Allow me to start today by saying there hasn’t been any speculation or reports of “possible landing spots” to this point regarding veteran defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and the Philadelphia Eagles. But you and I both know it is only a matter of time before that chatter pipes up. Haynesworth was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday, according to Jason La Confora of NFL Network. Following a very disappointing “half-season” with Tampa Bay it was expected they would part ways with Big Al rather than pay him the $6.75 million and $400K bonus remaining on his Redskins deal.
Now if you have been following me since last offseason than you know I was actually a big advocate of Haynesworth’s and provided a number of reasons why he’d be a great fit in Philly. There was a definite need for an upgrade at the defensive tackle spot after the Birds parted ways with Brodrick Bunkley. There was also the Washburn affect that intrigued me enough to look beyond Haynesworth’s severe need for an attitude adjustment.
That was prior to the Eagles signing defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins to a five-year deal worth $30 million ($30.375 to be exact per rotoworld.com) last offseason. Combine that with my belief, as well as Tommy Lawlor of igglesblitz.com and frequent blogger on the Eagles official team site, that the Birds will select a defensive tackle with the fifteenth overall pick in this year’s draft. Philly also has their own players in Derek Landri, Trevor Laws, and Antonio Dixon who are all set be become free agents, my guess is at least one of them will be back in 2012 — that would be Landri.
Haynesworth (31) is entering his eleventh season in the league and has created a lot of noise up to this point in his playing career — both good and bad. Haynesworth had a career year his final season with the Tennessee Titans when he recorded 41 tackles, 8.5 quarterback sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. However injuries and laziness has prevented him from maximizing his playing time as he’s notched just 6.5 sacks in the last over the course of the last four seasons.
Following a heart-breaking 2011 season, the last thing the Eagles organization needs is a player with no burning desire to correct the image he has created through the league.
Haynesworth has dug his fair share of holes with various teams around the league. His age, injury report, attitude, and expensive baggage he brings with him will force most teams to move forward without his services. However I don’t have any doubt that one desperate NFL team will sign him, who remains a question!
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February 15, 2012
