Dan Snyder didn’t use the word regret; nor did he express outright disappointment. But there’s no doubt he expected a different outcome when he signed Albert Haynesworth in the 2009 offseason, handing him $41 million in guaranteed money.
The Redskins suspended Haynesworth without pay for the final four games of the regular season, citing conduct detrimental to the team. Team president and coach Mike Shanahan said they’re still deciding if they will attempt to recover some, or all, of the $21 million bonus Haynesworth received last spring.
And Snyder, speaking after a dedication ceremony for the new Redskins Courage House at the Youth For Tomorrow campus, said, “You have to talk to [General Manager] Bruce [Allen],” about that matter.
Snyder wanted Shanahan’s recent comments on Haynesworth to serve as the franchise’s statement.
But, in his first public comments about the matter, he did say, “I wish it had worked out better and I wish he’d played better and everyone played better at this point. Right now we’re trying to win the next game.
“You’re always hoping for the best in everything you do. Your hearts in the right place and ours still are.”
Haynesworth represented one of the biggest free agent signings in history, with a $100-million contract, though only $41 million was guaranteed. But he only played in 12 games last season and eight this year. His impact was inconsistent.
In the offseason, Snyder expressed disappointment that Haynesworth was working out elsewhere. Thursday, he tried to veer away from talking about Haynesworth.
“I’m personally frustrated that we’re 5-7,” he said. “The best way to look at it is obviously where we are right now in the season is, for all of us, not where we want to be. But we’re making progress as an organization. I’m feeling great about Mike and Bruce. I really think they have great leadership. We’re in good hands.”
When asked if the Haynesworth signing would preclude him from another such move, Snyder talked about patience and the future.
“The biggest thing is when you have a new organization in place, with Bruce and his team and Coach Shanahan and all the new coaches, things take a little time for them to shape what they want to do. It took Joe Gibbs a year to get his organization shaped the way he wanted to, then the next year we went to the playoffs and made a good run. I’m looking forward to the same thing with Coach Shanahan and Bruce Allen. It’s exciting
for the future.”
