London Fletcher leaning towards playing in 2013 (updated)

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Was Tana in the discussion to replace a HOFer for his 2nd season?

The question isn't who will replace a HoFer, because only another HoFer could do that, and that is a ridiculously high standard.

The question is, "Can Robinson play at a reasonably high level in Fletch's spot?" In answer to this question, none of us can be 100% certain that he will. But none of us, including you, can be 100% certain that he won't. And no one should judge the answer based on one play.

[Gmanc711]

Originally Posted by Lotus

The question isn't who will replace a HoFer, because only another HoFer could do that, and that is a ridiculously high standard.

The question is, "Can Robinson play at a reasonably high level in Fletch's spot?" In answer to this question, none of us can be 100% certain that he will. But none of us, including you, can be 100% certain that he won't. And no one should judge the answer based on one play.

Furthermore, lets call a spade a spade, Fletcher was not playing at HOF status the last few years. He was an above average linebacker (looking specifically at his play). I'm not sure what Robinson is/isnt, but for me the worry isn't replacing Fletcher on the field. Its the locker room leader he is that is my bigger concern.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

At this point, ive moved on from Fletcher. He can still play at a high level, but given the salary cap penalty, the 4MM in cap room we'd save by cutting him is more valuable than he is.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Gmanc711

Furthermore, lets call a spade a spade, Fletcher was not playing at HOF status the last few years. He was an above average linebacker (looking specifically at his play). I'm not sure what Robinson is/isnt, but for me the worry isn't replacing Fletcher on the field. Its the locker room leader he is that is my bigger concern.

Well said.

[Chico23231]

London Fletcher having surgery today, planning comeback | ProFootballTalk

looks like he's coming back at a huge cap number

[mbedner3420]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

London Fletcher having surgery today, planning comeback | ProFootballTalk

looks like he's coming back at a huge cap number

We'll probably release and resign.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

London Fletcher having surgery today, planning comeback | ProFootballTalk

looks like he's coming back at a huge cap number

Looks like the SKins are going to cut him. I think Mike was hoping Fletch made the decision easy for him, but I really would be surprised if he stays on with that cap number.

[MTK]

I'd love to see Fletcher back, just not with his current cap #. They'll obviously have to work that out.

[InsaneBoost]

Even coming back he takes up close to a mil. Vet min (assuming he gets that) is 940,000. Yes, better than 3.4, but still a lot. Assuming he can stay healthy. Him getting surgery makes this better sounding to me than before, but I'm still iffy on it.

[CultBrennan59]

I think one major reason fletch is coming back to play this year is because he wouldn't want to be in the same hall of fame class as ray Lewis. He wants to be in a different year then him, plus he wants to prove mike he isn't retiring.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by CultBrennan59

I think one major reason fletch is coming back to play this year is because he wouldn't want to be in the same hall of fame class as ray Lewis. He wants to be in a different year then him, plus he wants to prove mike he isn't retiring.

I actually thought that the other day with what Shanny said, it was a challenge to Fletch to come back. Tell ya, these coaches know how to motivate

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

I actually thought that the other day with what Shanny said, it was a challenge to Fletch to come back. Tell ya, these coaches know how to motivate

Yeah I was thinking the same thing.

I can't see how anyone in the org. wouldn't want the guy back.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

I'm not the cap expert, but i dont see how cutting and re-signing Fletcher would work.

He's currently scheduled to make 6.2MM this year. If we cut him, we take a 2.8MM cap hit. So, unless Fletcher would be willing to come back for less than 3.4MM, it would be advantagous for the team to cut and resign him.

From Fletchers perspective, he's not having surgeries and planning to come back to make half of the 6.2MM he was scheduled to make this year. He certainly wouldnt be coming back to make the vet minimum.

Again, i just dont see cutting/resigning as a viable option. We either sacrifice other areas of the team and keep his contract as-is, restructure and push cap into future seasons (which would be stupid), or cut him and he plays somewhere else.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I'm not the cap expert, but i dont see how cutting and re-signing Fletcher would work.

He's currently scheduled to make 6.2MM this year. If we cut him, we take a 2.8MM cap hit. So, unless Fletcher would be willing to come back for less than 3.4MM, it would be advantagous for the team to cut and resign him.

From Fletchers perspective, he's not having surgeries and planning to come back to make half of the 6.2MM he was scheduled to make this year. He certainly wouldnt be coming back to make the vet minimum.

Again, i just dont see cutting/resigning as a viable option. We either sacrifice other areas of the team and keep his contract as-is, restructure and push cap into future seasons (which would be stupid), or cut him and he plays somewhere else.

By cutting him the net savings is about $3.4M. Then they can work out a new deal. They can just give him a new 2-3 year deal that's structured so it looks nice on paper, when in reality it will probably just be a one year deal.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I'm not the cap expert, but i dont see how cutting and re-signing Fletcher would work.

He's currently scheduled to make 6.2MM this year. If we cut him, we take a 2.8MM cap hit. So, unless Fletcher would be willing to come back for less than 3.4MM, it would be advantagous for the team to cut and resign him.

From Fletchers perspective, he's not having surgeries and planning to come back to make half of the 6.2MM he was scheduled to make this year. He certainly wouldnt be coming back to make the vet minimum.

Again, i just dont see cutting/resigning as a viable option. We either sacrifice other areas of the team and keep his contract as-is, restructure and push cap into future seasons (which would be stupid), or cut him and he plays somewhere else.

In a normal year pushing half his cap hit off would be stupid, but two things make this not a normal year, and why I think the Skins ought to gain maybe 4-5million in cap space by doing the following with LF and maybe 2 others.
First, next year we will not have an 18Mil albatross on our cap number, so as long as we are smart we shouldn't be in nearly the bad shape that this year finds us, and second, in 2015, the cap should go up significantly as the new TV money comes in. With those two factors, I would sign LF to a 3 year deal, the last year voidable, with a 4Mil signing bonus, and vet min next 2 years. That would pay LF about 5Mil this year, while making a cap hit of 2-2.25 mil this year, and either a 3 million next year or if you make him a Jun 1st cut next year (or he retires after Jun 1st) the numbers would be dead money, but in the very palatable 1-2mil per year. Again, not ideal but worth it to keep LF, save a little cap space and get out from under the penalty this year.

I know pushing money back has pitfalls, and should not be the normal mode, but this year I think the Skins should push 9 mil of the penalty through the next 2 years through use of deadcap and extended contracts.

If they can't well then at least this will be behind us after this year, and we can move forward to signing Griff to a 6 year 123 mill contract.