London Fletcher - TOP PRIORITY

[tribeofjudah]

I'm no GM but I say sign London before Free Agency hits.

Sign him to 3 yrs.....$25 million. He can retire at 40...hahaha

Is that too high? Too low?

But Shanahan didn't hesitate when I asked him about veteran linebacker London Fletcher and whether or not signing him in free agency is a priority.

"Yes," Shanahan said. "It's a priority. He's a priority for us. He's a top priority. He knows how I feel about him. He knows I want him to be with this organization, no ifs, ands or buts about it."

Fletcher turns 37 in May and wouldn't obviously seem to fit with the Redskins' youth-based rebuilding project. But Fletcher is an exceptional case in many ways -- leading the league in tackles this season and having played 223 consecutive games -- and Shanahan recognizes the value of having him around young players like linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Perry Riley.

"It's great for those guys to experience a guy like London, because they learn how to be pros," Shanahan said. "A guy like Perry is a heck of an athlete, and just being around London teaches him how to be a pro -- how to prepare and how to do things that he didn't even know existed, probably, in college."

We talk a lot about Fletcher on this blog, and how amazing it is that he continues to perform at his consistently outstanding level at his age. But Shanahan said those on the inside of the organization have an even deeper appreciation of what makes Fletcher the player he is.

"I don't think anybody knows how a guy prepares," Shanahan said. "How he takes care of his body. I mean, how do you play that many games in a row without missing a game? How do you play at that level week in and week out? There's only one way to do it. You've got to be relentless in your preparation, the way you take care of yourself in the offseason, being a student of the game, the passion you've got to have... all the things you look for in a player, he's got it."

What remains to be seen is whether or not the Redskins can bring him back before he hits the open market, where he'll surely be sought by other teams.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Pay the man. /thread

Aside from him deserving the money, it'll go a long way towards improving morale in the locker room. We need to remove the stigma that we don't take care of our own.

[Deadskins]

Pay the man. /thread

Aside from him deserving the money, it'll go a long way towards improving morale in the locker room. We need to remove the stigma that we don't take care of our own.

London is not really our own, but I know whst you mean. Lock him up early!

[SkinsJock]

Pay the man. /thread
Aside from him deserving the money, it'll go a long way towards improving morale in the locker room.
We need to remove the stigma that we don't take care of our own.

London is not really our own, but I know whst you mean. Lock him up early!

London Fletcher IS the epitome of a Washington Redskins' player - he will be here this coming season

[Chris Luva Luva]

Pay the man. /thread

Aside from him deserving the money, it'll go a long way towards improving morale in the locker room. We need to remove the stigma that we don't take care of our own.

London is not really our own, but I know whst you mean. Lock him up early!

While he hasn't won here. I have a gut feeling that he may retire here, he seems to be attached to this place. This isn't the 80's any more, nobody ever finishes a career where they started it anymore.... Maybe like 1/1000. I think he retires here.

[Deadskins]

Pay the man. /thread

Aside from him deserving the money, it'll go a long way towards improving morale in the locker room. We need to remove the stigma that we don't take care of our own.

London is not really our own, but I know whst you mean. Lock him up early!

While he hasn't won here. I have a gut feeling that he may retire here, he seems to be attached to this place. This isn't the 80's any more, nobody ever finishes a career where they started it anymore.... Maybe like 1/1000. I think he retires here.

I think he wants to retire a Redskin, too. He'll resign if we make a fair offer.

[PAPDOG67]

Git R done!

[Chris Luva Luva]

This is just my gut talking but I don't know if he was embraced by the fanbase with his other teams. He's a King here and deservingly so.

[SkinsJock]

London Fletcher will get paid and he will be here - no doubt about it

[frankcal20]

Some folks say that getting a QB is a top priority but I really do feel deep down that resigning London is the top priority on this team. He is our main defensive player and if he leaves, where does that leave us on that side of the ball. We lose our Defensive QB. You can't replace that production on the field. I would say that this would be equal to losing Peyton Manning, Aaron Rogers or even Tom Brady. He is the key to our defense and he's a hell of a player/coach. So if getting a QB is important to this teams growth, resigning London has to be right up there if not in front because he's been here. The players are comfortable and he's the team leader. Has been for years.

[Hooligan]

Pay him. He's earned every cent and then some. You don't replace a guy like that; when he leaves, the team is going to feel it regardless of whoever plays MLB afterward.

[DarthMonk]

I'm no GM but I say sign London before Free Agency hits.

Sign him to 3 yrs.....$25 million. He can retire at 40...hahaha

Is that too high? Too low?

I love him Tribe but 3 for $25 M is too much. Quoting myself from another thread (there are so many now):

My personal limit would be in the range of 15 M for 3 years. I think what we owe Fletch is letting him call the shots. By that I mean ask him what he wants to do. The logical thing to me is to let him and his agent test the waters, see what he can get, and then see what it takes to keep him here. That might end up with a top offer elsewhere of 5 M for 2 years with 4 M guaranteed or who knows from a perrenial playoff team resulting in us needing to offer 10 M for 3 years with 6 M guaranteed. These are random numbers but this is how I would proceed with the limit I stated at the beginning.

[frankcal20]

London is co-hosting NFL Live tonight on NFL Network. He's about to come on and discuss Andrew Luck along with what's really wrong with the Redskins

[frankcal20]

Not much analysis but he said that he watched Lucks bowl game and he threw a good out route and that he would look good in B&G. He said that the Redskins need to get a face for the franchise for the next 10 years and he would love to have him there.

Now not to be an optimist but his overall demeanor suggested that he'll be back in DC. Why would he talk about the future if he didn't plan on being back.

[riggofan]

We have enough holes to fill. Keeping Fletcher around another year or two is a no-brainer.

[SkinsJock]

Fletcher's certainly a priority but his signing is a done deal - it's not like there's any doubt he'll be back here

we have other real worries and issues - London Fletcher is staying here

[chiefhog44]

This needs to get done and quick. Seems like things are falling apart a bit.

http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/2302/london-fletcher

[SouthLondonRedskin]

He'll be back.

Haslett needs him there, they'll not leave it too much longer.

[riggofan]

I love Fletcher, but I want the team to be smart about how much money they're willing to invest in a 37 year old linebacker.

[SouthLondonRedskin]

I love Fletcher, but I want the team to be smart about how much money they're willing to invest in a 37 year old linebacker.

He's more than a 37 year old linebacker. He's the leader of our team and led the NFl in tackles last season.

Sign him and pay him, any deal would take his age into account.

[riggofan]

He's more than a 37 year old linebacker. He's the leader of our team and led the NFl in tackles last season.

Believe me, I completely agree with you. The guy is a beast. But I still say you have to be realistic about any deal you give him because of his age. He can't just point at last year's stats, because at some point soon his age is going to catch up to him. (Right, Randy Moss?) Are we going to bank on him leading the NFL in tackles at 39 or 40? That would make us complete idiots.

This is something I thought the Eagles did really well for a long time. They had guys like Jeremiah Trotter who were super productive and fan favorites, but they didn't overpay them when they got into their 30s. It was a little cold blooded, but its a smart strategy.

Anyway, hopefully they can work out a sensible deal to keep Fletcher here.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Love how his only sack was against chomo! Thatd be my favorite guy to hit too.
Sadly I think we let him test the waters then once he realizes he isn't 27 any more and almost 38 how teams view him despite his progress we match a bid w some incentives. Hope we sign him and he retires a redskin. LB coach after that! Duh

[Countertrey]

A 37 y/o London Fletcher running at 80% is still more than most 26 y/o ILB's at 100%.

Sign him.

[Irn-Bru]

This is where Dan Snyder can actually take an active role with the team. Bring Fletcher to your house, roll out the red carpet, strawberries and champagne, give Fletcher whatever he wants put in ink, and get the thing done. We need him back next year.

[DarthMonk]

Love how his only sack was against chomo! Thatd be my favorite guy to hit too.
Sadly I think we let him test the waters then once he realizes he isn't 27 any more and almost 38 how teams view him despite his progress we match a bid w some incentives. Hope we sign him and he retires a redskin. LB coach after that! Duh

This is almost my exact position RED. You even used my "test the waters" line:

I'm no GM but I say sign London before Free Agency hits.

Sign him to 3 yrs.....$25 million. He can retire at 40...hahaha

Is that too high? Too low?

I love him Tribe but 3 for $25 M is too much. Quoting myself from another thread (there are so many now):

My personal limit would be in the range of 15 M for 3 years. I think what we owe Fletch is letting him call the shots. By that I mean ask him what he wants to do. The logical thing to me is to let him and his agent test the waters, see what he can get, and then see what it takes to keep him here. That might end up with a top offer elsewhere of 5 M for 2 years with 4 M guaranteed or who knows from a perrenial playoff team resulting in us needing to offer 10 M for 3 years with 6 M guaranteed. These are random numbers but this is how I would proceed with the limit I stated at the beginning.

DarthMonk