The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Let me preface this by saying that I love London Fletcher. He has arguably had some of his best seasons as a Washington Redskin. He is the captain of our defense, he's tough, smart, loyal and a good leader. He knows what to say, and how to motivate young players. He's a tackling machine who hasn't missed a game in 12 years. With that being said:

Not re-signing him isn't the end of the world.

If the Redskins and Fletcher can't come to a contract agreement that makes sense, given his age, there's no shame in parting ways. He's going on 37 and we're building a youth movement here. Maybe it's time for someone else to take that leadership role (anyone by DHall!) and take this team to the top.

I want Fletcher back, but with our cap situation, and only 2-3 years tops to spread a cap hit... it's going to be difficult to retain him. If we have to say goodbye, we'll be fine.

End of the world...no. But, this would be an absolutely HUGE loss in my opinion. I wish they would have wrapped this up before free agency even began. His leadership and knowledge of the defense in getting everyone lined up correctlyh is irreplaceable in my opinion. Who are you going to replace him with that will bring the intagibles plus the production he's given year after year? We need the defense to improve this year and allow time for this offense to gel and losing our leader would not help that situation. I'm actually shocked this deal isn't done.

We need locker room VET leaders who can help mold young men into honorable NFL players. Fletch MUST stay....!!!!

tribeofjudah wrote:We need locker room VET leaders who can help mold young men into honorable NFL players. Fletch MUST stay....!!!!

He's the QB of the defense and a hell of a MLB. At the present the market hasn't been set and Flecth wants to test the market.

Rumor was he wanted something like 3 years $25m and things stalled there, he'll test the market once it is set and said he'd give the Skins a chance to match whatever he is offered. I take him at his word but I wish they would just get it done.

I amazed we haven't locked him up a long time ago.

Hail!

It'll get done.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:It'll get done.

I hope you're right.

Hail!

tribeofjudah wrote:We need locker room VET leaders who can help mold young men into honorable NFL players. Fletch MUST stay....!!!!

+1

His leadership alone is worth keeping him around. Not to mention he led the league in tackles last year at the age of 36.

StorminMormon86 wrote:

tribeofjudah wrote:We need locker room VET leaders who can help mold young men into honorable NFL players. Fletch MUST stay....!!!!

+1

His leadership alone is worth keeping him around. Not to mention he led the league in tackles last year at the age of 36.

I'm surfing around looking for any news about "Skins Resign Fletcher" to no avail. He's the remaining FA move, I hope we make.

Does anybody have an update?

Hail!

I completely agree with what people are saying about why we need Fletcher back. But if I were a betting man, I'd say he moves on.

Put emotion aside for a minute, and just look at the financial reality of this. We're a middle of the road team at best with some big holes to fill, and we just got slapped with an $18m salary cap penalty. We simply might not be able to afford to spend $25m or whatever on a 37 year old linebacker.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Any reports of him talking w other teams?

The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

Alls I could find was some of his followers on Twitter begging he resign.. amoung the latest was Josh Wilson on the 13th.. kinda cool Wilson certainly is fitting in here in the B&G

@LFletcher59 Hey remember when u called me???...Now I'm callin you...WE NEED YA!!!

The Hogster wrote:The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Philly make a run at him and outbid us.

riggofan wrote:

The Hogster wrote:The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Philly make a run at him and outbid us.

Trotter in reverse. Remember him?

I'm sticking with 3 years $15 M tops, $10 M w/$5 M in bonus makes more sense.

DarthMonk

DarthMonk wrote:

riggofan wrote:

The Hogster wrote:The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Philly make a run at him and outbid us.

Trotter in reverse. Remember him?

I'm sticking with 3 years $15 M tops, $10 M w/$5 M in bonus makes more sense.

DarthMonk

Fletcher reportedly wants just under $9M per year. Stephen Tulloch's deal will average out to about $8.4M and he's 10 years younger than London.

Hawthorne, Lofton, and Fletcher is all that's left. Would love to get Lofton after re-signing London

1niksder wrote:Fletcher reportedly wants just under $9M per year. Stephen Tulloch's deal will average out to about $8.4M and he's 10 years younger than London.

Good googa mooga.

DarthMonk

Signing Fletcher to a contract that pays him according to what he's worth as a LB to us is part of it

There's an additional amount that we should pay him over that because he's been a great leader here and because he's important to the leadership of the defense

all that adds up to paying him about 9M OR giving the man what he wants, whichever is the larger amount

riggofan wrote:

The Hogster wrote:The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Philly make a run at him and outbid us.

Not gonna happen
Not now anyway

My thoughts on this are

PAY THE MAN

We are skewing way young everywhere. You still need proven veterans that will guide the young guys. There is Chris ey and Santana Moss on offense....certainly London Fletcher is the key to this on the defemse. The additional bonus is that, hey, at 37yo, he is still an effective LB.

If we lose him.....and/or (God Forbid) he goes to the Beagles......I will have to hold that against Shanny and Allen as a bad move.

1niksder wrote:

riggofan wrote:

The Hogster wrote:The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Philly make a run at him and outbid us.

Not gonna happen
Not now anyway

I'm good with this!. Still don't have a standard for LB's, though...

Countertrey wrote:

1niksder wrote:

riggofan wrote:

The Hogster wrote:The ILB market hasn't been set yet. While London is still playing at a high level, I don't think there are many teams in the running for a 37 year old LB in 2012.

To that end, I think it's a matter of time & fair value to get this deal done.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Philly make a run at him and outbid us.

Not gonna happen
Not now anyway

I'm good with this!. Still don't have a standard for LB's, though...

Yeah I know Ryans wasn't even on the market, but one less bidder

Skinsfan55 wrote:
Not re-signing him isn't the end of the world.

If you ever played football at a high level, I am confident you wouldn't have made that statement.

If you have and are still making the statement, then you didn't leave with the understanding of how important leadership is.

Good thing on the Eagles. I would have hated to see Fletch end up in Philly. What a steal/deal they made to get Ryans...

I'm just shaking my head over these comments of "Pay the Man" and "we should pay him what he wants plus a little extra". 1) We don't have the freaking cap space to do that and 2) If we did, how do you propose we pay for our rookies, an o-lineman, a cornerback and safety?

Maybe they'll all just sign to work here pro-bono because its such a great franchise.

markshark84 wrote:

Skinsfan55 wrote:
Not re-signing him isn't the end of the world.

If you ever played football at a high level, I am confident you wouldn't have made that statement.

If you have and are still making the statement, then you didn't leave with the understanding of how important leadership is.

Gotta side with SF33 on this one - not the end of the world - just the end of the best free agent signing we've made in quite some time and the loss of an incredible leader.

OTOH - It's hard to place a dollar value on leadership. I'll say that in this case it's worth less than $27 M over 3 years.

DarthMonk