Sixteen years ago, in one of the more memorable drafts in league history, the Indianapolis Colts got their man in Peyton Manning, the San Diego Chargers swung and missed by taking Ryan Leaf and the Oakland Raiders took a no-brainer in Charles Woodson.
And those were just three of the first four picks.
On Wednesday, linebacker London Fletcher announced the 2013 season more than likely will be his last. Relive some of his best moments with highlight images of his stint with the Washington Redskins.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher makes a tackle on Cowboys tight end Jason Witten at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Linebacker London Fletcher breaks through Oakland's line and tackles running back Rashad Jennings in Oakland.
London Fletcher waits for the defensive play call vs. the San Diego Chargers at FedExField.
Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas gets tackled by Redskins linebacker London Fletcher in Denver.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher sacks Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford at FedExField.
London Fletcher meets with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning after the Redskins lost 45-21.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and safety Bacarri Rambo converge for a tackle on Eagles tight end Zach Ertz in Philadelphia.
Linebacker London Fletcher runs onto the field after his pregame introduction at FedExField.
London Fletcher stops the Giants running back from gaining any more yards in East Rutherford, N.J.
London Fletcher returns an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles.
London Fletcher intercepts a pass intended for Cowboys tight end Jason Witten at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner at FedExField.
London Fletcher just misses an interception during the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, MD.
London Fletcher walks onto FedExField during the pregame introductions.
London Fletcher celebrates with other defensive players after sacking Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in Arlington, Texas.
London Fletcher makes defensive calls pre-snap vs. the Falcons at FedExField.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher sacks Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Linebacker London Fletcher drags down a Bears running back at Solider Field.
London Fletcher returns an intercepted pass14 yards in the 2011 Pro Bowl.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher gets ready to make a play.
London Fletcher makes a diving tackle against a Steelers receiver at FedExField.
Linebacker London Fletcher makes a tackle against a Raiders player in Oakland.
London Fletcher attempts to break up a pass intended for Raiders tight end Zach Miller.
London Fletcher shoves Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin out of bounds in Philadelphia.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher stares down Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo at in Arlington, Texas.
Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher picks off a pass intended for a Cowboys receiver.
London Fletcher runs down Falcons running back Michael Turner in the Georgia Dome.
Linebacker London Fletcher gets set beforet the snap vs. the 49ers.
London Fletcher makes an open field tackle vs. an Eagles receiver at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher scoops up a fumble by Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb at FedExField.
London Fletcher tackles a Seahawks running back.
London Fletcher and the Redskins defense awaiting the play call against the Detroit Lions.
London Fletcher celebrates after a big defensive play vs. the Cleveland Browns.
Linebacker London Fletcher celebrates a Redskins win at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
London Fletcher gets pressure on Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo causing him to scramble.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher intercepts a pass intended for Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher returns an intercepted pass at FedExField vs. the Cardinals.
London Fletcher at Lambeau Field vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Redskins linebacker London Fletcher gets pressure on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb leading to a sack.
Washington Redskins linebacker tackles a New Orleans Saints tight end at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
London Fletcher, meanwhile, was just simply hoping to get a call over the next couple days.
You see, unlike Manning, Leaf and Woodson, Fletcher – the undersized linebacker out of little John Carroll University – wasn't invited to bring his family to Madison Square Garden in New York, the site of the 1998 draft. He didn't get the opportunity to hit the red carpet and mingle with the other top prospects. He wasn't able to take the stage and get his NFL Draft moment.
On Friday, however, Fletcher – pending any last-minute trades – will finally get that opportunity.
He has been selected by the Washington Redskins and general manager Bruce Allen to take to the stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York and announce the team's second-round (34th-overall) pick.
Fletcher, who went undrafted in 1998 and was eventually signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams, told Redskins.com this week that the moment will bring his football career full circle.
"It's going to be exciting," Fletcher said. "I'm looking forward to just being there – the energy, the excitement, hearing the crowd respond to the different picks and things like that. So I'm definitely looking forward to it."
Fletcher took his opportunity with the Rams – and later with the Buffalo Bills and Redskins – and morphed it into what the top picks like Manning and Woodson were able to do: play at an All-Pro, Hall-of-Fame level for more than a decade.
He finished his career with 1,796 tackles, 39 sacks, 75 passes defensed, 23 interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and 19 forced fumbles.
And, like Manning and Woodson, Fletcher also won a title, as a starter with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Fletcher said that although all college players with professional aspirations want to get that call during the draft, with hard work, there are other opportunities for those either drafted in the later rounds or not drafted at all.
Fletcher mentioned Redskins running back Alfred Morris (a sixth-round selection in 2012) and Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (who went undrafted in 2004) as recent gems found by teams.
"If you look at the NFL throughout history, there has been numerous guys who have gone undrafted that have gone and had long successful NFL careers, and even guys who get drafted in the latter rounds, whether it's fifth, sixth, seventh round," he said. "One of the benefits if you are not drafted is that you get the opportunity to maybe pick your team and the best situation that best suits you as far as making the team. You can kind of look at the roster depending on how bad a team wants you and kind of say, 'This is my best shot to make an NFL roster.'"
Fletcher has certainly kept busy since announcing he was stepping away from the game after a productive 16-year career – the last seven of which played with the Redskins.
He's been a frequent guest on a variety of football TV shows, has talked to the Navy football team, spent time in the Bahamas and in Cabo and completed a Carolina college campus tour with D.C.-area students via his London's Bridge Foundation.
"Oh, it's been great," Fletcher said. "My wife and my kids are loving me being home – although I … am traveling more, it seems like, now being retired – or 'transitioned' as I like to call it – since this offseason, so to speak."
As for the Redskins, Fletcher said there's a few areas he thinks the team can target in this weekend's draft to head into the 2014 season with a bolstered roster.
"Right tackle is one, inside linebacker obviously is another, maybe somewhere along the secondary – probably safety," Fletcher said. "I guess a lot of it depends on the teams picking ahead of them, and how the draft shakes out will determine whether they move down and still feel like they can get a player that they target."
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