Albert Haynesworth can tell you firsthand that money cannot buy happiness.
Last year, the Redskins gave Haynewsorth a lot of cash to push opposing players around. But, so far during his brief stay in Washington, the massive lineman has only muscled his own team. And now it looks like that stay could be a lot shorter than expected.
The team opens up its mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, and there will be a 6-foot-6, 350-pound hole there.
Haynesworth is skipping the mandatory camp, just like he did with the previous two voluntary camps. He does not appear to be interested in working things out. His agent told the Washington Post that his client wants to be traded. The Redskins’ highest paid player is unhappy about the direction of the team.
New coach Mike Shanahan is switching to a different defensive scheme, using three linemen instead of four. That could subject Haynesworth to more double teams, and he feels it would make him less of a force on the field.
Haynesworth released this statement:
“When I signed here after meeting all day with the staff and top executives, and talked about the defense that we would run and what my role would be, I was assured I would have the freedom to play to my strengths and I was excited about the future…It’s also important at my position to help free my teammates to make plays, which I've done throughout my career when I've been allowed to play to my strengths. I will continue to work individually to prepare for training camp and the start of the 2010 season.”
Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins last offseason. That included a guaranteed $41 million.
He struggled through his one season with the team, notching only four sacks. He had 8 1/2 in his previous season with the Titans.
Despite the struggles -- and his constant collapsing on the field in pain -- Haynesworth wants out. And there are a few of his peers who would love to take his spot for a lot less than $100 million. Take Darnell Dockett, for example, who posted this on Twitter:
"That's why I tell yall I'm nothing like these dudes, for a 100million my [butt] will play 4-3, 3-4, 5-9, 4-8, and still whip [butt]! #PAYMEless"
Dockett, if you're wondering, is under contract until 2011 with the Arizona Cardinals, although he, too, has grumbled about wanting a shiny new contract worth lots of money.
