Haynesworth signs for big money and makes big promise
Joseph White- AP
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: Sports
After signing a contract with an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money, Albert Haynesworth made a guarantee of his own.
"You're not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust," he said.
That's a tall order, even for a player as talented as Haynesworth. The 27-year-old All-Pro defensive tackle has to live up to the $100 million, seven-year contract he signed Friday with the Washington Redskins, a team that reverted to form by snagging the biggest name available with a blockbuster deal within hours of the midnight start of free agency.
"With the contract, it's going to be all on me," Haynesworth said. "My goal is to be the best player on the field and to eventually get to that Hall of Fame status and be mentioned with Reggie White and Bruce Smith and all the greats."
At least he can claim membership in a championship team - as in champions of the offseason. The Redskins also spent the wee hours re-signing cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a $54 million, six-year deal that includes $22.5 million guaranteed.
"We're not done yet," added coach Jim Zorn a few hours before the Redskins agreed to terms with left guard Derrick Dockery on a deal. Dockery played his first four seasons with Washington before leaving for Buffalo as a free agent after the 2006 season.
All this from a team that has laid off at least 30 people since the start of the year in two rounds of cutbacks. The Redskins are among an estimated 10 to 12 teams that have cut staff during the economic downturn.
But marquee free agents appear to be recession-proof. Haynesworth's guaranteed payout tops the $37 million the Atlanta Falcons gave Michael Vick in 2004. He'll receive $32 million of the guaranteed money in the next 13 months.
"I think this is similar to what baseball was," executive vice president for football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "You saw early on, (Mark) Teixeira and CC Sabathia and then after that first wave - nothing. And I think it's going to be similar here (in the NFL). I think after the draft you'll see a lot of veteran guys still out there. There'll be no middle area. It's the top and then it's the bottom."
"You're not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust," he said.
That's a tall order, even for a player as talented as Haynesworth. The 27-year-old All-Pro defensive tackle has to live up to the $100 million, seven-year contract he signed Friday with the Washington Redskins, a team that reverted to form by snagging the biggest name available with a blockbuster deal within hours of the midnight start of free agency.
"With the contract, it's going to be all on me," Haynesworth said. "My goal is to be the best player on the field and to eventually get to that Hall of Fame status and be mentioned with Reggie White and Bruce Smith and all the greats."
At least he can claim membership in a championship team - as in champions of the offseason. The Redskins also spent the wee hours re-signing cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a $54 million, six-year deal that includes $22.5 million guaranteed.
"We're not done yet," added coach Jim Zorn a few hours before the Redskins agreed to terms with left guard Derrick Dockery on a deal. Dockery played his first four seasons with Washington before leaving for Buffalo as a free agent after the 2006 season.
All this from a team that has laid off at least 30 people since the start of the year in two rounds of cutbacks. The Redskins are among an estimated 10 to 12 teams that have cut staff during the economic downturn.
But marquee free agents appear to be recession-proof. Haynesworth's guaranteed payout tops the $37 million the Atlanta Falcons gave Michael Vick in 2004. He'll receive $32 million of the guaranteed money in the next 13 months.
"I think this is similar to what baseball was," executive vice president for football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "You saw early on, (Mark) Teixeira and CC Sabathia and then after that first wave - nothing. And I think it's going to be similar here (in the NFL). I think after the draft you'll see a lot of veteran guys still out there. There'll be no middle area. It's the top and then it's the bottom."
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