Why the Albert Haynesworth Dilemma is a Good Thing for the NFL

It is obvious that the Redskins have made a mistake.

Daniel Snyder allowing and calling for the $100 million contract of Albert Haynesworth was a stupid move.

New head coach Mike Shanahan must now expend unnecessary energy to deal with the battle of wills that has dominated the 2010 Redskins offseason.

Haynesworth has been a nightmare for the organization, with his only consistency being his whiny, uncontrollable behavior. There is little good in his on field actions.

However, there is a light at the end of the Haynesworth tunnel.

The free agent market will be looked at in a whole new light.

Now owners, coaches, and fans alike have a rallying point when they discuss what have become out of control contracts.

The administrators have something they have not had in a while: They have leverage. But how did it all come to this?

In the past decade, there has been a wild upward movement in the dollar amounts being received by players. It has been fueled by egos and a simple need for players to one-up each other.

Let's lay this out as a simple example. Let's say in 2004, wide receiver A was paid $9 million and wide receiver B earned $4 million, despite putting up better stats than A and making it to the Pro Bowl. Now B believes his value is not being recognized and decides he deserves a better contract, despite still having two years left on his current one.

So he sits out and does all the other little negotiation movements. And there is almost nothing that can be done to stop him. Eventually his team caves and gives him a contract worth more than that of receiver A.

However, B is unlikely to repeat as the best receiver in the league. Suddenly wide receiver C is the best. And now he wants a better contract, which he will get.

The numbers kept rising with no real end in sight. However, now teams have some leverage.

Haynesworth proved that money can't buy quality. He was helped by JaMarcus Russell, who has highlighted the overpayment of rookies.

So what could be a solution?

Owners should raise the performance bonuses for players, encouraging a high level of play. The Vincent Jacksons of the league will have to prove a level of consistency. One Pro Bowl as an alternate does not make you a Larry Fitzgerald.

Players should also suffer more during holdouts. They must be held accountable for their childish actions.

Also, owners as a whole have to clamp down and refuse to keep playing the game. There are extremely talented players out there who won't break the bank.

This is a great opportunity to change the way the league operates and put it back in the hands of the fans. In the end, after all, when it comes to money matters, the fans are the ones who ultimately suffer.

That is the great shame in all of this. The fans get the short end of the stick.

Ticket prices are soaring and the outlook is grim. This is the chance to turn it around. Let us all hope that the silver lining in the Haynesworth cloud is in the bank, literally.