Albert Haynesworth
In all likelihood, we’ve seen the last of Albert Haynesworth in a Washington Redskins uniform.
According to the Redskins’ official site, the Redskins have suspended Haynesworth without pay for the final four games of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. Haynesworth is expected to appeal the suspension, meaning this isn’t totally official just yet.
Haynesworth’s actions over the past weekend were probably the straw that broke the camel’s back between him and the team. He reportedly missed a team meeting last Friday and vowed to general manager Bruce Allen that he would not speak to coach Mike Shanahan.
The $100 million man was then made inactive for Week 13 as the Redskins chose to do battle against the Giants without him.
This is far from the first issue between both parties. For seemingly his entire stay in Washington, Haynesworth has lamented how much he doesn’t like playing there, for Shanahan, in the team’s base 3-4 defense. You can go back to minicamp when he was fined for missing practices and workouts; the dedication was just not there.
Even Shanahan realizes this situation is not one that’s going to get fixed any time soon.
“The situation has reached the point where the club clearly has no alternative.”
Known to have bad attitude at times, Haynesworth’s reputation clearly followed him to the Redskins. Although he certainly got the contract he was looking for (and then some), his play on the field hasn’t justified his salary. In eight games this season, he has just 2.5 sacks.
There’s almost a guarantee that another team will take a chance on him next offseason when Washington finally cuts bait, but either at a reduced contract or on a very short leash. No team will make the mistake that the ‘Skins did by rewarding him and then letting become a cancer to the team.
We’ll be sure to have an update on this situation when more news surfaces.
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