Albert Haynesworth Hurts Washington Redskins with a JaMarcus Russell Work Ethic

"You can say but so much. You've got to actually 'want to.' So once we get to that point—where we 'want to' do something—then we'll do something. But if we just keep going our separate ways, then we'll just keep getting slaughtered like we have."

That quote comes from none other than Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins’ prize free agent from last summer.  Haynesworth delivered that gem back in October.   Funny how your words can come back to haunt you, isn’t it?  (Just ask the Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson about his ill-timed playoff speech.)

Last summer, the Washington Redskins made Albert Haynesworth the richest defensive tackle in NFL history, awarding him a seven-year, $100 million contract that they'd immediately grow to regret.

A year later, Haynesworth refuses to attend voluntary mini-camps , reportedly has a poor relationship with the Skins’ front office, isn’t pleased with the Skins’ decision to switch to a 3-4 defense, and hasn’t exactly started on the right foot with new head coach Mike Shanahan, because of his unwillingness to participate in voluntary activities.

If you don’t think Haynesworth’s decision to skip voluntary mini-camps this spring wasn’t a big deal, you’re almost as in the wrong as Big Al.

When a team hands you $100 million, it’s not a stretch to assume that they’re expecting you to be a leader on their roster.  One-hundred-million-dollar contracts don’t come every day in the NFL, especially for defensive linemen.

Instead, the only thing Haynesworth is leading is the line to the nearest Taco Bell.

Perhaps the Redskins should have expected this carefree attitude from Haynesworth.   After all, ESPN’s Jeffri Chadiha wrote back in October , "nobody ever put 'leader' and 'Albert Haynesworth' in the same sentence in his seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans."

It's safe to say that Haynesworth won't be earning the "leader" title any time soon. Haynesworth was the only Redskins player who didn’t show up to the team’s second voluntary mini-camp this past weekend.

Now, even Haynesworth’s teammates appear to have reached their limit.  A Washington Post column by Mike Wise, in which he quoted numerous Redskins players as being critical of Haynesworth, may have opened Pandora's box in that regard.  

There hasn't been this damning a profile of an NFL player in the media since SI's article about JaMarcus Russell's complete lack of work ethic.

"There is no room for negotiation at 4-12 [the Redskins’ 2009-10 record]," defensive end Phillip Daniels said. "I'm here, [London] Fletcher's here, everybody's here.  He's got to understand that. We need him to come here, be here and show these young guys that the veterans have bought in and that we want to win games."

Veteran safety Reed Doughty added: "This is the type of game you have to buy in or get out.  There's nothing I can really say to [Albert] except the more that we're here together, the more that we're working together—not just from a team standpoint but from a chemistry standpoint.

"If LaRon [Landry] wasn't here and we're working on first team, we're not working together. There are a lot of nuances of the games beside just Xs and Os, like trusting each other on the field. Like today, I know everything on paper. But you get out here, they start motioning and start checking—you make a few mistakes. Those are the things we're trying to get cleaned up. You come into camp just learning the Xs and Os, we don't got a chance."

Remember, the Skins have already paid out $32 million on Haynesworth’s contract in 14 months.  They also handed Haynesworth a $21 million bonus in April, in what’s believed to be the single largest check ever given to an NFL player.

Those are not signs of a franchise that owes anything more to the player.  Those are the signs of a player who should more-or-less owe the franchise his life, much less one weekend in April and May.

Daniels hit the nail on the head with his comments—not only does Haynesworth owe it to the Redskins to appear based on his gargantuan contract, but by being the highest-paid malcontent in the NFL, he’s establishing a dangerous and troublesome precedent for his teammates. 

“Want your way out of something?  Just sign your big contract and start whining, baby!”

It’s hard to think back on a Redskins game last year that didn’t involve Haynesworth being helped off the field at some point.  Were all of these legitimate injuries?  Or did some hint at Haynesworth’s lack of dedication to the Redskins?

To Haynesworth’s credit, he did return from a hip injury against the Detroit Lions because the Redskins were already short on defensive linemen, and he did play with a concussion against the Carolina Panthers on October 11.  (Ironically, those two facts caused ESPN’s Chadiha to write back in October that “his commitment to the Redskins can't be questioned.”)

Haynesworth also complained his way out of practicing with an ankle injury, according to the Washington Post .  Keep in mind, his teammate, Daniels, practiced through a torn bicep tendon that day.

I’m questioning his dedication.  Big time. 

Fact is, there’s nary acircumstance, short of a death in the family, which justifies a team’s highest-paid player being the only one absent from a voluntary mini-camp.

Discontent with the team’s direction certainly doesn’t justify it.  Being unhappy with the team’s front office—the same front office that handed you a bloated contract 14 months ago—definitely doesn’t cut it.

Take one glance at a postgame conference he gave after a loss to the Giants late last season, and Haynesworth isn’t exactly screaming, “thanks for bringing me to Washington!”

When asked if he was glad that he came to Washington, Haynesworth responded, "Ummm...yeah. I mean...yeah. I like the guys here and stuff, and [owner Dan Snyder]'s been great and everything, but...you know, in this season right now, it makes it hard to say, 'Do I really appreciate being here,' but I know this is a great organization, and we can always bounce back from this."

Winning and losing shouldn’t dictate whether or not you’re happy to be somewhere, Albert.  You were handed $100 million in an era where 10 percent of the country can’t find work, even if they want to. 

If you go 0-16 for the next six years, you still have absolutely no reason to complain.   You still have a house.  You still have a job.  You work six months of every year, and you’re paid millions to do so.  In fact, you’re paid millions to play a game.

The fact Haynesworth can’t appreciate his position in life should haunt Dan Snyder at night.

Because after handing Haynesworth a king’s ransom of a contract, there’s no reason to expect any change for the better.  What was that about “going your separate ways,” Albert?

Better question: How does it feel to have paid $100 million to a guy with JaMarcus Russell's work ethic, Washington?