WP: Haynesworth may want to get out, but will he pay back money to do so?

[Oldskool]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/albert-haynesworth/haynesworth-may-want-to-get-ou.html#more

Speculation has increased in the past few days that Albert Haynesworth might be willing to pay back part of the recent $21 million bonus he received in an effort to help facilitate his exit from Washington, which two people in the organization said he would welcome because of Coach Mike Shanahan's plans to use him as a nose tackle in the team's new 3-4 scheme.

After about 15 years covering major beats, I've learned never to say never, because anything can happen with the size of the egos and money involved in professional sports. But I do not envision Haynesworth repaying any money to the Redskins, who are as eager to send him elsewhere as he is to leave, the sources said.

In one-on-one interviews with Haynesworth during last season, he made it clear to me how proud he was of the record $100 million contract -- that included a then-record $41 million in guaranteed money -- he received from owner Daniel Snyder only hours after the free-agent market opened in February 2009. It wasn't just about the money, Haynesworth told me, it was that Snyder showed confidence in bringing him to Washington, he believed, to play in a 4-3 defense in the same aggressive manner that helped him become a two-time all-pro for the Tennessee Titans. Haynesworth reveled in the status of being the game's highest-paid defensive player, he said, and he believed he earned the contract, which has paid him $32 million in its first 14 months.

Also, if Haynesworth were willing to give back money, why not just come to some agreement with the Redskins before the $21 million was due? With the contract now relatively affordable for every team (he's guaranteed another $9 million and the base salaries average a little more than $5.23 million the next three seasons), Haynesworth likely would have been traded already if another team would not have been on the hook for the bonus on April 1.

Haynesworth has raised Shanahan's ire with everything he has done since Shanahan officially took control of the football operation, including informing Shanahan and Haslett he would rather not play nose tackle and training on his own instead of participating in the voluntary conditioning program at Redskins Park. And if Haynesworth, as expected, does not report for next weekend's voluntary three-day minicamp at Redskins Park (which is very mandatory in Shanahan's mind), it seems the situation would only escalate.

If Haynesworth is not traded by the draft, he'll probably be with the Redskins for the season. My understanding is he definitely would prefer to leave -- but I don't expect him to pay the Redskins to do so.

[MrJL]

I hope something gets worked out. Forget him paying back the money If he doesn't want to be here get something valuable on the field for him.

[moondog]

I want him here. As a playmaker at DE next to Ma'ake and as a penetrating NT on passing downs that creates havoc. He's still one of the best in the game and he is also one of the hungriest and nastiest players in the league when he walks out there. People around here have been begging for a guy that brings attitude to our defense for a while. He brings that. Remember Atlanta? Everyone on our team was gonna let DHall get killed, Haynesworth went over there ready to go to war for his teammate. I'm pretty sure it was NY when some of our defensive guys got into it with Jacobs and a few others. Who ran in and threw them off our guys? Haynesworth.

On the field production was impressive as hell too. How many goalline stands or short yardage situations did he absolutely stuff? He gets to the quarterback more than any DT we've had in a while and that was in an ultra conservative Greg Blache scheme. Also keep in mind we were always playing from behind and other teams just ran the ball. My best is he comes in in great shape ready to roll. I hate him missing/skipping right now. It pisses me off. I hated seeing him act hurt last year. But the fact is he played a higher percentage of snaps than any of our other tackles and one of the highest percentages in the league. And every snap he's in there he WANTS to tear somebody's head off. I want that kind of player with that kind of talent on our team.

He's proud of his contract and wants to prove to everyone last year was a fluke and he's capable of much more. That's why he's back with the guy he thinks can get him back to that level. I think he wants to have a coming out party this year.

[HigSkin]

Also, if Haynesworth were willing to give back money, why not just come to some agreement with the Redskins before the $21 million was due? With the contract now relatively affordable for every team (he's guaranteed another $9 million and the base salaries average a little more than $5.23 million the next three seasons), Haynesworth likely would have been traded already if another team would not have been on the hook for the bonus on April 1.

Perhaps Shanny said we're going to pay you that bonus but you're going to play you where we want you to play.

[Hitman#21]

I think hes gonna stay i really think this just shanny playing mind games.

[MrJL]

I think hes gonna stay i really think this just shanny playing mind games.


not good to play mind games with your own players

[Mr. Sinister]

Whatever happens, I hope this **** gets put to bed before minicamp. The players have probably had about enough of these distractions, especially after last years debacle

[IHOPSkins]

not good to play mind games with your own playersI would disagree with this

I am not saying this (if true) will work or not....But

Motivating Players is "Playing Mind Games"...and IMHO Good Coach's do it ALOT

Plus

Its not just about its affect on Mr. Butterworth

[Hitman#21]

not good to play mind games with your own players

Sometimes it is..

[skinsallday2130]

I want him here. As a playmaker at DE next to Ma'ake and as a penetrating NT on passing downs that creates havoc. He's still one of the best in the game and he is also one of the hungriest and nastiest players in the league when he walks out there. People around here have been begging for a guy that brings attitude to our defense for a while. He brings that. Remember Atlanta? Everyone on our team was gonna let DHall get killed, Haynesworth went over there ready to go to war for his teammate. I'm pretty sure it was NY when some of our defensive guys got into it with Jacobs and a few others. Who ran in and threw them off our guys? Haynesworth.

On the field production was impressive as hell too. How many goalline stands or short yardage situations did he absolutely stuff? He gets to the quarterback more than any DT we've had in a while and that was in an ultra conservative Greg Blache scheme. Also keep in mind we were always playing from behind and other teams just ran the ball. My best is he comes in in great shape ready to roll. I hate him missing/skipping right now. It pisses me off. I hated seeing him act hurt last year. But the fact is he played a higher percentage of snaps than any of our other tackles and one of the highest percentages in the league. And every snap he's in there he WANTS to tear somebody's head off. I want that kind of player with that kind of talent on our team.

He's proud of his contract and wants to prove to everyone last year was a fluke and he's capable of much more. That's why he's back with the guy he thinks can get him back to that level. I think he wants to have a coming out party this year.

this is one of my favorite post this offseason. I am so tired of people ready to send him off. He is such a phenomenal talent. I agree we all hate that hes not training with the team but he is doing what he feels is best and yes he may be stubborn but he his a hell of a talent. I am comfortable with him missing VOLUNTARY workouts if he is still making huge plays for us on defense. he must be doing something right.

[Englands Team]

If AH goes it will be totally an atitude thing. Talent wise we can't afford to dispose of him.

The coaching staff can quite simply use his talents. I can se us running a mix and match 3-4 and 4-3 next year depending on the situation. There is no reason why he can't play end in the 3-4 set.

He is now very affordable to us for what he provides. However if the downside of his character in the locker room, is worse than his upside on the playing field he must go.

If we can't get fair value for him, or he himself will not pay back money to facilitate a trade then we keep him and deactivate him.

The soccer equivalent of rotting in the reserves.

[S.T.real,lights,out]

I was set on only moving him for a 1st but im getting to the point where i would be fine with a mid-2nd and maybe a player for him. DOnt want him if he doesn't want to be here. Plus it would send a huge message to the team.

[TK]

Speculation has increased in the past few days that Albert Haynesworth might be willing to pay back part of the recent $21 million bonus he received in an effort to help facilitate his exit from Washington, which two people in the organization said he would welcome because of Coach Mike Shanahan's plans to use him as a nose tackle in the team's new 3-4 scheme.
Jebus. It's looking like we have another 'Simple Jason' running around here.:doh:

We signed Kemo.

Kemo isn't fully recovered & hasn't passed a physical yet. Which means he can't play, let alone be listed as a starter. We he can, that will move him into the NT slot & kick Al back out to the DE slot.

Notice how you haven't seen any mention of anyone being listed a RDE when the media wants to blab about Al at NT. :doh:

[KDawg]

If AH goes it will be totally an atitude thing.

Agreed.


Talent wise we can't afford to dispose of him.


Agreed.

Haynesworth being traded means he was detrimental to the team. Shanahan knows he's too good to trade for any other reason. But if the guy is messing with team chemistry... Adios.

[pray4surf]

I hope we don't trade him, let him get pissed.

Set him loose against our oppenents and pray their chin straps are on tight.

[KDawg]

I hope we don't trade him, let him get pissed.

Set him loose against our oppenents and pray their chin straps are on tight.

It doesn't usually work that way. When players get pissed at their teams, typically they really bring the team atmosphere down and morale down. That's an extremely detrimental thing/person to have on a roster.

This is, of course, assuming any of this is actually true.

[bedlamVR]

Jebus. It's looking like we have another 'Simple Jason' running around here.:doh:

We signed Kemo.

Kemo isn't fully recovered & hasn't passed a physical yet. Which means he can't play, let alone be listed as a starter. We he can, that will move him into the NT slot & kick Al back out to the DE slot.

Notice how you haven't seen any mention of anyone being listed a RDE when the media wants to blab about Al at NT. :doh:

I have a question . Has anyone given thought of what will happen to Montogomery and Golsten . With Kemo pencilled in at starter then I would think we have some wide boys who could be decent depth/rotation ...

My only concern is the coaching staff don't have great combined reputations for developing defensive talent .... which is a little scary ..

[Romberjo]

1) Unless we get a particularly good offer in the short term, I don't think it makes sense for us to trade Haynesworth until we see how Kemo's injury progresses. If Kemo's not going to be ready to start the season, we very likely need Haynesworth. If Kemo is ready, then a) Haynesworth would play end, so that might shut him up, and b) he's much more expendable for us. I would rather have a 1st next year than a 2d this year, so I'd be happy for us to trade him after this year's draft.

2) Something that almost all the analysts are missing in discussing the situation is that we should be able to get tremendous value for Haynesworth because his salary is unbelievably low for the next three years (b/c we've already paid so much that was front-loaded). I've been trying to figure out for years ways for Snyder to use his deep pockets to "buy" draft picks--and with the uncapped year, this is the way to do it. We pay off tens of millions this year that disappears into the uncapped year sinkhole, then have a player, contractually bound for a few years at a very low price, whom we can trade. Essentially, we're trading $ for a pick.