NFL

Albert Haynesworth Looks Like Another Expensive Redskins Mistake

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has a well-deserved reputation as a spendthrift. So it was no surprise last year when he signed free agent defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, an extremely talented but up-and-down player, to a massive contract. Just as unsurprising is that it now appears that Haynesworth, alas, is a colossal bust.

Currently, Haynesworth is skipping a Redskins minicamp and generally doing everything he can to force his way out of Washington (after just one season), but there’s been a rift between him and the team all offseason. According to Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, the Redskins were eve willing to let him go, on a condition he didn’t accept:

Coach Mike Shanahan revealed that the Redskins told Haynesworth in February that they would agree to release him and let him go to another team — in exchange for not paying him a $21 million bonus due April 1.

“Obviously, he took the check,” Shanahan said, “so I was surprised he wasn’t here today. … Don’t take our check and then say that, hey, you don’t want to be part of our organization.”

Shanahan’s not the only one (rightfully) upset with Haynesworth. Linebacker London Fletcher:

“Albert made a very selfish decision. When you decide to play a team sport, you have to look at it and think about everybody involved in the situation…It’s no different than his attitude and approach to last year’s defense, about wanting everything to revolve around him and him making plays. And if it didn’t benefit him, he wasn’t really willing to do it.”

Ouch. Eventually, the linked ESPN writeup becomes little more than a series of quotes from Redskins veterans ripping Haynesworth. Example:

Defensive end Phillip Daniels: “I think I speak for every guy on this team: We all feel like he turned his back on us.”

Center Casey Rabach: “It’s getting to be selfish. He’s hurting the team. It doesn’t sit well with the players. … You can’t really count on him right now.”

It’s actually sort of amazing how many bridges Haynesworth (who, again, is under a NINE-FIGURE CONTRACT) burned in less than 18 months. What will be more amazing is if he ever plays another game in a Redskins uniform. Shanahan clearly already wants no part of him – and he hasn’t even coached a game with the team yet.

And it doesn’t appear his teammates want anything to do with him, either. Even DeAngelo Hall, who offered a rare (but tepid) defense of Haynesworth, acknowledged that “we know Albert’s going to do what he wants to do.” Again: $100 million contract. And the Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon applauded Haynesworth’s actions, but only because Wilbon loves any stand taken against NFL teams’ offseason programs. Even Wilbon allowed that “it’s not an applause for Haynesworth specifically.” A rousing defense!

The most amazing thing, however, would be if Snyder actually learns from his mistake this time, tones down his pursuit of big-ticket free agents, and shifts his focus to building a team through more sound methods (i.e. the draft). We’re not counting on it.

Oh, and tomorrow is Haynesworth’s birthday, apparently. Think he’ll be flooded with well wishes from members of the Redskins organization?

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