London Fletcher News

So why isn't Gregg Williams the head coach of the Washington Redskins? That's the way it was supposed to be, right? Once Joe Gibbs retired, owner Dan Snyder would simply promote the fiery assistant who led the ...

Things were not going well. The thought was reinforced for Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell every time a Carolina Panthers defensive lineman flung him to the ground Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.

The preseason dress rehearsal the Redskins staged for their season opener, the first half of which the offensive and defensive starters planned to make a positive statement about their progress since the beginning of training camp under new coach Jim Zorn, went awry quickly and ended in an embarrassing 47-3 loss. And when the rout was completed, Campbell made another observation.

Everything bounced the Panthers' way in a 47-3 preseason rout of the Washington Redskins in front of 71,770 at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night.

Hoping to elude reporters the other day at Redskins Park, weak-side linebacker Rocky McIntosh devised a plan. As the team walked off the field after practice, McIntosh and linebacker Khary Campbell briefly disappeared behind a tent in which trainers tend to injured players.

McIntosh and Campbell switched jerseys (McIntosh wears No. 52 and Campbell has No. 50), and McIntosh reemerged on the right side of the tent and attempted to blend in with the crowd headed toward the locker room. Although some of McIntosh's pursuers were momentarily duped, Zack Bolno, the Redskins' executive director of communications, and reporters who cover the team daily were not fooled. Perhaps glasses and a fake nose and mustache would have worked better.

Jim Zorn's frustrated voice boomed across the Redskins Park practice field. "Run it again! Ones versus ones!" The Redskins' first-team offense and first-team hurried to line up on the field.

Knowing Vinny Cerrato, who watches a lot of ESPN, listens to Miserable Suburban Guy radio and pays close attention to what the masses think, it seems only natural to open up with an obvious one:

'So, how does it feel when you hear someone say, 'When are the Redskins going to get a real GM?' '

Cerrato pauses and thinks, reclining in his Ashburn office below a color-coded board of every NFL player's name and status. "I haven't heard it for a while," he finally says.

To be sure, he says he pays more attention to national news than the local yokels. Vinny has gone so far as to warn his mother to avoid certain URLs and Web links after she signs on the Internet in Florida and reads everything to catch up on her son's team.

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache praised the work of several Washington rookies in Sunday's preseason opener but also was quick to point out their flaws. Blache said he saw flashes of what he wanted from safety Chris Horton, defensive end Rob Jackson and cornerback Matteral Richardson, though plenty of mistakes shone through on the game film.

"Rookies are fine and dandy, and I'm glad to see them progressing," said Blache, an especially blunt coach. "But I don't fall in love with rookies. You're better to fall in love with a stripper than a rookie, because they'll break your heart. They really will. We will give them some time and let them prove themselves if they are worthy of it."

London Fletcher lined up in the middle of the Redskins' defense on Saturday night, staring across at his former Buffalo teammates.

The Redskins have ruled out a host of players for tomorrow's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, including several veterans who are being rested. Coach Jim Zorn will rely on primarily unproven talent to get through the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, unable to use about a dozen ailing players.

Zorn said starting tailback Clinton Portis, Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels, starting middle linebacker London Fletcher and newly acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor will not play, while the starters who do take part will do so for only a series or two on offense. The defense will rest most of its starters entirely.

RB: Clinton Portis Speed and power are only adequate. But few players in the NFL can match his heart.

Darrell Green, Art Monk and Joe Gibbs are the links to Washington's championship past.

Darrell Green, Art Monk and Joe Gibbs are the links to Washington's championship past.

Many of the Washington Redskins' veterans had the afternoon practices off Monday and Wednesday because all of the work concentrated on special teams.

Four players in yellow jerseys stood in a line at the conclusion of a Washington Redskins training camp practice, preparing to run sprints designed especially for quarterbacks.

By Andrew Astleford Tuesday, July 29, 2008; Page E05 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF 37 Days until the Redskins open the season against the Giants on Sept.

Chris Samuels turned 31 years old Monday, and his fellow offensive linemen wanted to give him a treat.

Last summer, London Fletcher was the new guy, leader-in-waiting on the Washington Redskins' defense, a middle linebacker about to make the team his own. His first training camp with the team was a time of observation and evaluation, reading personalities, gauging when to impose his will, and to what degree.

A year later Fletcher, 33, is without question one of the dominant figures in the Redskins' locker room, a respected leader, a voice that can command attention. His first season with the club was an unabashed success, restoring grit and consistency to the interior of the defense and helping lift the unit back into the NFL's top 10. Fletcher remained a resilient tackling machine; he has never missed a game, playing in 168 straight over 10 seasons, including the playoffs.

Redskins 360 Practice was pretty light this morning, and it was over by 9:45. Jim Zorn said he might have been a little overzealous in his planning when he orginally scheduled two practices today, but he ...

London Fletcher learned Jason Taylor would become his teammate when a news ticker scrolled across his television screen Sunday night.

First, the news revealed the Washington Redskins were interested in Taylor. It didn't take long before the scroll confirmed the team had acquired him. In the span of a few minutes, a day Coach Jim Zorn labeled a 'tragedy' was transformed by headline news.

'It created a lot of buzz,' said Fletcher, a linebacker. 'You don't often add a perennial Pro Bowl, all-pro player. I mean, this guy was the NFL defensive player of the year two years ago on a team that didn't do very well.'

London Fletcher heard the plea as he walked off the Washington Redskins practice field.