(MERGE): Redskins Sign London Fletcher

[RedskinPete]

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.

You maybe right...as for Dockery you got a player that I believe has reached his best days. He is not going to get any better. He may be the same for a few years but he is what he is middle of the road lineman. A lot of money for a team that has so many needs. By the way isn't it your team that didn't like last year agreement with the players and the NFL. Saying your team could sign player for this kind of cash. I guess your owner found 49 million in a locker.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by RedskinPete

You maybe right...as for Dockery you got a player that I believe has reached his best days. He is not going to get any better. He may be the same for a few years but he is what he is middle of the road lineman. A lot of money for a team that has so many needs. By the way isn't it your team that didn't like last year agreement with the players and the NFL. Saying your team could sign player for this kind of cash. I guess your owner found 49 million in a locker.

well, snyder's now forced to fork over something like 3mill a year from his highest grossing team to the lowest grossing one i believe. like that'd even matter .

i don't know what the market is now, its so erratic... sellers, roster fill LBs etc seem to be working on last year's pay scale, but some teams (Bills, 49ers), seem to be spending ridiculous amounts.

[That Guy]

smoot played balls to the wall for the skins. he was a worthless blitzer (how can you get to the QB if you're rushing him with your eyes closed?), but he was much more consistent than the #2 CBs since he's left.

[Luxorreb]

Fletcher is a great signing and for a fair price. He knows Williams and system and is a consistant top level MLB and hasn't missed a game to my knowledge. As for Smoot I welcome him back cause he'll try and not get abused like Rogers. And there will be some kinda smoooooot/cooooooooooooley connection. What a morning radio show they could do! Is there vids of Fletcher on the site yet?

[That Guy]

the bills site has fletcher highlights, youtube seems limited :/.

[offiss]

This is ridiculous, 25 mil coupled with a 10 and a half mil. signing bonus? No wonder we are the only team he visited. And there you have it another big money guy on his way out, we just refuse to use the draft. Were just lost as a team.

And there it is we are forced into overpaying for an ageing undersized MLB because we have no picks to draft a MLB like a Patrick Willis, so we cover up that fact with Fletcher. Lets see what a big difference there is between him and Marshall.

Fletcher is going to be real happy if the rumor is correct and we take Adams, an undersized MLB and 2 undersized DE's, a Recipe for disaster.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by offiss

This is ridiculous, 25 mil coupled with a 10 and a half mil. signing bonus? No wonder we are the only team he visited. And there you have it another big money guy on his way out, we just refuse to use the draft. Were just lost as a team.

And there it is we are forced into overpaying for an ageing undersized MLB because we have no picks to draft a MLB like a Patrick Willis, so we cover up that fact with Fletcher. Lets see what a big difference there is between him and Marshall.

Fletcher is going to be real happy if the rumor is correct and we take Adams, an undersized MLB and 2 undersized DE's, a Recipe for disaster.

If we go 4 - 12, we will all congratulate you on your prophetic gift.

Did you hear that the Jets cut loose Ramsey earlier? Mangini is such a prick.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

If we go 4 - 12, we will all congratulate you on your prophetic gift.

Did you hear that the Jets cut loose Ramsey earlier? Mangini is such a prick.

Well if thats the case you have plenty of congradulations already to make up for.

Like Betts, Lavar, Brunell, I could go on and on but I doubt you'll really ever get it.

[70Chip]

Yeah, I don't get it all.

I will say that "London" is a cool first name. Having a geographical place as a first name can make a strong statement about someone's personal style. Some other examples:

Minnesota Fats
Amarillo Slim
Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Virginia Woolfe
Gary U.S Bonds
Tokyo Rose
Johnny Knoxville
Denver Pyle
Tex Ritter
England Dan

Update:
Jack London (can't believe I forgot him)
Joel Cairo (Peter Lorre character in The Maltese Falcon)
Charlotte Rae (What you talking about Miss Garett)
Montgomery Clift
Dallas Green
Houston Nutt
River Phoenix and sibs
Buffalo Bill/Bob
Isaiah/Irving Berlin
Tim Richmond

[offiss]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Yeah, I don't get it all.

I will say that "London" is a cool first name. Having a geographical place as a first name can make a strong statement about someone's personal style. Some other examples:

Minnesota Fats
Amarillo Slim
Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Virginia Woolfe
Gary U.S Bonds
Tokyo Rose
Johnny Knoxville
Denver Pyle
Tex Ritter
England Dan

lol

Jersey Joe Walcot
Texas Dolly

[Twilbert07]

Originally Posted by offiss

This is ridiculous, 25 mil coupled with a 10 and a half mil. signing bonus? No wonder we are the only team he visited. And there you have it another big money guy on his way out, we just refuse to use the draft. Were just lost as a team.

And there it is we are forced into overpaying for an ageing undersized MLB because we have no picks to draft a MLB like a Patrick Willis, so we cover up that fact with Fletcher. Lets see what a big difference there is between him and Marshall.

Fletcher is going to be real happy if the rumor is correct and we take Adams, an undersized MLB and 2 undersized DE's, a Recipe for disaster.

Yeah, free agents love us because we throw so much money at players on the decline. Signing a linebacker who will turn 32 this year just does nothing for me.

[dmek25]

i didnt want fletcher, but the contract is fair to both parties

[redskins5044]

Pierce signed a six-year, $26 million contract yesterday, but kept his promise of providing the Redskins an opportunity to match New York's offer. The Redskins felt that the deal -- which included a $6.5 million signing bonus -- was too expensive and would damage their offseason plans even more.

this is from the WP after he signed with the giants. similar contract we just payed a 31 year old LB. i know he is an improvement over what we had last year. but just an example of how we dont pay the players we bring up the organization.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by hooskins

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

Compared to the deals going down right now, no.

[MTK]

As I said in another post I suspected Fletcher's deal was probably in reality a 2-3 year deal and this from the WP seems to support that, so let's take a step back before bashing this deal and see it for what it really is:

Fletcher, 31, signed a five-year deal worth a maximum of around $25 million, sources said, but in reality the deal likely will amount to a three-year deal worth about $15 million given his age and the contract structure. Fletcher will receive approximately $10 million in bonuses. He was the Redskins' primary free agent target.