Albert Haynesworth: 7 Reasons No Team Should Trade Picks for the Redskins DT

The Washington Redskins have made a lot of offseason mistakes in the last decade or so, but none bigger than the signing of Albert Haynesworth in 2009. He was billed as the best defensive lineman in the NFL, and was going to get a huge contract no matter the buyer.

Haynesworth has since become the biggest free agent bust in team history, both in terms of production and the overall headache he has caused in his two short seasons with the Redskins.

The current NFL lockout prevents the Redskins from doing anything with Haynesworth, but their options are limited regardless of the labor situation.

The team may want to trade him in an effort to squeeze some value out of the sad situation, but the last two seasons have decimated any chance of that happening.

Here are some of the reasons why no teams should waste any draft picks in a trade for Haynesworth.

7) Character Issues and Troubles off the Field

The NFL has its fair share of players with bad attitudes or personal problems, but Haynesworth has done some unsavory things during his time in the league. Nobody is perfect, on or off the field, but a certain level of control is expected from an adult.

Disregard that he is a professional athlete, Haynesworth has done things no one should ever do.

In 2006, he stomped on Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode's head after Gurode had lost his helmet. He was ejected from the game and suspended for five games for the incident.

In 2009, Haynesworth was indicted on two misdemeanor traffic charges stemming from an incident where he was driving in excess of 100 mph in his Ferrari when he collided with another driver.

Just this year, Haynesworth allegedly threw a punch at a fellow driver during a traffic altercation, and he was charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse for allegedly fondling a waitress.

What team would trade for Haynesworth and his growing list of problems?

6) Zero Coachability

Haynesworth has played under a different defensive coordinator in each of his two seasons with the Redskins, and in both cases he has found something to complain about.

He wasn't happy with the way he was used in Greg Blache's 4-3 defense and made no effort to adjust to Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense.

Hall of Fame players don't whine to the media about their situation, or at least they don't whine and then loaf on the field.

After a 45-12 loss to the Giants, Haynesworth said in an interview with Jason Reid and Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post that he "survive another season in this system if it stays the way it is." This, after he was sent home by coach Jim Zorn for disciplinary reasons.

Haynesworth mentioned lacking the freedom to "create havoc" but never once took any responsibility for failing to meet expectations, however astronomically high they may have been set.

5) Contract Too Big

Everything boils down to the $100 million attached to Haynesworth. Trading for Haynesworth is a terrible investment no matter how productive he may or may not be with another team. If he turns in a season with 40 tackles and five sacks, does that validate his massive contract?

Unless Haynesworth somehow produces double-digit sacks, with multiple fumble recoveries, an interception a safety and a touchdown, he will never worth the $100 million the Redskins felt necessary to sign him to in 2009.

What if he does recapture his former glory, but gets into deeper trouble off the field? What if he doesn't like the way a coach looked at him during a team meeting? What if he flat-out doesn't feel like playing because he's already getting paid?

He has never played a full 16 games, he's been suspended, benched and deactivated for various reasons, and he's coming off the two worst seasons of his career. No team wants to inherit another's problems, and they certainly don't want to give up draft picks in the exchange.

4) Selfish Attitude

Through all the butting heads with coaches, criticizing systems and how he's being used, Haynesworth has never once taken responsibility for the problems that he have befallen him.

It isn't his fault the defense doesn't fit his style of play, or that he isn't cut out to be a nose tackle. It is the coaches' fault for not tailoring their scheme to his abilities and what he is used to.

What type of player publicly undermines their coaches, and by extension, their teammates and team?

In a statement released to CSN Washington, Haynesworth stated "I was assured I would have the freedom to play to my strengths and I was excited about the future."

He would go on to mention the importance of his teammates and that winning is his primary goal, but only a fool would believe he meant it after he spouted off about his freedom.

Teams don't cater to selfish players who aren't receivers, and Haynesworth has shown that if it doesn't suit him, he isn't going to do it.

3) Poor Work Ethic

As soon as the Redskins signed Haynesworth to the $100 million deal, the questions about his work ethic came up. It is no secret that players try their hardest in contract years, and Haynesworth turned in his best year in 2008 when his contract was up.

Once he got the big deal from Washington, Haynesworth stopped working and it showed week in and week out when he failed to do much of anything on the field.

In his first season with the Redskins, Haynesworth developed a habit of going half-speed on most plays and then laying on the field after the play was over.

In a game against the Lions, Haynesworth had to be carted off the field only to return from a hip injury, which head coach Jim Zorn later dubbed a "strained glut."

In an interview with 101 ESPN Radio in St. Louis, Jim Haslett said of Haynesworth, “He can do almost anything he wants. He doesn’t want to do anything. To me, that’s the issue.”

2) More Risk Than Reward

Paying $100 million for one player is a steep price for any team to consider taking on, and the Redskins are finding out first hand why they should have let Haynesworth go elsewhere in free agency.

As it stands, they stand to owe him roughly $60 million over the next five years between guaranteed money, bonuses and microscopic workout incentives.

No one expects Haynesworth to ever see the end of his contract, no matter what team, so why should anyone trade for the right to the lofty cap hit the Redskins are going to take?

The Redskins would be happy getting anything out of a trade, but even a protected seventh-round pick that requires Haynesworth play a full 16-game season would be giving up too much.

The $29 million "poison pill" Haynesworth is due in 2013 is hardly a desirable commodity.

1) He's Going to Be Released

What incentive is there to trade picks for Haynesworth when he is likely to be released by the Redskins once the lockout is lifted? Why give up even a pittance of late-round picks when he'll be infinitely cheaper to add once he's released?

The Redskins sapped whatever value Haynesworth had when they deactivated him for most of the 2010 season.

When the Redskins release him, they'll be the ones taking the cap hit while someone else gets Haynesworth for cheap.

Even if Haynesworth hadn't been a disappointment in Washington, no team would trade for the financial burden.

It is simpler to play the waiting game and offer a modest contract, because he has to accept whatever comes his way if he intends to prove everyone in the Redskins organization wrong.