England Patriots

*Denotes starter

 

AFC Defense

Position	Player	Team
DL	J.J. Watt*	Houston Texans
DL	Cameron Wake*	Miami Dolphins
DL	Geno Atkins*	Cincinnati Bengals
DL	Vince Wilfork*	New England Patriots
DL	Elvis Dumervil	Denver Broncos
DL	Haloti Ngata	Baltimore Ravens
LB	Von Miller*	Denver Broncos
LB	Tamba Hali*	Kansas City Chiefs
LB	Jerod Mayo*	New England Patriots
LB	Robert Mathis	Indianapolis Colts
LB	Derrick Johnson	Kansas City Chiefs
CB	Champ Bailey*	Denver Broncos
CB	Johnathan Joseph*	Houston Texans
CB	Antonio Cromartie	New York Jets
S	Ed Reed*	Baltimore Ravens
S	Eric Berry*	Kansas City Chiefs
S	LaRon Landry	New York Jets

*Denotes starter

 

NFC Offense

Position	Player	Team
QB	Aaron Rodgers*	Green Bay Packers
QB	Matt Ryan	Atlanta Falcons
QB	Robert Griffin III	Washington Redskins
RB	Adrian Peterson*	Minnesota Vikings
RB	Marshawn Lynch	Seattle Seahawks
RB	Frank Gore	San Francisco 49ers
FB	Jerome Felton*	Minnesota Vikings
WR	Calvin Johnson*	Detroit Lions
WR	Brandon Marshall*	Chicago Bears
WR	Julio Jones	Atlanta Falcons
WR	Victor Cruz	New York Giants
TE	Tony Gonzalez*	Atlanta Falcons
TE	Jason Witten	Dallas Cowboys
T	Russell Okung*	Seattle Seahawks
T	Joe Staley*	San Francisco 49ers
T	Trent Williams	Washington Redskins
G	Mike Iupati*	San Francisco 49ers
G	Jahri Evans*	New Orleans Saints
G	Chris Snee	New York Giants
C	Max Unger*	Seattle Seahawks
C	Jeff Saturday	Green Bay Packers
P	Thomas Morstead	New Orleans Saints
PK	Blair Walsh	Minnesota Vikings
KR	Leon Washington	Seattle Seahawks
ST	Lorenzo Alexander	Washington Redskins

*Denotes starter

 

NFC Defense

Position	Player	Team
DL	Jason Pierre-Paul*	New York Giants
DL	Julius Peppers*	Chicago Bears
DL	Justin Smith*	San Francisco 49ers
DL	Henry Melton*	Chicago Bears
DL	Jared Allen	Minnesota Vikings
DL	Gerald McCoy	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB	Aldon Smith*	San Francisco 49ers
LB	DeMarcus Ware*	Dallas Cowboys
LB	Patrick Willis*	San Francisco 49ers
LB	Clay Matthews	Green Bay Packers
LB	NaVorro Bowman	San Francisco 49ers
CB	Charles Tillman*	Chicago Bears
CB	Tim Jennings*	Chicago Bears
CB	Patrick Peterson	Arizona Cardinals
S	Dashon Goldson*	San Francisco 49ers
S	Donte Whitner*	San Francisco 49ers
S	Earl Thomas	Seattle Seahawks

*Denotes starter

 

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