Albert Haynesworth Accused Of Sexual Assault

This guy just can't seem to avoid negative publicity. According to this story by the Washington Post, Haynesworth is being accused of sexually assaulting a waitress at the W Hotel in Washington over the weekend. Here is a little of the report:

Sources say a waitress claims that Albert Haynesworth sexually abused her over the weekend at the W Hotel in Washington.

Police are investigating the complaint made by the waitress.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is expected to review the evidence in the case to see what, if any, charges may be brought against Haynesworth.

According to a police report obtained by NBC Washington, the waitress stated that her hands were full carrying glasses as she was clearing the table at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

She said that "Subject 1" tried to pay his bill by giving her his credit card, but he asked if it was OK to stick the card in her blouse near her breast area. She nodded her head yes and, according to the report, she said he then placed the card into her blouse gently, sliding the card further into her left side of the blouse and then started to caress her breast.

There's nothing kosher about this situation. Whether Haynesworth is officially charged or not the Redskins should seriously considering cutting him loose. It's becoming clear that the Haynesworth era in Washington has run it's course and it's time to pull the plug. Hopefully they do and Haynesworth will have better luck with a different organization.

-ALR

Albert Haynesworth Charged With Assault

It's been a while since we heard anything regarding Washington Redskins estranged DT Albert Haynesworth. He's back in the news today though, but for the wrong reasons. According to this report by The Washington Post's Tom Jackman Haynesworth has been charged with simple assault stemming from a road rage incident with another driver. Here's an excerpt from the story:

Haynesworth, 29, has not been arrested but is planning to turn himself in next week, Officer Shelley Broderick said.

The episode occurred Wednesday morning, and involved a 38-year-old man driving a 1994 Honda Civic and another driver, allegedly Haynesworth, both driving south on the Fairfax County Parkway, Broderick said. The driver of the Civic reportedly felt that a pickup truck following behind him was tailgating, and issued a "non-verbal hand gesture" to the pickup driver, Broderick said.

About 9:16 a.m., at the intersection with New Dominion Parkway, near the entrance to Reston Hospital Center, the two vehicles came to a stoplight. Broderick said the driver of the pickup truck emerged from his vehicle, had a brief exchange of words, and then struck the Civic driver.

I guess since wasn't able to hit many QB's last season another driver was the next best option. Simple assault isn't a major charge and is only a misdemeanor so Haynesworth probably won't get more than a fine and a slap on the wrist.

Fat Albert didn't have the best 2010, to put it lightly. He was involved with a battle of wills with head coach Mike Shanahan during the off season as Haynesworth reported to camp allegedly out of shape, causing him to loss playing time during the season. When on the field the $100 million dollar defensive tackle did not perform up to expectations, registering only 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Not quite what the Redskins paid for. To top it all off Haynesworth was suspended without pay for the final four games of the season due to "insubordination". It's safe to say that Albert wont be on Mike Shanahan's Christmas card list.

The Redskins should just cut their losses and let Haynesworth lose. Let him be another team's headache as clearly things are not working out well for him in DC.

-ALR

Lloyd's Not Scared of Niners and Redskins and Bears

Brandon Lloyd has been a completely mediocre wide receiver since being drafted out of Illinois by the San Francisco 49ers in the 4th round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Actually, mediocre might be an overstatement. From 2003-2009, Lloyd amassed an underwhelming 164 catches for 2,370 yards and 15 TDs. Over that time, Lloyd was mostly recognized for making the spectacular catches (like these):




...and missing time due to injury and/or questionable attitude.

This season, Lloyd has been the lone bright spot for the Denver Broncos, this fourth team he's played for over seven seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after catching 72 passes for a league leading 1,375 yards and 10 TDs. When asked by Denver Post reporter Mike Klis if he had anything he'd like to say to his previous employers, he responded by saying, "I want to say F--- you. And I mean that in the most professional way possible..."

The quote was reportedly a joke (like Lloyd's entire career), and meant to be good-natured (yeah right). The interview was promptly cut short by Broncos media relations director Patrick Smyth, in the most professional way possible.

Albert Haynesworth Suspended Final Four Games By Redskins

You had to know something was bad bound to happen with this marriage... multiple sources have reported that Washington Redskins high paid DT Albert Haynesworth has been suspended without pay for the final four games of this season by the team.

According to the sources, Haynesworth was informed of the decision this morning by GM Bruce Allen. Quote head coach Mike Shanahan in a statement:

Shanahan in a statement: "Despite the club's numerous attempts to persuade Albert Haynesworth to abide by the terms of his contract."


"He has repeatedly refused to cooperate with our coaching staff in a variety of ways over an extended period of time."

Sounds like something you would expect on a Pop Warner squad and not from a professional million dollar athlete. Some of the offenses include. refusing to play in base 3-4, or 1st and 2nd-down nickel pkgs & refusal to follow instructions during practice or games. Also, according to the team's news release, Haynesworth told Allen Monday that he refused to talk to Shanahan.

So basically in Haynesworth's time with the Redskins, has pocketed about $32 mil to play in 20 of a possible 32 games and only racked up 53 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Not much bang for your buck if you ask me. The Redskins got hosed.

Also, accoridng to this story on Deadspin, Haynesworth was spotted at a DC bar Thursday night, the day before he was late to practice and claiming he was "sick". Sure you were Al, sure you were.

I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing Fat Albert in a different uni next season.

-ALR

Correction! McNabb Extension With Redskins Only $3.5 Guaranteed

Per ESPN's Michael Smith, QB Donovan McNabb and the Redskins agreed to a 5-yr extension with the Redskins worth reported $78 mil, with $40 mil in garauntees. Per this new ESPN report by Adam Schefter the true guarantee is only $3.5 million and the deal has clauses galore that would need to be reached for McNabb to see the full extent of the deal. Here are the details:

One of the contract's most significant points is a payment due this offseason, when the Redskins must decide whether or not to pay McNabb a $10 million option bonus. If they do, it would trigger the rest of the contract and make Washington liable for McNabb's $2.5 million base salary in 2011.



So in essence, the Redskins paid McNabb $3.75 million in 2010 for the right to pay him $12.5 million in 2011 and control his rights. If the Redskins cut him after this season or trade him, they are only on the hook for the $3.75 million.
Boiled down, the deal's real guarantee is $3.5 million, though if McNabb suffered a catastrophic injury this season and never played again, he would receive $25 more million.


This is following the bye Redskins bye week, after coach Mike Shanahan pulled McNabb late in the game due to poor conditioning (McNabb has been nursing injuries all season.

McNabb is in his 12th year in the NFL and first with the Redskins. So far this season he has completed 57% of his passes., with 7 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and a QB rating of 76.

-ALR

Los The Fallen

I really can't tell who really qualifies as "The Fallen" in this scenario; Albert Haynesworth or the Washington Redskins. I would be willing to bet this isn't exactly what either side signed up for. On one end you have the Redskins who thought they were acquiring the most dominate defensive lineman in the league. But what exactly have they gotten from their "$100 million dollar man"? A total of 39 tackles (only 2 this season), lackluster effort, a mini camp holdout and a huge media distraction for a team that is attempting to flourish under new coach Mike Shanahan. Some people will argue that Haynesworth played his hardest during a contract year in Tennessee, but truth be told he was a first rounder back in '02 and has always performed at an above average level, and he is still in his prime. Do your homework. But clearly, this current version of Haynesworth is not what they paid for.

Looking at the situation from Haynesworth's perspective, and you can also make the argument that he hasn't gotten quite what he expected as well. Haynesworth was expecting to play in a 4-3 defense that gave him the opportunity to exploit one on one match ups and make plays in the backfield. He is now being asked to simply take up space in the 3-4 scheme so the linebackers can get all the glory. It's not quite a glorified position and not necessarily the route to being known at "the greatest defensive lineman to ever play the game" (as Haynesworh stated in this interview with ESPN recently). But it's also hard to have any sympathy for a man who cashed a roster bonus check for $21 million even after knowing what he was getting himself into. But I digress.

I think the perfect solution for the scenario would be for Albert to put up or shut up. His antics during the off season; like skipping off season condition programs and a mandatory mini camp. That only works if your last name is "Favre". He also stated that the $100 million contract doesn't make him a slave. This is true, but not a very wise analogy. He cashed the check, so that makes him responsible for upholding his end of the bargain, whether he like it or not. A person can't get promoted to fries at McDonald's, take the pay raise and then protest because Mickey D's switched grease. It doesn't work that way, player. The Redskins can't release him because that would be like throwing money in the trash since Haynesworth has $41 million of the deal guaranteed.

Looks like both sides have to just bite the bullet and make the best of what is looking real similar to a bad marriage with no pre-nump. Maybe the light bulb come on for Hayneworth and he buys in, or maybe Shanahan loosens the vice grip and lets Albert make more plays in the backfield, or maybe he should make a call to Phil Jackson and find out how he got Dennis Rodman under wraps back when he was helping the Bulls win championships. Just a thought.

Either way it looks like both sides are stuck together tight now, for better or for worse. Might as well make the best of it and start winning some games before they're both long gone...

-ALR

Washington Redskins 2010 Preview

2009 was expected to be a big year for Washington Redskin football. So was every season from 2008 back to 1999, back when owner Daniel Snyder first bought the team. Under Snyder's helm, the once mighty, and still proud franchise has managed a less-than-mediocre 80-96 record, only three playoff appearances ('99, '05, and '07), and no playoff wins.

Safe to say, expectations are not being met.

The blueprint for "success" has usually been the same: spend big money on veteran free agent pro-bowlers, tout the usually high draft picks, put the head coach on the hot seat, and watch the wins happen. They're super at doing everything but that last part.

This season, things will be different, allegedly. New GM (Bruce Allen), new head coach (Mike Shanahan), and a new quarterback (Donovan McNabb). Allen was brought in to make sure Snyder didn't overspend on free agents. Shanahan was brought in because Jim Zorn was incompetent. McNabb was gift wrapped and shipped from Philadelphia, probably for this.

Hope springs eternal.

Offense

Shanahan is known for using a stable of running backs, dating back to his days with the Denver Broncos. The Redskins will give him plenty of options, having signed former Pro-Bowlers Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to team up with former Pro Bowler Clinton Portis in the backfield (So much for not over spending on free agents). McNabb will probably have his most solid passing options at tight end with Pro Bowler Chris Cooley and third year USC alum Fred Davis. Davis filled in admirably last season after Cooley was injured, catching 48 passes for 509 yards and 6 TDs.

Washington will be looking for either Devin Thomas (11) or Malcolm Kelly (12) to step up at wide receiver. Sanatana Moss has led the team in that category for the last five seasons, but at 31 has seen his yards per catch drop each year (from 17.7 in '05 to 12.9 in '09). Both Thomas and Kelly were second round picks with high expectations that neither have lived up to (3 career TDs combined). Jamal Brown and rookie Trent Williams were added to an offensive line will also need to improve greatly this season as well. The 2009 Redskins allowed 46 sacks, fifth worst in the NFL.

Defense

Believe it or not, the Redskin defense was actually pretty stout. Their $100 million man, Albert Haynesworth, didn't light the world on fire statistically, but his presence was felt on a defense that allowed only 4 yards per carry rushing, and sacked the quarterback 40 times. The main problem with the Redskin defense was overuse, and the inability to force turnovers (17 total, dead last in the league).

Haynesworth has made the news a lot this off-season due to contract holdouts and conditioning issues, but having him on the field would make this defense that much more formidable. MLB London Fletcher is coming off his first Pro Bowl season at the tender age of 34, but he's surrounded by young players entering their primes. Linebacker Brian Orakpo (23) made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season last year, defensive end Andre Carter (30) had 11 sacks, DeAngelo Hall (26) has resumed the form that at one time had him ranked as one of the top cornerbacks in the league. This is a very formidable group.

Prediction
10-6.

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, I believe they made the right moves this time, even if they seem to have done the same thing as every other off-season under Snyder. The Shanahan-McNabb combination > the Zorn-Jason Campbell combo. They could be just what the offense needs to score the extra TD a game that could've made last year's 4-12 team a potential playoff team. Their average point differential was 4 per game. This could be the year.

Just don't "expect" too much.