Haynesworth Stomps on Hometown Discounts, Too

by abender20 on Feb 2, 2009 11:22 AM PST in Seahawks News & Rumors

Starting today, Field Gulls will have a new running segment. John has brought me in to provide a daily dose of football / Hawks news, and this should be a great opportunity to spur some football conversation about the topic at hand. In commenting, please stay on topic, be courteous, and keep your posts brief. Without further ado:

While Terrell Suggs may have enough affinity for his own team to leave money on the table, Albert Haynesworth will have none of that.

"I'm not Terrell Suggs, that's all I can say,'' Haynesworth said of Baltimore's Pro Bowl linebacker, one of several Raven defenders scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

Not only does he (rightfully) believe he should get paid, he is seeking a good deal of guaranteed money.

Although he declined to go into specifics, Haynesworth is seeking a six-year deal that would make him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Right now that designation belongs to Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who signed a six-year contract last offseason with $32 million guaranteed and $12.2 million per year. Haynesworth made it clear he's looking to get paid.

John has made no secret about the fact that signing Phat Albert would immediately improve the Hawks' defense, although it is clear that Hayneworth will be an expensive proposition. With Tennessee now effectively just another team in the running for the services of the most disruptive force in football, the auction has begun. The question then: where will the bidding stop?

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Comments

Screw him.

I don’t want to pay him up the asshole if there’s even the slightest possibility he’s going to be a lazy loafer after he gets the straight cash, homey.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 2, 2009 11:24 AM PST reply actions

How do you figure that wanting a lot of money equals not playing hard?

Take Alex Rodriguez. Highest paid athlete alive, and still plays harder (and better) than any non-Pujols player. Money doesn’t make athletes quit and that’s just a silly argument. All athletes want big money no matter how much they try to lie to make themselves look like good people. At least Haynesworth is honest.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Feb 2, 2009 12:11 PM PST up reply actions

What?

50 million Yankees fans can’t be wrong, ARod dogs it in tough situations. He’ll never try as hard or be as good as Jeter.

But in all seriousness, elite athletes take immense pride in their work. When you have the chance to be one of the greatest ever at your position, besides being just incredibly self motivated to begin with, having a chance to be in the topic of greatest ever at your position is always an extra carrot to strive for.

by LantermanC on Feb 2, 2009 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

Exactly. Haynesworth wants to be paid like the best DT in football because he has pride and knows he is the best DT in football.

He’ll want to earn his contract. Bad players can’t live up to bad contracts (Silva) but that doesn’t mean they’re not trying to (Silva again. He lost weight, but he still sucks. Point is, athletes always give their all. Period.)

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Feb 2, 2009 3:06 PM PST up reply actions

I generally agree, but you can't cite "athletes always give their all" as an absolute.

There ARE examples of obvious loafing, even by superstars, an example being Randy Moss in Oakland.

Also, it’s much easier to not give your all in Football than in Baseball.

by redwolf75 on Feb 2, 2009 3:16 PM PST up reply actions

There's doubt that Haynesworth will give it his all when shown the money.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 2, 2009 9:08 PM PST up reply actions

And that's enough reason not to sign him?

by BrianL on Feb 2, 2009 9:17 PM PST up reply actions

yes, that and the fact that we don't have the money to spare

by Mr Fish on Feb 3, 2009 10:43 AM PST up reply actions

Not having the money is a legitimate excuse

Theorizing that [X] player is going to loaf around after getting a big payday isn’t.

by BrianL on Feb 3, 2009 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

Why not?

You’d be fine if he became a lazy inconsistent prick while also having the largest defensive contract ever? But the point is moot. We won’t/can’t sign him and its questionable if TR was even interested in pursuing him.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2009 6:44 PM PST up reply actions

By all means if you have a crystal ball that can peer into the future and determine

which players are going to loaf after signing a contract, please go talk to the Seahawks FO.

by BrianL on Feb 3, 2009 7:27 PM PST up reply actions

Wouldn't it be fair to assume that if the Titans don't resign someone as important as him?

Talent like Haynesworth is not let go voluntarily.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Feb 5, 2009 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

I feel we need a discussion on our Cap situation

Whats our cap? Can we afford that? Are we expected to use all our cap?

Its not my money so I’ll say totally lets get him.

Logically though, he fits about 0 or Ruskells traits for what he’s looking for.

by Justise on Feb 2, 2009 11:54 AM PST reply actions

And I kind of asked it before,

but can we afford that AND the no. 4 pick?

by LantermanC on Feb 2, 2009 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

I wonder:

Would there have to be so-called ‘cap casualties’ to afford AH? Who would the likely candidates be, if that has to happen? I’m on board w/ ‘a dump-truck o’ cash Albert’s way’, though am curious of potential ramifications.

by Misfit74 on Feb 2, 2009 12:28 PM PST reply actions

This sounds like a Reggie White type situation

go for it, timmy

by dlinsley on Feb 2, 2009 1:17 PM PST reply actions

I'm rather on-board.

Where else are we going to spend the money? I don’t see a whole lot of free agents around that fit our problems… and to be honest, I don’t see us having a whole lot of problems either as long as people come back healthy.

A guy like this is expensive, no doubt. But he’s a guy who scares the living crap out of offenses league-wide… put him beside Mebane and look out. They’ll make our ends look like superstars.

by djafrot on Feb 2, 2009 1:34 PM PST reply actions

A number four pick is certainly one easy way to spend a lot of money in a hurry.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 2, 2009 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

please people do not compare Albert Haynsworth to Reggie White

Reggie White was a class act (ie, never stomped on anyone’s head), started all 16 games for most of his 15 year career, and Haynsworth’s best year would’ve been one of Reggie White’s worst. Yeah I get it, there aren’t very many good defensive tackles these days, and no elite ones, that doesn’t mean you pay the best of the mediocre like they were Reggie White.

There may be a very good reason why he wants a lot of guaranteed money up front, he knows he may not be playing much longer.

by B.B.Finnegan on Feb 2, 2009 2:37 PM PST reply actions

Saying that Albert Haynesworth is mediocre is like saying that Gilbert Brown was husky.

It’s wrong.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 2, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions

i said best of the mediocore

:rolls eyes:

just kidding, i know i’m exaggerating don’t listen to me I’m sick and running a high fever, i just keep seeing the Reggie White comparisons and I don’t think they’re close. Also, Reggie White was a defensive end. the only accurate comparison i see the high amount of money he’s demanding.

by B.B.Finnegan on Feb 2, 2009 7:09 PM PST up reply actions