London Fletcher starts another year. Which means he’ll probably have a good one. Which means he’ll hear more talk of the Pro Bowl. Which means he’ll end up not going.
That’s the way it’s been for Fletcher, entering his 11th season. Just don’t expect him to ever think he doesn’t belong in the conversation of top middle linebackers.
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“My play speaks for itself,” Fletcher said. “I don’t put any middle linebacker ahead of me. I’ll match myself against any of them; bring on all takers. I don’t think any of them play better than me.”
Fletcher, though, is the unquestioned leader of the defense. It’s a main reason Washington signed him before last season. He responded with 164 tackles, serving as a coach on the field and spokesman in the locker room.
New coach Jim Zorn quickly saw what others before him have known.
“He has this knack of turning this grit on,” Zorn said. “He just pulls everybody up with him.”
Fletcher has evolved as a linebacker because he continues to learn. He’s focused on footwork and hand placement during camp.
But, at some point, Fletcher would like to be recognized with a trip to Hawaii. He’s also bracing for never reaching the Pro Bowl.
“I would hope it doesn’t go that way, but it may,” he said. “It’ll be a disappointment to me, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world. There have been numerous occasions where I deserved to be making the trip. I’m not comfortable going out and trying to promote myself. I shouldn’t have to do that.”
Others share his disappointment, and puzzlement.
“London’s a great player,” corner Shawn Springs said. “Just because he isn’t called a Pro Bowler doesn’t mean he gets less respect. That’s what it’s about and he gets it.”
