ESPN 980's Chris Russell: 75% Chance Skins release Big Al this week

[Zorn on the 4th of July]

Imagine a co-worker of yours is purposely underperforming due to their unhappiness with their job, and yet they don't quit their job because of the great salary and benefits. Sure, that can be a distraction.

Eventually, management catches wind of the malcontent and, instead of firing him, they decide to move his desk into a broom closet, only bringing him out occasionally to help close a sale (with only mediocre results). While he's in the closet, he alternates between complaining and deliberately announcing how much fun he's having by NOT working. I bet that gets annoying.

Sure, you might work harder at the beginning, in order to prevent getting locked in a broom closet. Over time, though, you'll become preoccupied with management's weird refusal to do the obvious thing and fire the guy.

The answer is not to keep him locked in the closet, and it sure ain't bringing him back to the office full-time. The answer is to fire him.

End of metaphor. Although it's unlikely, I hope Haynesworth jumps on a playoff-bound team, averages 3 sacks a game, and singlehandedly wins a Super Bowl with his new team. Good luck and God bless. I hate the 3-4, too, so go find a 4-3 and thrive. **** it, go to the Giants and play for free. I have my own team to worry about.

I don't think Haynesworth's release would bring about any immediate improvements on the field. But that's fine. This team needs to focus on how they are playing and not management's vengeful handling of (re-starting metaphor) the whimpering malcontent in the broom closet.

You gotta release him. Kill the last vestige of the Cerrato era. Once the smoke clears, you can take an honest inventory of what you have left: a not-very-good football team. Then you start doing what you have to do to get better. It's obvious we can't play him anymore, so we're not getting anything for him now, and we're not getting anything for him later. I apologize if anybody else has already said this in the comments, but:

"What should be done eventually must be done immediately."

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 44ever

In all fairness to AH, the Redskins probably ruined his career. He was doing just fine before we got our hands on him. He was worth 100 mill when we got him, now we take whatever we can get for him. Only the Skins can do that to a player like AH. Pathetic if you ask me.

What?? Haynesworth had one truly dominant year, which was a contract year. He cashed in on that year and Cerrato's stupidity to the tune of a mountain of guaranteed $$, and proceeded to half ass it from there. He wanted to get paid. As soon as he did, he reverted right back to being the malcontent ass-bag he's always been.

Haynesworth has made his own bed. All we did was overpay him.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by 44ever

In all fairness to AH, the Redskins probably ruined his career. He was doing just fine before we got our hands on him. He was worth 100 mill when we got him, now we take whatever we can get for him. Only the Skins can do that to a player like AH. Pathetic if you ask me.

Haynesworth ruined his own career. I have no sympathy for him and don't care about his career. But his theatrics should not detract from the fact that the team should've gotten rid of him a long time ago.

[MTK]

Redskins Insider - Sources: Albert Haynesworth won't be released

[BigHairedAristocrat]

For what it's worth, the sports junkies were saying other players on the team said haynesworth was hung over friday morning. a guy called in to the show and said haynesworth was at The tap room at 130 the night previous night. I know this just qualifies as a rumor but if it's true, its disgraceful.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

For what it's worth, the sports junkies were saying other players on the team said haynesworth was hung over friday morning. a guy called in to the show and said haynesworth was at The tap room at 130 the night previous night. I know this just qualifies as a rumor but if it's true, its disgraceful.

I believe it. He's already been paid most of the 40 mil. He holds all the cards with the Redskins. Snyder has to be furious. One of the worst free agent signings of all time.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

For what it's worth, the sports junkies were saying other players on the team said haynesworth was hung over friday morning. a guy called in to the show and said haynesworth was at The tap room at 130 the night previous night. I know this just qualifies as a rumor but if it's true, its disgraceful.

My brother has seen Fat Albert on multiple occasions drinking into the wee hours at Reston Town Center (Jackson's and American Tap Room), so my first impression when I heard that he was sick was that he was probably hung over. Time to pull the plug on the whole situation. Everyone knew that he was of questionable character before we signed him. We probably could have used that money to bolster our O-line two off-seasons ago, but that's water under the bridge.

[firstdown]

I'd make his ass practice and show up and play until the end of the year. Why just release him now so some other team could sign him to make a push for the SB. I mean we know the guy can play when he wants and I'm sure some team would be willing to sign him for the rest of the year. I could also see AH wanting to play so he could maybe get to a SB.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I'd make his ass practice and show up and play until the end of the year. Why just release him now so some other team could sign him to make a push for the SB. I mean we know the guy can play when he wants and I'm sure some team would be willing to sign him for the rest of the year. I could also see AH wanting to play so he could maybe get to a SB.

Or we could release and focus on rebuilding this team and quit the petty distractions.

[firstdown]

I'd like to stomp on his face.

[skinsfan69]

I wish the reporters wouldn't bring this crap up unless he's going to be cut. 75% chance?? To me this is just bad reporting.

[Longtimefan]

They're not going to release Haynesworth without getting something for him. You can't pay a guy that kind of money and then just cut him. He may not be back next season, but they'll have ample time to work something out.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

They're not going to release Haynesworth without getting something for him.

I doubt any team will pony up even a 7th rounder at this point.

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

You can't pay a guy that kind of money and then just cut him.

If the team was willing to use him as a plugging NT, then why not just cut your losses and let him go?

[sportscurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

They're not going to release Haynesworth without getting something for him. You can't pay a guy that kind of money and then just cut him. He may not be back next season, but they'll have ample time to work something out.

Redskins - - under the leadership of Danny Boy Snyder - - have a long history of paying players to come here and then cutting/releasing them for nothing.

The pattern works over a decade of Redskins' history; there is no reason to believe it cannot happen again.


And by the way, since the Skins and AH have been so public in their contretemps, what would be the incentive for another team to "work something out" with the Skins to acquire Haynesworth? It isn't as if there are a bunch of GMs out there who think that everything is hunky-dory between Haynesworth and the folks who run the team...

[SFREDSKIN]

The Redskins should sue his ass and recoup some cash back, then trade him or cut his fat ass. I'm sure they could find a reason to sue his ass, such as not performing.