Quote:
Originally Posted by NC_Skins
I keep seeing the phrases "No price is too much for Fletcher" or "he's worth a huge contract" and "What's he's done for the past 5 years" (my personal favorite) mentioned in this thread but none of you are logical about it.
First off, you have to remember this is a business. Second, you have to remember there is only a certain amount of resources a team can tie up on salaries.
Ok, once you grasp those two concepts, then you'll understand that paying a 37 year old linebacker huge sums of money isn't smart. I don't care if he is the leader of a team. I don't care if he is the face of the franchise. I don't care if he did lead the NFL in tackles. It's not what he has done, it's what he will do. I think history shows us quite well that 37+ linebackers really aren't going to produce at the level that they did 5 years ago. Do you actually think that Fletcher can cover RBs/TEs like he did 5 years ago? Not sure what team you were watching last year, but I recall Fletcher slow to a many of plays and it wasn't because of lack of effort or heart. It's his age, his speed and it sure isn't going to get better over the course of the next year. A 37 year old isn't going to beat a 23 year old RB on the edge. A 37 year old isn't going to keep up with a Gronkowski.
I understand you guys are huge fans of him and so am I. There isn't a person on this team that has been more valuable to this franchise than Fletcher. That doesn't mean you just throw tons of cash at him because of what he's meant to us. He got paid rewarding during his time here and will so on this next contract.
You think Fletcher meant more to our team than Peyton Manning meant to the Colts? They made a business decision (smart one) and so did we by not overpaying Fletcher. I'm very satisfied with the numbers that he signed for and think it's funny he could have gotten more had he not fired his agent. Talk about a huge backfire.
Let's put away all this talk about "hobbled" linebacker and raise our mugs to welcome a man back who's put it all on the line for this team even though many others haven't.
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Great post. I'm hoping they draft his replacement... and that person, whomever he is gets on the field this year. So when Fletch hangs it up we'll have someone ready.