(MERGE): Redskins Sign London Fletcher

[Questfor31]

As a Bills fan, I 've been watching London Fletcher for the last five years. He's been an asset at Middle Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, leading the team in tackles just about every year, but in my opinion on the wrong side of thirty, London Fletcher is not worth a five year, $25 million contract. I think you guys have got yourself a player, but his best years are behind him.

[MTK]

I like this deal, seems like a lot of money up front which is a little odd for this front office. The contract in reality is probably a 2-3 year deal.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by Questfor31

As a Bills fan, I 've been watching London Fletcher for the last five years. He's been an asset at Middle Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, leading the team in tackles just about every year, but in my opinion on the wrong side of thirty, London Fletcher is not worth a five year, $25 million contract. I think you guys have got yourself a player, but his best years are behind him.

Care to comment on the Dockery Deal?

[Dirtbag59]

I felt that this would make for an intresting compariosn
2006 Scouting Report - Scouts Inc.
Grade: 78 | Key
Alert: B (Bulk)

Comment:
Fletcher has excellent experience, durability and toughness. He plays in regular and sub packages. He is competitive, active and hard-working. He handles all of the Bills' calls and adjustments within the box. He has good recognition skills and key-and-diagnose against the run and pass. He is an instinctive tackler who has sideline-to-sideline range. He can slide, stay square, avoid and play through trash in the box. He has a knack for timing up his blitzes and pressuring quarterbacks. He can open his hips and get good depth in underneath zones. He still has the speed to carry the vertical seam in cover 2. He has very good awareness and effectively communicates pattern recognition. He can match up with tight ends or backs over short areas in man-to-man. But Fletcher is undersized and lacks ideal power. He isn't a natural take-on player. He can get engulfed by bigger blockers and driven out of run lanes. He knows how to use his hands but lacks explosiveness in his stack-and-shed. He doesn't always protect his lower half when moving downhill.

2006 Scouting Report - Scouts Inc.
Grade: 72 | Key
Alert: None

Comment:
Pierce is athletic, heady and very reliable. He reacts to the ball and follows his instincts, but he is efficient and makes few mistakes. He seems to have a very good understanding of his role and position. He has a great feel for angles and awareness of blockers. He has sideline-to-sideline range, uses his hands effectively and gets over trash. He moves well laterally and changes direction quickly. He has the hips and speed to turn and run with tight ends or backs in man-to-man. He gets good depth on his zone drops. He gets good jumps off the snap and doesn't waste much movement. He plays under control and is a good open-field tackler. His anticipation and instincts give him some blitzing potential. But Pierce is undersized and lacks power. He won't fill the hole, take on blockers or stack and shed effectively at the point of attack. He can be engulfed and moved out of the hole by big linemen. He runs around some blocks and opens up run lanes.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

10 million bonus for a 32 yr old LB give me a break

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

10 million bonus for a 32 yr old LB give me a break

Again, you're looking at the contracts as though the market hasn't gone crazy. It has, so get used to seeing slightly-above-average GUARDS getting $18M. When Dockery is getting $18M, Fletcher getting about half that at a much more important position, it doesn't seem so crazy.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

one 26 and the other 32, if london was at least in his 20's it would be a better deal. we dont need anymore over 30 year old starters

[Crat92]

I guess GW wanted a 'backer who was familiar with his system. We'll see.

[Aussie_Skins_Fan]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Again, you're looking at the contracts as though the market hasn't gone crazy. It has, so get used to seeing slightly-above-average GUARDS getting $18M. When Dockery is getting $18M, Fletcher getting about half that at a much more important position, it doesn't seem so crazy.

Couldn't agree more, this team needs a MLB who can come in and play now, Flethcer can, he knows GW's system and will provide immediate leadership. For probably the best MLB in FA and certianly the bes fit at MLB for us, we haven't overpaid.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

one 26 and the other 32, if london was at least in his 20's it would be a better deal. we dont need anymore over 30 year old starters

What are your suggestions? I have heard you trash every move the front office has made, but I certainly haven't heard you propose a solution.

The fact is that the past is the past. No one can change it. All they can do is take that hand that they have and make the best moves going forward.

You may think they paid too much for Fletcher but what was the alternative. If you say Marshall I would ask you if you were in a time warp last year.

Also, you have no idea what free agent linebackers are going to go for this year.

I will make a prediction. Joey Porter will sign a 60+ million dollar deal.

Fletcher won't look so bad, after that happens, will he???

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

This money seems about right. In fact it seems downright cheap.

exactly that is cheap for the skins plus he makes 50% or 12.5 of the 25 mill in the next 2 years

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

I felt that this would make for an intresting compariosn
2006 Scouting Report - Scouts Inc.
Grade: 78 | Key
Alert: B (Bulk)

Comment:
Fletcher has excellent experience, durability and toughness. He plays in regular and sub packages. He is competitive, active and hard-working. He handles all of the Bills' calls and adjustments within the box. He has good recognition skills and key-and-diagnose against the run and pass. He is an instinctive tackler who has sideline-to-sideline range. He can slide, stay square, avoid and play through trash in the box. He has a knack for timing up his blitzes and pressuring quarterbacks. He can open his hips and get good depth in underneath zones. He still has the speed to carry the vertical seam in cover 2. He has very good awareness and effectively communicates pattern recognition. He can match up with tight ends or backs over short areas in man-to-man. But Fletcher is undersized and lacks ideal power. He isn't a natural take-on player. He can get engulfed by bigger blockers and driven out of run lanes. He knows how to use his hands but lacks explosiveness in his stack-and-shed. He doesn't always protect his lower half when moving downhill.

I've highlighted the two statements that jump up at me. I don't know if Marshall ever got comfortable with the mental aspect of MLB. I have no evidence of that (except this signing today), its just a feeling. I hope Lemar keeps a starting job outside. It was wrong to try to move him, IMO.

The second one about cover 2 will be great if true. Hopefully that's not just what his agent thinks. A lot of these analysis summaries are full of subjective opinions. Informed opinions, you hope, but still. Williams asks his MLB to cover downfield a lot. If Fletcher can stil run that would be helpful.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

10 million bonus for a 32 yr old LB give me a break

Yet you don't have a problem with what Dockery got??

[RedskinPete]

The AP reported by Joseph White has Fletcher signing a five year 25 million deal that includes a 10.5 signing bonus. With Fletcher in the middle this will put Lemar Marshall back outside and Washington holding down the other outside LB spot. As for Smoot the Redskins are very close and may have news about him in the AM saturday. "Everything would be put back in placeif I did[return] smoot said me leaving here was a big mistake". If he finds his old form this could be great!

[hooskins]

You guys dont think he was a bit overpaid for his age...? I realize there are no other options, but still.