Haynesworth wasn't a free agent. The Patriots traded a 5th rounder for him IIRC. It wasn't so much that the move was praised across the league... it was regarded as an excellent case of "low risk, high reward." Obviously it didn't pan out, and there's a good chance Fat Albert's playing days are just about over, but prior to tanking in DC, Haynesworth showed the ability to be one of the most disruptive linemen in football. Ability doesn't go away, it just gets buried by poor conditioning and having a shitty attitude!
^So what you're saying is it was worth the risk because Belifart would draft a shitty ass RB with that pick anyways? I agree.
That isn't entirely true. The Redskins were going to give him away regardless, but it was praised because it was the Patriots that picked him up and Belichick was supposed to be the genius that turned him back around. the praise was in the entirety of the benefit, not just the risk/reward of the scenario. that didn't happen, so the basic guise of the applaud did not come to fruition -- that the Patriots were a difference maker, would turn him around, and thus they would benefit.
I dont know, I think the media already deemed Holmes the biggest FA bust in the history of all sports ever
Kinda exactly. :wink: No, obviously it did not work out. But there are different degrees of risk, and given Haynesworth's potential, it was probably worth trying. The Redskins probably would have cut him, in which case he would have been able to go to whatever team was going to throw the most money at him. I don't think Belichick would have gotten Haynesworth via some bidding war, and make no mistake... teams would have thrown money at him. The notion that Belichick would turn him back around was not entirely unfounded. There were precedents with Corey Dillon (who was a good soldier and consummate teammate while in NE) and Randy Moss (who managed to control himself for about three seasons before he started becoming a major problem/distraction). In the end it didn't happen, but again... don't you think it was worth putting a late-round pick on the line for a guy listed at 6'-6" and 350 pounds with a ton of natural athletic ability for a man of that size?
Before he stomped on that guys face yes, afterwords no. He proved in Washington , made it painfully clear that he was only in the NFL to ride the money train while putting in as little efoort as possible.
He would take care of any cheeseburgers-on-the-practice-field issues. There wouldn't be any left for the rest of the defense.
I don't think there is any indication that team's were lining up to throw money at him, especially if they could have gotten him financially cheaper in a trade for only a 5th rounder, and only one team bit -- the Patriots. I think you are exaggerating the demand for his services. I agree it was worth it, and the notion wasn't unfounded. I am just saying that the notion was based not on Haynesworth's ability but on Belichick's ability, so the failure to do so was the Patriots failure. they wasted a 5th rounder on their own inability to get him to play at a higher level that was only expected based on their tutelage.
