Jason Shaw
By Zach Hart Shades of Red D.C With his contract running up at the end of this season, we have all guessed that it would be his last. London Fletcher has stated that he is "99 percent certain" he will retire from the NFL at the end of this season. As a diehard fan of the Redskins, I consider myself lucky to have watched #59 play the linebacker position for the Skins since 2007. His presence, preparation and intensity on the field will be missed.
Fletcher, who was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie out of John Carroll University, has earned more money ($53,611,000) then any other undrafted player in the history of the NFL. He is the leagues current "Iron Man" with 254 consecutive starts and barring injury he should finish his career with 256. Fletcher has played a total of 16 seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins. There are two games to be played, but for his career, the four time Pro-Bowler has accumulated 1,380 tackles, 20 forced fumbles, 23 interceptions 95 passes defended and 39.5 sacks. He also helped the Rams to a win against the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Fletcher embodies the definition of leadership on and off the field. After Robert Griffin III was drafted, the team placed his locker right beside London Fletcher's hoping he would help the young quarterback become a leader. In 2012, Fletcher was the NFL's Bart Starr award winner. The award is given to the athlete who displays the greatest character and leadership. Fletcher is very active in charitable work, and in 2003, he started the "London's Bridge Foundation" which provides mentoring to youths. The Nonprofit organization helps youths to build standards of education, leadership, teamwork and recreation.
Here's some of what London Fletcher has had to say about his retirement from the NFL:
"I want to do some other things in life," Fletcher said. "For probably the last four or five years I've always thought about retiring and what do I want to do. But for me, at least, in order to at the level I've been able to do it, it takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice, just time spent training and meeting and watching extra film and all things I've been able to do. And I enjoyed doing it, but I missed a lot of other parts of my life."
"Obviously everyone wants to go out like
Ray Lewis with the Super Bowl parade," Fletcher said. "That would be a great way to go out. But it wasn't in the cards for me, if this is it. But it's more again about trying to leave a legacy and putting some seeds in place and hopefully they'll grow ... and a year down the road I can be proud of this organization. That's how I really look at it."
Fletcher goes on to talk about his being the current NFL Iron Man.
"That's a part of my legacy," Fletcher said. "The way I approached it is to go about my business, being accountable and not wanting to let my teammates down, and coaching staff, and always wanting to be there for them and know they can count on me. "I'm sure the consecutive games is part of my legacy, but as time goes past you will be able to see what type of player I was as well."
The last game the Redskins played at FedEx field was quite an embarrassment when the Kansas City Chiefs dealt them a 45-10 loss. This Sunday's rivalry game against the Dallas Cowboys will most likely be Fletcher's last home game of his career.
"There aren't many times on a field where I felt embarrassed, as a team, as a player," Fletcher said. "What we put on display against Kansas City hurt me to my core. I want our fans to be riled up. I want it to be a special occasion. I want us to get a win. I want to leave with great memories."
After last years great season the Redskins are a horrific 3-11. If there is anything to fire this team up for this weekend's game, it should be to get a victory for the guy who has been on a roller coaster since he signed with the Redskins. He has been the one guy the fans could rely on to show up on Sunday no matter who the coach or quarterback was. I speak for all the Washington Redskins fans when I say "thank you" to London Fletcher, #59, for being a true professional through the good and the bad and giving us something to look forward to every game day since 2007. I'm sure the fans will have no problem getting pumped for your last home game against the Dallas Cowboys. We wish you the absolute best in your retirement!
Zach Hart, Brian Smith and William Facciolo are Shades of Red D.C., a group of local fans who have fun analyzing their favorite pro sports teams in the DC area. Catch them on Facebook and on their blog.
