Without London

The Redskins have been extremely productive this off season, making blockbuster deals, and being very active at the start of free agency despite their salary cap limitations.  Fans have long waited for the Skins to take their aggressive off season mentality and combine that with SMART tactical moves, instead of blindly throwing money at players with big names.  However with all the moves the team has made what sticks out is one they haven’t made, re-signing London Fletcher.

                Many believe that it is inevitable that Fletcher re-signs with Washington, but some are beginning to worry.  With NFL free agency beginning 16 days ago the Redskins undisputed team captain, locker room leader, is still without a contract.  Being that Fletcher is an unrestricted free agent and has led the redskins in tackles every year since 2007, leading the entire league last year, he should be a hot commodity.  However, there have been no reports of the 36 year old, Fletcher negotiating or visiting with other teams; maybe that’s why fans seem confident he will return.  The question is, is that what’s best?

                Sure, Fletcher is a top producer on the field at this moment but every day that goes by marks another day that Fletcher is coming closer and closer to the end of his career which is normally preceded by a drop off in production.  Whenever a player exceeds a 10 year career in the league, leaning your franchise on the production of that player is like playing with fire.  Younger guys can recover from injuries quicker and easier, and can recover from a decline in production a bit easier, but an older guy it’s a different story.  Older guys bodies do not are not as resilient and heal slower, and when a guy is older especially a pro bowler, and the production drops off it normally indicates the player has reached the end of the line.  In either case with the older player the best solution is to replace him.

Stick with me here.  Fletcher has been the heart and soul of this Redskins team since the death of Sean Taylor, no question.  He wants to be compensated fairly for that and definitely should, but there are two problems; age and salary cap.  Tomorrow London Fletcher is the best fit for this Redskins team to start at middle linebacker, but what about the long term?  I’d assume Fletcher desires to have a contract of 3 years or more and be paid like one of the top middle linebackers in the game.  In 2009 Ray Lewis signed a 7 year, $50 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, he was 33.  I’m not assuming that Fletcher is seeking a contract that extends well into his 40’s but I do thing that in NFL age he’s at the end of the line. 

                So why not just wait for the drop off, if it does come just release him or bench him and then replace him?  That sounds good in theory not so much in likelihood.  The best ways to get an immediate replacement at a position is draft a first rounder or sign a big name guy on the market.  As I mentioned earlier the Redskins will be hamstrung by salary cap limitations for the next two seasons (as it stands now), and with the trade for the second pick of the draft the Redskins have forfeited their first round picks in the 2012 and 2013 draft.  So I think its best that they go into the next 2 seasons having most starters and absolutely having the cornerstones of the team locked up. 

Despite the intangibles that Fletcher brings sometimes it is best to let a guy go before he falls apart in your hands.  If the Colts can make a decision to replace Peyton Manning and the Packers can make a decision to replace Brett Favre, the Redskins cannot be afraid to decide it may be best for the future of the franchise to move on without Fletcher, though he may have more left in the tank.  In my opinion the team may be better off going after a younger guy like Seattle’s 26 year old, free agent linebacker, David Hawthorne.  Thoughts?