Another Haynesworth Thread: Will AH Be The Next Dana Stubblefield?

[12thMan]

Personally, I love the Haynesworth signing. And I've made my feelings known about the huge contract he received - it doesn't bother me one iota. But what I am leary about, which has been an undeniable trend here in Washington, we rarely get full contract value for the big name studs we bring here. So on one hand, I'm not concerned about the actual dollars he received, but on the other our history with these types of signings haven't produced stellar results.

Will the huge contract be a demotivator for Haynesworth? Will all of this end up being Dana Stubblefield all over again? Redskins nation had similiar high hopes after we signed Stubblefield and paired him up with Big Daddy Wilkerson. Stubblefield never returned to his highly touted Pro Bowl form as a Washington Redskin. Ultimately Stubblefield left the Skins, only to return to the bay area to play for the 49ers again, then the Raiders before being released by the New England Patriots in 2004. That being said, I think Haynesworth has Reggie White type potential and will ultimately live up to it. But I have my doubts.

I want you guys to weigh in on this.

Do you think Albert Haynesworth will actually live up to his contract, come close, or end up being yet another high profile signing of a long list of Redskins free agents that just didn't work out.

[SFREDSKIN]

He's a great player and I hope he remains that. Money tends to do weird things to people, only time will tell. I hope he's not another bust.

[MTK]

Who knows, and this point it's pure speculation. However I do know that just because Stubby was a bust, it has no bearing on what is going to happen with Haynesworth.

[SkinzzFan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Who knows, and this point it's pure speculation. However I do know that just because Stubby was a bust, it has no bearing on what is going to happen with Haynesworth.

That's what I'm saying. I mean, what if Haynesworth signed with New England or Dallas? NFL Network and ESPN would be praising the move. Granted they may not have paid as much but there would be no talk of him being a bust. I understand this is due in large part to Dan Snyders history of overpaying for veteran players but this signing filled such a glaring need. Plus, Stubblefield was so good in SF because he played next to Bryant Young. The Redskins expected Stubblefield to be dominant on his own...he never was that kind of player. Haynesworth is that dominant force in the middle. Maybe in 3 years we'll be cursing his name too but it's a move the Redskins had to make in my opinion. We need a dominant player on the defense. Now, onto the Offensive line...thru the draft.

HAIL!

[SkinzzFan]

By the way, I LOVE that it's March and we're still talking Redskins Football!!

HAIL!!

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by SkinzzFan

By the way, I LOVE that it's March and we're still talking Redskins Football!!

HAIL!!

Unfortunately, March has been the best time of the year under this owner.

[The Goat]

Haynesworth has 1) not secured himself a spot in the HOF (not even close IMO) 2) said that he wants to be a HOF player 3) said he doesn't want to become another "bust"

... if he's anywhere near reality come training camp, preseason and Sept. big Al is gonna play like the man possessed IMO. But I would worry that after 2, maybe 3, monster seasons w/ us he'll slack off a bit and leave the FO w/ a quandary. As the Zen master says, we'll see...

[53Fan]

I think he'll do just fine. He seems to to have the right temperment and ego to handle this. I like that we got him.

[44ever]

Stubb was nowhere near the player that AH is. Not only that but BIG contracts are becoming more common and expected.

Haynesworth vowed during a packed news conference that he will not join the long line of free agent mistakes who have cost the franchise millions but have produced no championships.

"You're not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust," he said. "You're going to remember me as a great player, and that's what I live for. When I put that helmet on, it's to kick butt and make sure that [opponent] knows I'm the best player he's played against. Any team that faces me will have to worry about me."

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 44ever

Stubb was nowhere near the player that AH is. Not only that but BIG contracts are becoming more common and expected.

Haynesworth vowed during a packed news conference that he will not join the long line of free agent mistakes who have cost the franchise millions but have produced no championships.

"You're not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust," he said. "You're going to remember me as a great player, and that's what I live for. When I put that helmet on, it's to kick butt and make sure that [opponent] knows I'm the best player he's played against. Any team that faces me will have to worry about me."

Look, he gave a great (and I'm sure well rehearsed) speech. What's he gonna do, say "I'm going to be a total bust now that I got my money." ??? I'm glad he is intelligent and well spoken, and he understands what the media is saying about the "bust" stuff, etc. Talk is cheap though, and his contract wasn't. Sundays are what I care about. But thus far he is handling himself well.

Stubblefield signed a big contract with the Redskins right after he won NFL Defensive MVP, something Haynesworth hasn't done, so I don't think you can really say Stub was "nowhere close to player AH is." Stubb and AH both have the distinction of being the best DTs in football at the time they signed on the dotted line with the Skins.

The comparisons/speculation are valid. Both are dominant defensive tackles who performed at their highest level in a contract year.

All that said, I have a feeling Haynesworth will live up to the hype and be a monster for us.

[44ever]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Look, he gave a great (and I'm sure well rehearsed) speech. What's he gonna do, say "I'm going to be a total bust now that I got my money." ??? I'm glad he is intelligent and well spoken, and he understands what the media is saying about the "bust" stuff, etc. Talk is cheap though, and his contract wasn't. Sundays are what I care about. But thus far he is handling himself well.

Stubblefield signed a big contract with the Redskins right after he won NFL Defensive MVP, something Haynesworth hasn't done, so I don't think you can really say Stub was "nowhere close to player AH is." Stubb and AH both have the distinction of being the best DTs in football at the time they signed on the dotted line with the Skins.

The comparisons/speculation are valid. Both are dominant defensive tackles who performed at their highest level in a contract year.

All that said, I have a feeling Haynesworth will live up to the hype and be a monster for us.

Agreed GMScud. But What I was pointing out is that AH is aware of his responsibility to the team and his commitment to further his career and has publicly stated the same. Stubb never did that. Now unless AH has no self pride/dignity and has lost his desire to play football I think he will be that dominate force we have been waiting for.

Coming to Washington, Stubblefield had nothing to compare himself too. Neither did he amount to anything after leaving us. (probably because he quit the Roids) IMO

AH on the other hand is more like Fletcher in my opinion. Someone that enjoys playing the game and plays the game hard. And as Fletcher keeps his fire burning to make a ProBowl. I believe AH will do the same chasing the HOF.

All speculation at this point? Apsolutely. But I would compare AH more to Fletcher than Stubblefield. IMO (I better be right)

[SmootSmack]

Automatically comparing him to Stubblefield because they're both free agent DTs is kind of like asking if every white basketball player is the next Larry Bird, in my opinion

[EternalEnigma21]

I don't like the fact that he publicly stated he wanted to be the highest paid defensive player in the league, and then we did it...

Its not just Stubblefield that gives me that feeling. Daryl Gardener was another high profile free agent D lineman that didn't live up to expextations. I'm not comfortable with that much money being thrown at any one player that's not a HOF'er QB, honestly. I can think of far more FA's that haven't lived up to their large contracts than those that have.

However, London Fletcher was an excellently pleasant surprise that has exceeded expectations.

I hope he does well, but I dont see how anyone can't have at least some concerns.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by EternalEnigma21

I don't like the fact that he publicly stated he wanted to be the highest paid defensive player in the league, and then we did it...

Its not just Stubblefield that gives me that feeling. Daryl Gardener was another high profile free agent D lineman that didn't live up to expextations. I'm not comfortable with that much money being thrown at any one player that's not a HOF'er QB, honestly. I can think of far more FA's that haven't lived up to their large contracts than those that have.

However, London Fletcher was an excellently pleasant surprise that has exceeded expectations.

I hope he does well, but I dont see how anyone can't have at least some concerns.

Did you watch the games of Daryl Gardener here? He was unstoppable and should have been in the Pro-bowl. In Denver he was bad but not here.

A lot of people say they don't like the money but why do we care? This is basically a 4 year contract for $48 million and then they will renegotiate. I think people need to ignore the "$100 Million" and focus on the fact that we locked up the unanimous #1 free agent talent in the league without sacrificing anything.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

Did you watch the games of Daryl Gardener here? He was unstoppable and should have been in the Pro-bowl. In Denver he was bad but not here.

A lot of people say they don't like the money but why do we care? This is basically a 4 year contract for $48 million and then they will renegotiate. I think people need to ignore the "$100 Million" and focus on the fact that we locked up the unanimous #1 free agent talent in the league without sacrificing anything.

You bring up a great point, and one that hasn't been discussed all that much. This is essentially a 4 year deal. I'm too fixated on the "$100 million" figure.