Redskins linebacker joins Orakpo, Hall
London Fletcher waited 11 seasons to make his first Pro Bowl. He only waited one year for his second. Meanwhile, rookie Brian Orakpo is officially two for two.
Fletcher earned a Pro Bowl berth when Chicago’s Brian Urlacher withdrew from this weekend’s All-Star game, citing an injury suffered in the Bears’ 21-14 loss to Green Bay in Sunday’s NFC Championship game.
Orakpo knew a week ago that he would be in the game. As a first alternate he was assured of a spot because one of the two players ahead of him, Chicago’s Lance Briggs and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews, would have to miss because of the Super Bowl.
Orakpo, who posted a team-best 8? sacks this season, has made it to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons.
They’ll join corner DeAngelo Hall, who earned a bid in December. That gives Washington three players from the NFL’s 31st-ranked defense. That’s quite an achievement considering the Redskins only landed three defensive players in the Pro Bowl between 2004-08 — when it had much better defenses.
