Haynesworth is Tamperproof

Much ado about nothing say some scribes

At least one NFL pundit says not to worry about the tampering charges against the Redskins.  SI's Peter King says he doesn't expect the NFL to find the Skins guilty.

At issue is the $100-million contract the Skins gave to former Tennessee Titan (and ace driver) Albert Haynesworth.  The Titans say that Danny Boy Snyder prematurely spewed ink all over the contract and that he negotiated ahead of time with Fat Albert's agent.

The Flaming Thumbtacks and their coach, 'Stache Fisher, think that these pre-negotiations ruined any attempt they had at bringing the vehicular menace back to Nashville.

Their evidence? Danny's dinner with Albert's agent during the Combine. As PK puts it: 

"I believe much of the investigation will center on the very public displays of affection Washington owner Dan Snyder had with Haynesworth's agent, Chad Speck, in Indianapolis at the scouting combine. Snyder and Speck had dinner in full view of half the coaches and scouts in the city. You'd be naïve to think they weren't discussing Haynesworth."

This is par for the course, argues the National Football Post.

 "The Scouting Combine is now the NFL’s version of a convention for coaches and executives. Virtually all NFL coaches and executives show up in Indy, and the NFL Players Association holds its annual agent accreditation meetings at the same time. So all the agents are in the same spot, and all NFL executives are in the same spot — you make your own assumptions.... [M]embers of the mob always meet face to face in secure locations to avoid wiretapping and phone records being subpoenaed. Why do you think Tony from 'The Sopranos' kept meeting Uncle Junior at Dr. Sheck office? Because the feds can’t wiretap a doctor’s office."

Without direct evidence of what was said at that meeting -- both seem to argue -- the NFL's going to have a hard time convicting the Skins.

PK goes on to say that the biggest evidence is that the Titans had no way of offering as much as the Skins anyway.  So how were they harmed?

Even if the NFL finds the Skins guilty, it probably wouldn't hurt them.  If it's a fine, Snyder can root around in the seat cushions of his helicopter or yacht.  If it's a draft pick, well, ol' Vinny would've just squandered that anyway.

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