You’ve GOT to Be Kidding, Albert
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010In 2009 the Washington Redskins offered Albert Haynesworth a $100,000,000 contract. $100 million! What is he, a country? That deal has to put Haynesworth’s gross income higher than at least a few nations - nations that have less turmoil than Big Al does.
After signing the deal, Haynes(ain’t)worth said, “Yeah, I signed the contract and got paid a lot of money, but … that don’t mean I’m … a slave or whatever.” Whatever? I wonder how much the entire salaries of every person subjected to slavery amounted to.
Chronologically, he skipped (in)voluntary workouts - which most professionals do because they feel it helps the team from a bonding standpoint as well as a way to improve the squad. Then he skipped mandatory minicamp (think many slaves missed mandatory events their masters had scheduled?) and didn’t pass the conditioning test until the tenth day of training camp. An antonym for devoted might be Haynesworth.
Much, if not all, of his displeasure with the organization is the defense the coaching staff decided to employ wasn’t to Albert’s liking. Yet, he signed and deposited the $21 million bonus. For that much money, he should have felt obligated to play two positions. Heck, he’s certainly big enough. The Redskins weren’t asking him to play that spot because they wanted to embarrass him. Try as he might, Haynesworth couldn’t reason with his superiors (in title, if not salary).
There were continual disagreements which have escalated to the point the Redskins decided to suspend the big fellow - without pay. How dare they! Don’t think he won’t file a grievance. And don’t think the NFLPA won’t back him. What’s the purpose of a union if not to support one of its members who’s been terribly wronged.
When Chad Speck, Haynesworth’s agent (file this under “you’ve got to really make a fool of yourself for 4% of $100 million”) learned of the suspension, he, get this, chided the Redskins for not giving any prior formal notice that Haynesworth’s behavior was in question. He must have emailed that statement because he couldn’t have possibly said it with a straight face. Haynesworth recently said the Redskins “make up lies to try to make me look bad.” No worries, big guy, you’re doing a great job of that all by yourself.
The only quote necessary is one by Albert Haynesworth himself, on the day he signed the megadeal:
“You’re not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust.”