A
couple of years ago — during his fact- finding travels to learn more information about the shoulder injuries that had cost him most of the 2010 season — Wiscon-
sin linebacker Chris Borland was introduced to Dr. James Andrews, the renown orthopedic surgeon. Besides his practice in Birmingham, Ala., An-
drews works with a number of college programs and serves as the senior consultant for the Wash- ington Redskins. Upon their first meeting, An- drews quickly sized up the 5-foot-11, 250-pound Borland and observed, "You look like London.'' Borland knew exactly what he meant. "Well, thank you,'' he said.
He took it as a compliment, and rightly so. London is London Fletcher, 37, the ageless middle linebacker with the Redskins. Fletcher
has never missed a game during his 14 years in the NFL and has a string of 179 consecutive starts, which also includes previous stops with the St. Louis Rams and the Buffalo Bills. Fletcher, like Borland, is an Ohio native; a prod-
uct of St. Joseph High School in Cleveland and John Carroll University in University Heights. Al- though he was an undrafted free agent, he has def- initely made his mark over the length of his career as the consummate pro and team leader. Fletcher has another defining characteristic: he's 5-10, 245 pounds. That was the physical connection that Andrews was making between Borland and Fletcher. "There are plenty of short guys who are getting it done,'' Borland said.
That is true — past and present.
32 » VARSITY SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
