[Saqwnht]

Here are arguments for:

More tackles than any other player from 2000-2009.
3 time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl Champion
14 seasons and counting
0 games lost due to injury

Arguments against:

Wasn't elected to Pro Bowl until 2009. Has only been in 3.

Tackle numbers impressive, but helped by incredible health.

[Cd9JfGHR]

No. Underrated, yes. Hall of Famer, no.

[pipitous]

Fletcher-Baker has been named a Probowl Alternate 11 times. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for his HOF case?

I like him but I don't think he's a HOFer.

[Saqwnht]

Fletcher-Baker has been named a Probowl Alternate 11 times. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for his HOF case?

I like him but I don't think he's a HOFer.

His first actual Pro-Bowl was made as an alternate as well, filling in for Vilma who didn't play due to being in the Super Bowl.

[Saqwnht]

Over the course of his career, how many linebackers have been as good or better than him?

I can only think of Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, and both have had lost or subpar seasons in there.

Fletcher has been consistently good, but I think his chances are hurt by his two most recent choices for teams. Had he played for teams that were factors, his public image would likely be much higher...

[pipitous]

Over the course of his career, how many linebackers have been as good or better than him?

I can only think of Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, and both have had lost or subpar seasons in there.

Fletcher has been consistently good, but I think his chances are hurt by his two most recent choices for teams. Had he played for teams that were factors, his public image would likely be much higher...

If he was playing for a contender, he may have never gotten the statistical numbers that he has -- although he did play well for the Rams when he was there.

[ssiikmuz]

Here are arguments for:

More tackles than any other player from 2000-2009.
3 time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl Champion
14 seasons and counting
0 games lost due to injury

Arguments against:

Wasn't elected to Pro Bowl until 2009. Has only been in 3.

Tackle numbers impressive, but helped by incredible health.

How is having such good health a knock on him? Thats a good thing.

For that matter what does Pro Bowl votes really mean to HOF voters anyway....perhaps a relative comparison tool between to players they are waffling on....at best.

Ultimately I think it helps to try and think like the guys who vote....five years after he retires....what will they think. Great player....great tackler....always healthy....but, meh.....not voting him in.

[avarberickibe]

My initial gut reaction is no.

From a bottom line, little to no analysis but gut feeling perspective, the guy does not have nearly enough street cred from the casual fan base to be considered.

[avarberickibe]

LT is a hof linebacker. Derrick Brooks is a hof linebacker.

London Fletcher?

[Saqwnht]

How is having such good health a knock on him? Thats a good thing.

For that matter what does Pro Bowl votes really mean to HOF voters anyway....perhaps a relative comparison tool between to players they are waffling on....at best.

Ultimately I think it helps to try and think like the guys who vote....five years after he retires....what will they think. Great player....great tackler....always healthy....but, meh.....not voting him in.

The health can be used to make an argument against his statistics...Like, yeah, he had a ton of tackles, but he played x many more games than anyone else..That type of thing.
Pro Bowl votes matter in that, for the Hall of Fame, they like to stack you up against the other players that were the best at that position during the same time frame...Not getting into Pro Bowls can be seen as him not being quite on that level.

[Saqwnht]

LT is a hof linebacker. Derrick Brooks is a hof linebacker.

London Fletcher?

Well, now bringing Derrick Brooks into the conversation, and anointing him as a Hall of Famer, can make for some interesting discussion.

Brooks played 14 seasons, had 1301 tackles, 25 interceptions, 24 forced fumbles, and 13.5 sacks. He played in and won one Super Bowl. He made 11 Pro Bowls.
Fletcher has played 14 seasons(and counting), has 1242 tackles, 18 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles, and 34 sacks. He played in two Super Bowls, and won 1. He's made 3 Pro Bowls.

What among those stats sets Brooks so far apart from Fletcher?
I'll also submit that, as an undrafted player, Fletcher's rookie season was almost exclusively spent on special teams, while first rounder Brooks was a starter from Day 1--so his real 14th year is this upcoming one. He'll likely surpass Brooks in tackles by quite a bit.

[Nubtoubrem]

Hall of fame is for stand out performers, I am not sure London Fletcher has been that type of player. Ray Lewis.... 1st ballot.... London Fletcher? Nah... Has Fletcher acheived what LT or lewis has?

[Saqwnht]

Hall of fame is for stand out performers, I am not sure London Fletcher has been that type of player. Ray Lewis.... 1st ballot.... London Fletcher? Nah... Has Fletcher acheived what LT or lewis has?

I don't think LT belongs in the conversation, really--Completely different type of player, at a completely different position.

[QzVyZbTg]

3 time pro bowl alternate who went to the game after others pulled out.

[QzVyZbTg]

You know, for every one of these I can name a Packer at the same position who should easily be in ahead of them.

This one: Dave Robinson

[Trientoriciom]

Fletcher-Baker has been named a Probowl Alternate 11 times. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for his HOF case?

It means that for his entire career at least 2 MLB in his own conference were considered better than him. Certainly not helping his HOF case at all. Fletcher is tackle compiler and not an impact player.

[Saqwnht]

It means that for his entire career at least 2 MLB in his own conference were considered better than him. Certainly not helping his HOF case at all. Fletcher is tackle compiler and not an impact player.

What makes an impact player?

[BenBoobmers]

Ray Lewis vs London Fletcher...
Career Stats
Tackles--RL=1,279/LF=1,546>>>Last Year=RL=95/LF=166
Sacks--RL=40/LF=34>>>>>>>>>Last Year=RL=2/LF=1.5
Forced fumbles--RL=16/LF=17>>Last Year=RL=2/LF=3
Pass deflections--RL=66/LF=62>Last Year=RL=7/LF=8
Super Bowls--RL=1/LF=1
Ray has been in the NFL 2 more years than London, and London didnt even start his rookie year. Not a Hall of Famer?? I dont Know about that.

[Nubtoubrem]

Ray Lewis was best player on a great defense for years... Fletcher is a good player on a shitty defense that's why his stats stand up. Lewis is Lead by example and Fletcher is more of a follower.

[pipitous]

Ray Lewis vs London Fletcher...
Career Stats
Tackles--RL=1,279/LF=1,546>>>Last Year=RL=95/LF=166
Sacks--RL=40/LF=34>>>>>>>>>Last Year=RL=2/LF=1.5
Forced fumbles--RL=16/LF=17>>Last Year=RL=2/LF=3
Pass deflections--RL=66/LF=62>Last Year=RL=7/LF=8
Super Bowls--RL=1/LF=1
Ray has been in the NFL 2 more years than London, and London didnt even start his rookie year. Not a Hall of Famer?? I dont Know about that.

You have the tackle numbers backwards. Plus, Ray Lewis has played 222 games compared to Fletcher-Baker's 224 (though RL has 221 starts and LFB has 208).