New England Patriots: How Will Albert Haynesworth React to Andre Gurode Visit?

The $5.5 million salary that was owed to Andre Gurode by the Dallas Cowboys isn't the big story of his visit with the New England Patriots.

The fact that he can play both center and guard won't even be the big talking point of this visit, even if the Patriots are thin at guard after Dan Connolly went down with an injury against the Lions.

Nope, the big story that will come out of this comes right back to where the "big" (no pun intended) story has been all training camp and preseason.

It will come right back to Albert Haynesworth.

Will he crack under the weight of his past at the podium, or will he continue to stay in line and march to the beat of the Patriots drum?

He has successfully shrugged off the barbs hurled his way about being out of shape at the start of camp, and has even deflected questions about his legal proceedings with a simple, "Go Patriots."

The two buried the hatchet on this long ago, just days after it first transpired.

Haynesworth expressed immediate regret after the game, saying, "For what I did, whatever [punishment the NFL chooses to] give me, I deserve it. I did it, and it's wrong."

Gurode's response was rather indirect, but the Pro Bowl center didn't show any lingering anger even just days after the incident.

"I don't really need a reason," Gurode said. "You have to forgive a guy for doing something like that. Just move on and play football."

A head-stomping is nothing to take lightly, especially when the man doing the stomping is anything but light. The fact that it was five years ago, though, should help. Haynesworth and Gurode squared off four times in a two-year span as division rivals in the NFC East, with no incidents to speak of.

Whatever bad blood and animosity may have existed between the two, even if for a short period of time, has probably died. 

We forgive, even if we don't forget.

In that regard, there's little doubt that Haynesworth will be more than welcoming to Gurode should the Patriots choose to sign him.

If it's what's best for the team, why shouldn't he be?

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter  @erikfrenz.