Future in D.C. in doubt as trade deadline looms
ASHBURN – With the NFL trade deadline late Tuesday afternoon, one thing is certain: Defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth’s name will be mentioned in rumors.
But coach Mike Shanahan said when the day ends, “there’s a pretty good chance” Haynesworth will remain in Washington.
Haynesworth’s name has come up in trade rumors, with Tennessee among the suitors in the spring and again earlier this season. But the sides could never agree on compensation. The Redskins, according to various sources and multiple reports, would want a second-round pick in return. Teams that inquired about him in the offseason said the asking price was steep, a league source said.
The deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday. One NFL source said last month that the Titans coaches were “motivated” to get Haynesworth back — he had played with the team from 2002-08 before joining the Redskins via free agency. The Titans entered Monday night’s game vs. Jacksonville with an NFL-best 22 sacks, so their motivation might have strongly diminished.
But it’s Haynesworth’s displeasure over playing in a 3-4 defense, coupled with his conditioning woes this summer that have fueled the talks.
“I’ll be so glad when that’s over with so we don’t have to talk about this anymore,” Shanahan said.
General manager Bruce Allen told NBC on Sunday night that Haynesworth would not be traded. Haynesworth’s displeasure with the switch to a 3-4 has been well known, but the Redskins use numerous sub-packages that aren’t a 3-4. For example, they rarely used that front against Indianapolis.
Washington paid Haynesworth a $21 million bonus in the spring.
Haynesworth was deactivated Sunday for the Colts game. It’s the second game he missed following the death of his half-brother, Lance McCoy. Shanahan said it was a combination of having missed conditioning and the game plan already having been installed a day before Haynesworth returned to practice.
“There’s a lot of things that were weighed in that evaluation,” Shanahan said. “It’s not just based on what’s best for our football team. Sometimes it’s based on the best interests of him.”
Haynesworth, who already has missed three games this season, watched the game from a suite, customary for most players who aren’t active. Those who remain on the sidelines, Shanahan said, have a role during the game with their position coach.
His teammates say Haynesworth would have helped Sunday. Haynesworth’s role Sunday was filled by Vonnie Holliday and Jeremy Jarmon.
“I know he wanted to play,” Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. “We do want him out there. He’s definitely a force. He wants to be out there. Hopefully we get this all settled. I get tired of reading about the problems [with Haynesworth]. Just go out there, let him play and do his job.”
