If anyone deserves a hefty raise this offseason, it's LB Fletcher
"It's something I ask myself all the time," he said. "In my eight years as a starter in the NFL, there could have been four or five where I should have made it to the Pro Bowl and where I should've been a starter, in my opinion. But, for one reason or another, I haven't been recognized."
Well, then, let's start. Remember how I rattled off what he did last season? That was on the field. Off of it he was married one week after his mother died. Her burial was two days after the wedding. One day later, he attended minicamp. Two months later, his wife discovered she was pregnant. Then he lost his grandfather. Now this.
"2006 was eventful, to say the least," said Fletcher. "There were a lot of highs and lows."
One of the lows was a failure to gain a new contract from the Bills. The two sides negotiated before the season but failed to reach a settlement, and while that hurt Fletcher then, it might hurt the Bills more now. Fletcher is expected to gain a big check from another club and should join free-agent-to-be Nate Clements -- another productive starter for the Bills -- on the first plane out of town.
The knock on Fletcher, of course, is his age. As one GM told me, you probably have to take care of him in practice to make sure he still has his legs in December and January. OK, then, take care of them. Fletcher will take care of your defense.
A player personnel director mentioned that he was a little concerned about Fletcher's height (he's 5-feet-10), too, and how it might handicap him in coverage. All I know is that it didn't seem to handicap his ability to make interceptions last season.
"Obviously," said Fletcher, "I hope to accept a contract with multiple years that is reflective of a deal for an elite middle linebacker in the National Football League. I hope to get some stability. I hope the additional years at the end will allow me to walk away if I have a chance to; that will allow me to say after so many years that I gave and accomplished a lot. I have a strong belief in God, and I know I'll be taken care of."
He should be.
