Albert Haynesworth, the Most Overpaid Bench Player of All Time, Is Now Suspended

Today Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan suspended Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. The suspension likely marks the end of the Hayneswoth-experiment in Washington.

In the 2009 off season, the Washington Redskins tossed money at the then All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. On the first day of free agency Haynesworth and the Redskins put pen to paper, and Haynesworth signed a seven year, $100 million deal.

Well, needless to say, that deal didn't work out the way they planned it to be.

Haynesworth has been openly critical of every defensive scheme in the last two seasons by the Redskins. At one point in 2009, after a loss to the New York Giants, Haynesworth criticized then defensive coordinator Greg Blache, saying that he would not be able to "survive another season in this system if it stays the way it is." This season he has refused to play in the nickel defense set by Shanahan.

Shanahan released a statement saying Haynesworth, "Refused to play in our base defense or on first-down or second-down nickel situations," and that Haynesworth "refused to follow the instructions of our coaches both during weekly practices and during actual games." Shanahan finished his statement about Haynesworth saying, "the situation has reached the point where the club clearly has no alternative."

Albert failed to meet conditioning standards set by head coach Mike Shanahan, taking ten days to complete a running test that would be considered menial by most professional athletes.

Now, with four games left this season, the Washington Redskins have finally ended Haynesworth's season, suspending him without pay for the remainder of the year.

The reason they cited for his suspension was "conduct detrimental to the team," this coming after blasting teammate Philip Daniels for commenting on his work ethic. Haynesworth was also inactive for the Redskins Week 13 game after allegedly showing up to practice hungover and missing a team meeting. He also told Redskins general manager Bruce Allen that he would no longer speak to Mike Shanahan.

Haynesworth hasn't even come close to living up to the expectations he came to Washington with. At one point, he was voted by players as the most dominant defensive player in the NFL. But, he has only started 12 games in Washington playing in a total of 20. In those 20 games he totaled 6.5 sacks and 53 total tackles.

Now, who will want this overpaid scrub to join their team? His time in Washington seems just about over.