London Fletcher leaning towards playing in 2013 (updated)

I think you nailed the situation. At the end of the season, i felt for sure Fletch would be back, but given how well he seems to be doing on TV, i could understand him deciding to call it quits now. From our perspective, the cap penalty makes keeping him for one more year at 6MM just doesnt make much sense. If we were "close" to being a superbowl team, maybe... but we're not. It might be best for everyone involved if we part ways.

Given our cap situation, i think the team could have to make a choice between resigning Rob Jackson and Lorenzo Alexander for the next 3-4 years or keeping Fletcher for one more year. If thats the choice, its a no-brainer.

I think we are close. we've got the QB, all we need is some luck, BUT i don't see it this year with the cap hit and the secondary needing some work. If fletcher doesn't retire, he might end up cut anyways, so...

as for as Zo, i don't think locking up a 30 year old special teamer for 4 years would be the world's greatest move.

I think we are close. we've got the QB, all we need is some luck, BUT i don't see it this year with the cap hit and the secondary needing some work. If fletcher doesn't retire, he might end up cut anyways, so...

as for as Zo, i don't think locking up a 30 year old special teamer for 4 years would be the world's greatest move.

Don't forget he's a Pro Bowl special teamer.

Don't forget he's a Pro Bowl special teamer.

So basically you are saying you want to give a bunch of money to a back up role player who gets maybe 10 ST plays per game? Instead of putting that money toward shoring up porous secondary, or adding needed pieces to our Oline? Priorities.

They gotta let Zo walk if the money gets stupid, he is a good backup. He should get a raise. If Danny Smith convinces the Steelers to make a silly offer, we move on. I really doubt he gets much free agent interest though.

If London Fletcher Walks Away, He Has to Be Considered a Hall of Famer | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1549500-if-london-fletcher-walks-away-he-has-to-be-considered-a-hall-of-famer)

I'll read things on Bleacher I don't agree with one bit, and I'll read some things on Bleacher I completely agree with. This is something I completely agree with.

He'll be another Art Monk I bet. Because he wasn't loud and obnoxious on the field, he won't get the same treatment as say someone like, oh, Ray Lewis?

He'll be another Art Monk I bet. Because he wasn't loud and obnoxious on the field, he won't get the same treatment as say someone like, oh, Ray Lewis?

With Fletch it will have more to do with the fact that he played for mediocre teams (Bills/Redskins) rather than being "quiet".

I will say that looking at Fletch in the NFL Network last week, I can see him becoming a sports talking head after he retires.

I don't think shanahans comments necessarily reflect what London fletcher is actually thinking. I think Shanahan is just making an observation based on his experience with other players. I think he could also be putting that out there to pressure fletcher to make a decision by march 12th. We're about 4MM over the cap now and cutting fletcher would save us about 4MM.

It's funny how I agree with more posts during the off-season. It was Shanahan's comments, not Fletcher's, that could be read as negative. I'm not even sure Mike has historical evidence on his side. Favre started considering retirement half way through his career lol and still turned out some solid seasons. Ed Reed too, and he's still the best safety in football IMO.

I'd still like to think it's better than 50/50 London returns. Who's to say he's just watching what the FO/coaches do to help the defense during the off-season?

If he does retire, do we really have any linebackers on the roster who could effectively replace him? Or will we have to pick one up in the draft?

No, we don't. Perry Riley is above average but there's no other ILB that would start anywhere in the league. Zoe is better on the outside than the inside IMO. Robinson was real shaky in his few opportunities. Dez will own
Robinson for his entire career like Brandon Jacobs owned that goofball Landry.

If Fletch retires ILB immediately becomes our top off-season priority, and that's saying a lot given the situations at RT and FS.

LB core is one area I'm not worried about.

Even with these reports I feel like he will be back. I can't see him getting a little taste of what use to be & then giving up on another season. I think it's all smoke & mirrors.