Under the Radar: London Fletcher Is the Ultimate Team Player

Two weeks ago, Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher faced yet another dilemma in the life an NFL player.

Should I play or should I sit?

He had sprained his left foot in his team’s Week 11 game against the Seahawks and had to make a decision as to whether he could withstand the agonizing pain he felt, every time he put his heel down on the ground.

Throughout his 11-year career, Fletcher has been "Mr. Reliable," starting 131 consecutive games.

At 5'10", he is one of the smallest players to ever play the linebacker position in professional football.

That diminutive stature has only pushed Fletcher to prove the doubters wrong over the years.

And wrong is exactly what they were, then and now.

I believe Fletcher is the Redskins most valuable player, and I will be glad to provide the facts to back up this opinion.

Here’s a little known fact, especially around the friendly confines of downtown DC.

In 1998, the St. Louis Rams picked up Fletcher out of John Carroll University after no team wanted him.

It is hard to fathom this, but Fletcher went undrafted, and had to start the campaign to prove his worth from day one.

His motivation was simple. 

I am going to show the so-called experts that I can do my job, and I can do it better than the bigger, more physical players.

Two years later, he led the Rams with 106 total tackles, recorded 5.5 sacks, and corralled four interceptions.

Oh and by the way, the Rams won the Super Bowl that season. 

The sports world had christened that team with the title “The Greatest Show on Turf.”

This was actually in reference to the Kurt Warner/Issac Bruce-led offense, which averaged an astounding 29 points per game.

Certainly, I will not argue the impressive stats that Warner and Company were able to amass through the air.

But without Fletcher, the Rams would have been a great offense, stuck in one-dimensional hell.

As the saying goes, defense and strong special teams win championships.

Since helping the Rams win the Super Bowl, he has maintained his consistent defensive presence.

In 2002, Fletcher signed with the Buffalo Bills. 

He was a team spokesperson for that squad, and again led his team in tackles with 498, in five seasons.

Just doing what he loved to do.

Current 'Skins’ defensive coordinator Greg Blache summed up Fletcher’s drive to be perfect in a recent article in the Washington Post.

“He gets so upset when he makes a mistake on something.  He is so hard on himself.”

That is why Fletcher has endured the numerous bumps and bruises every Sunday.

Having the goal to achieve perfection, means you are not going to let your team down.

Win or lose your heart is in doing everything you can to help your team be successful.

Blache admitted that he thought the undersized player was decent, but never on the level of Brian Urlacher, a behemoth middle linebacker,he coached in Chicago.

It was not until he came to Washington, did the importance of what Fletcher puts his body through, to make the tackle, start to sink in.

Most people in the NFL would be shocked to learn that he has the most tackles of any defensive player in the NFL in this decade.

In fact, his 1,211 tackles are 44 more than his closest competitor, Dallas’ Zach Thomas.

Urlacher and Baltimore Raven, Ray Lewis trail by 200 tackles respectively.

This season the story is the same.

Fletcher has 71 solo tackles, coming into the battle of the beltway, with the Balmer Ravens.

Originally a 1:00 start time was set for the game. 

Much to the delight of 'Skins fans lurking on the West Coast, the flex schedule implemented by the NFL this year, allows a game with playoff implications to replace one that has no significant importance.

For the 7-5 Redskins, they are definitely in this category. 

Losers of three out of their last four games, it is put up or shut up time for the burgundy and gold.

As of today, Fletcher is a game-time decision.

Not to worry, he knows his team needs him.

For better or for worse, look for No. 59 dressed and ready to do it up.