London Fletcher Has A Few Things To Get Off Of His Chest

Most people who watch professional football might recognize London Fletcher if they saw him.

He's the squatty, undersized middle linebacker, who had the misfortune of being the best defensive player on the St. Louis Rams during the "Greatest Show On Turf" years, so nobody much cared about London's stats if he wasn't scoring touchdowns. He moved onto the Bills in 2002, then was signed by Washington in 2007 where he still plays and led the league in tackles. He's never missed an NFL game that last 8 seasons, has above average stats, been an on-the-field leader, avoids controversy, and, for the most part, keeps his mouth shut. But he's never made a Pro Bowl and this year, he's not gonna take it anymore. Go London:

• "I don't know if it was because I wasn't a first-round draft pick, I don't do some kind of dance when I make a 10-yard tackle, I don't go out and get arrested," Fletcher said. "I believe in playing the game the way it's supposed to be played. You line up each and every week, each and every play, and you go out and get the job done."

• "You look at my body of work and I've done that for 11 years, but because I'm not going out causing a lot of controversy, holding a private meeting with the coordinator saying this, this and this, causing a lot of strife on my team, I don't garner a lot of attention."

• "My career has been Hall of Fame worthy. But some coaches and some players get caught up in the hype reading the newspapers or listening to some national TV game as opposed to watching the game with no sound. ... I put myself up against anybody playing the position, anybody."

• "I understand they can take only two middle linebackers, but to have it happen year after year after year after year after year. I'm an eight-time alternate. I'm the Susan Lucci of the NFL."

But after 19 tries, Susan Lucci finally won.

Maybe next year, London.

Washington Redskins Linebacker London Fletcher Lashes Out At Pro Bowl Snub [ESPN]