It apparently is true that once a player gets to the NFL Pro Bowl, it is easier to get there again. It is great that Washington Redskins standout middle linebacker London Fletcher is going to go to Hawaii again and it doesn’t matter to me that it is because Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has pulled out of the game due to an undisclosed injury. I say, the Fates (and yes, Fletcher’s play) made it so.
Even if Fletcher hadn’t had another good season – playing in all 16 games with 136 combined tackles, 87 solo and 49 assists, 2.5 sacks, 11 passes defended and one interception – he should go for the next five years just to make up for all the years he should have gone and didn’t. Not to take anything away from Urlacher, but Fletcher should have gone to the big game several times already. Look at his 2005 season when he logged 157 tackles, 104 of which were solo. And all of this is notwithstanding the fact that he has 208 consecutive starts in the NFL, tied with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Tampa Bay Bucs’ cornerback Ronde Barber.
What I don’t understand is why Redskins safety LaRon Landry was not even an alternate for the fun-in-the-sun game. Before he got hurt, Landry was having a great year. I’ve heard people say that (the alleged) nose tackle Albert Haynesworth was the best defensive player on the team. I disagree. LaRon Landry was a better player than Haynesworth this past season.
Second year linebacker Brian Orakpo and cornerback DeAngelo Hall are also going to Hawaii, Hall having been voted in as a first stringer and Orakpo going in place of Green Bay Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews. Matthews isn’t going because he’ll be a tad busy. Green Bay is, of course, playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Superbowl on February 6. That should be a good game.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
My son was born in Johnstown, PA; not too far from Pittsburgh. Because of that, I have a sentimental attachment to the Steelers. But I have hated those terrible towels ever since they took over FedexField last time the Steelers came to Washington (November 2008). You hear me? I’m not alone in this hatred.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The mantra of head coach Mike Shanahan this past season has been that the staff is “going to do what is in the best interest of the organization.” Apparently, the head coach traveling to Alabama to attend the Senior Bowl to scout possible draft picks isn’t part of the equation for what’s best for the team.
No problem. That’s why the Redskins employ people like Director of Player Personnel, Scott Campbell, and he will be there evaluating the young NFL prospects.
“The Senior Bowl tends to tell a little more because it’s coached by NFL coaching staffs and is run in a way we’re familiar with,” Campbell said according to redskins.com, “with the one-on-one type drills with an NFL staff coaching it. It’s catered to our needs and the best players come to that game. It’s going to be the best product from a college standpoint.”
General Manager Bruce Allen will reportedly be at the Senior Bowl. I guess that means that he isn’t just the Director of Pants and Alumni (joke!).
Even with the Head Coach/Executive Vice President (Shanahan) not being there, his “system” will undoubtedly be to make sure he has all kinds of game film and reports for every single coach on the Redskins’ staff to view before the draft. And Allen will come home from the game with either glowing praise - or the opposite - of players like the University of Washington’s quarterback Jake Locker and Colorado tackle Nate Solder.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
I am still bothered by the events that transpired with current Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb. Between his being benched in the last two minutes of the game against the Detroit Lions, the lack of sincere verbal support by the head coach and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan during the season and the subsequent demotion to third string quarterback during the last games of the season…. I just hope Shanahan and McNabb have had the necessary discussions to bring it to a point where McNabb can live with it. The quarterback has a lot of class and talent and I think he's gotten the raw end of the deal - at least from this perspective.
I hated to have to qualify my first statement about McNabb with the word “current.” The word of course indicating that we don’t know how long he is going to be in Washington. I can’t believe he would want to stay here with everything that has happened. One can’t help but wonder how much better he could have become in Kyle Shanahan’s system had he been given both more time and more players - like Malcolm Kelly (if he is who some think he could be) or say, San Diego’s 2011 free agent, Vincent Jackson.
I am not taking anything away from Washington wide outs Santana Moss or Anthony Armstrong. They both had good years… especially Moss. There is some public thinking that McNabb didn’t have enough weapons in his arsenal to have a great year but I don’t whole-heartedly agree with this. Moss is a great receiver and his lack of height is surpassed by his effort and talent. Just look at his stats for this year.
I just think McNabb could have done more than he was given a chance to do… but that’s just me.
Well… Hail to the Redskins!! Onward and upward!
No comments:
Post a Comment