I was making the 3 hour trip down to FedEx this morning when word of London Fletcher's full frontal assault on Washington Redskins Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett, so I apologize for this only being put out now. Luckily the Redskins were handing out towels today for their "Tackle Diabetes" campaign. The white towels were such a perfect gift to fans today, and I was able to shield my son, who was seeing his first game, from Fletcher's burning hot take on Haslett, and the burning hot pile that was on the field today.
My son's first #Redskins game. The excitement was too much for him... pic.twitter.com/VGDskOyzYY
— Hunter Jennings (@HunterLoganX) December 7, 2014
London has been doing television work with CBS's That Other Pregame Show(TOPS) and today, along with Adam Schein, he released a lot of pent-up frustration about Haslett from the last few years. It wasn't pretty, and Fletcher is not sorry for anything that he had to say.
How does Haslett still have a job in Washington:
London Fletcher: Why does Jim Haslett still have his job as defensive coordinator after five years of ineptitude at the defensive coordinator position? He is clueless as a defensive coordinator. He lacks attention to detail. He lacks feel on how to call a game.
London changed plays at the line because they were terrible:
Some of the calls he used to call when I was playing were head scratching. They were so bad I used to change them - ‘We're not running that.' And we'd get off the field and he would ask, ‘Why did you change the call.' (I would say), ‘Because that's just a dumb call. That's why I changed it.'
Throwing Mike Shanahan under the bus:
For years he has always made excuses. One minute it was ‘We're changing from the 3-4 and we don't have the right personnel.' Next minute it is salary cap. Next minute it is Mike Shanahan. Next minute it is injuries. Mike Shanahan recognized early that this guy does not know what he is doing. And he tried to help him out... And what does Jim Haslett do? He threw (Shanahan) under the bus just like he throws everybody under the bus, players and coaches included. He is a guy that does not know what he is doing.
Warning to Jay Gruden:
And the Washington Redskins and Jay Gruden in particular better watch his back and get Jim Haslett out of the door... Jay Gruden better get him out of the door because he's probably back stabbing Jay Gruden like he did everybody else - like he did to Scott Linehan in St. Louis and like he did to Mike Shanahan in Washington...
Final nail in the coffin:
This is a guy that would take the '85 Bears and turn them into a mediocre defense. He is clueless. He has no idea what he is doing. Believe me, I had a front row seat for four years. It upsets me for guys that I played with, and I was in that meeting room, to get continue to get thrown under the bus.
(transcript courtesy of CBS Sports)
Fletcher caught some heat on twitter for his comments and he was not shy about standing behind them.
@dmshunt I guess I could've done it anonymous like everyone else or behind his back like him.
— NFL_IRONMAN (@LFletcher59) December 7, 2014
"@kcon72088: @LFletcher59 @dmshunt so in comparison to greg williams whos the better DC"...not in Gregg's league.
— NFL_IRONMAN (@LFletcher59) December 7, 2014
@thegreatmikehes @recordsANDradio @Russellmania980 can debate me if he wants, but be clear he doesn't know as much as I know good coaches
— NFL_IRONMAN (@LFletcher59) December 7, 2014
Even Jim Haslett's son confronted Fletcher on twitter:
@10JICH @Russellmania980 you're father has ruined plenty of people's career.
— NFL_IRONMAN (@LFletcher59) December 7, 2014
You can view a little more than two minutes of Fletcher tearing down Haslett here.
Of course Jim Haslett was asked about Fletcher's statements after today's shutout loss to the Rams.
Full Jim Haslett statement. A team spokesman intervened and said Haslett would not be taking questions. pic.twitter.com/tlDbh568qf
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) December 7, 2014