Smoke Signals: Power Struggle @ Redskins Park

The Redskins can’t trade disgruntled DT Albert Haynesworth for cash, it violates NFL rules. [Such things are allowed in Major League Baseball, for example.] In other words, the Redskins can’t ameliorate their financial commitment to Haynesworth after paying $32 million for one year of work by getting some team to give them money in exchange for the rights to Haynesworth. However, my old law professor Andrew Brandt, writing at The National Football Post, notes that Clinton Portis could help solve the situation.

"

One way a trade of Haynesworth might possibly work now is if the Redskins – akin to trades in the NBA — find a team to dump another bad contract or two along with Haynesworth to ease their blow. The obvious candidate here is Clinton Portis, who has $6.43M of his $7.2M salary guaranteed for 2010.

In this scenario, the Redskins would be looking for a trade partner to take on Haynesworth’s deal and Portis’ deal to cushion the impact of the $32M paid to Haynesworth. Again, unlikely, but worth a shot.

"

Obviously, this would only work for a team that doesn’t mind spending money in this uncapped season, badly wants Haynesworth and has some kind of need, even if it is not pressing, at running back. The Titans don’t fit that bill since they’re obviously set at running back. The Lions might be a better fit.

Speaking of Haynesworth, the example of Jake Plummer might be a useful guide about what Shanahan is thinking right now. Plummer, then the starting quarterback for the Broncos, missed a number of voluntary offseason workouts with the team. The end result was that Plummer got benched in favor of rookie QB Jay Cutler.

Read full article at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2010/04/08/smoke-signals-power-struggle-redskins-park/