John Carroll University will have representation in both the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl as the National Football League stages its two signature events over the next two weeks.
According to published reports, former JCU All-American London Fletcher has been named to the first Pro Bowl of his 12-year NFL career. The starting middle linebacker for the Washington Redskins was initially selected as a first alternate, but made the roster thanks to a victory by the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, one of the two middle linebackers slated to play for the NFC, will play in the Super Bowl instead -- thus opening a spot for Fletcher.
It was a good weekend for Fletcher, as he also learned that he was one of three finalists for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This award is the only one in the NFL that recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced live on CBS before Super Bowl XLIV on February 7. Fletcher, along with Cleveland Brown Mike Furrey and Brian Waters of the Kansas City Chiefs, will be in South Florida during Super Bowl week and participate in a press conference on Friday, February 5, with the late Walter Payton’s family.
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Former Blue Streak and current Indianapolis Colts General manager Chris Polian
While John Carroll will not have any players in Super Bowl XLIV, two former Blue Streaks had a tremendous influence on shaping the roster for one of the participating teams. Chris Polian and Tom Telesco are both members of the Indianapolis Colts front office -- Polian serves as the Vice President and General Manager, Telesco as the team's Director of Player Personnel.
This will be the second time that Polian and Telesco have been part of a Super Bowl opportunity. Both Polian (a 1993 graduate of John Carroll) and Telesco (a 1995 JCU alum) were also part of the Colts administration in 2006, when Indianapolis defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.