Albert Haynesworth Cut by New England Patriots: Why Belichick Is Slipping

The New England Patriots announced they have released defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth after a largely ineffective first half of the season with the team. The Patriots only spent a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft on Haynesworth this offseason, so they didn't spend too much on him, but how they expected a locker room cancer to fall in line with the "Patriot way," I'll never know.

Bill Belichick took risks on Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco this offseason and neither player has panned out for the Patriots. On Sunday during a game against the New York Giants, Haynesworth had a confrontation with defensive line coach Pepper Johnson on the sidelines. The veteran tackle then sat out the fourth quarter in what Belichick said was a "rotation-related" move.

Now that he has been released, we can go ahead and assume that the Patriots had finally had enough of the uber-talented Haynesworth's attitude, and his lack of production.

Belichick has always had a keen eye for talent, but over the past few seasons, some of his personnel decisions have been questionable at best. The Haynesworth and Ochocinco signings are just the most recent examples of very odd, uncharacteristic moves by the Patriots over the past few years. 

Is Belichick losing it on the personnel front? 

It would seem so. The Patriots have always been a team that has built through the draft and eschewed big-time free agent signings or adding big-name players. Since adding Randy Moss before the 2007 season, New England has seemed to change its philosophy and tried and work guys with big personalities into the team's fabric.

Frankly, that hasn't worked out, and it has come across as the team trying to fit square pegs in round holes. Haynesworth is just the most recent example of that.