A Roadblock In The Haynesworth-Eagles Union
Albert Haynesworth reportedly wants to come to Philadelphia. And for that reason alone, it probably won’t happen.
It would be his greatest chance to rise amongst the elite a final time. The 6-6, 335-pound tackle would be reunited with defensive line coach Jim Washburn and have a chance to play the type of ball that got him the seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins in the first place. Haynesworth is interested in attacking the quarterback; Washburn wants his linemen to do just that. Their final year together in Tennessee, such harmony resulted in 8½ sacks and three forced fumbles.
That is not how Washington wanted to do things. He was to have other responsibilities as the nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme. Instead of trying to adjust, the Tennessee product rebelled. He skipped offseason workouts. He failed conditioning tests. He asked to play on passing downs only. He was ultimately suspended for the last four games of the 2010 regular season for insubordination.
“Despite the club’s numerous attempts to persuade Albert Haynesworth to abide by the terms of his contract, he has repeatedly refused to cooperate with our coaching staff in a variety of ways over an extended period of time,” head coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement. “Among other things, he has consistently indicated to our defensive coaches that he refuses to play in our base defense or on first-down or second-down nickel situations. He has also refused to follow the instructions of our coaches both during weekly practices and during actual games as well.”
It was a disastrous pairing from the jump, and will surely come to an end in the very near future.
Haynesworth‘s contract will pay him a guaranteed $5.4 million this season. That is reason enough for the Redskins to exhaust all trade options before cutting him loose. And there is apparently extra motivation to go in that direction as well.
“They are not going to cut him,” said one source with knowledge of the situation. “If the Eagles or anyone else wants him it is going to have to be by trade. Because if they cut him, that’s giving him his way.”
And if the Redskins are not interested in giving the 30-year-old Haynesworth his way, why would they trade him to his preferred destination? Especially when that destination is in the NFC East?
With very little leverage left, the asking price for Haynesworth should be fairly reasonable. The Redskins were apparently seeking a minimum of a second-round pick in return last season, but would have to be much more flexible now if they hope to move him before the start of the season.
The team acquiring his services, after all, is taking on some heavy risk. Besides a bloated salary and a questionable commitment to team goals, Haynesworth has also had his fair share of run-ins with the law. His trial for a misdemeanor sexual assault charge in the D.C. area is set to begin on July 11.
For all the drama that can come with the talent, Haynesworth doesn’t necessarily carry the label of being a “bad locker room guy.”
“He kept to himself a little bit,” said Mike Jones, Redskins beat writer for The Washington Post. “He wasn’t a guy that was vocally disruptive or anything like that. Even the Redskins said he wasn’t a distraction in that way.”
It was his actions that ultimately put him out of favor.
If the baggage proves too heavy to sell, it seems the Redskins would then reluctantly release Haynesworth in the name of moving on. At that point, the Eagles would have as good a shot as any at landing the 10-year vet.
But what Haynesworth would they be landing? Or is there even more than one Haynesworth?
“With this guy, you don’t know,” said Jones. “If he is on and focused and hungry, then they can get one of the most destructive defensive linemen out there. It’s just that he’s so unreliable.”
Comments