Bill Belichick has never been shy about taking risks, as we've seen in the past with reclamation projects like Corey Dillon and Randy Moss, which have proved to be successful. This time around he may be taking the biggest risk of his tenure in New England, and that's not a reference to a Phat Albert joke. After spending the past two seasons as a walking punchline in Washington, Albert Haynesworth has been shipped to New England in exchange for a 2013 5th round draft pick.
This deal strikes me as a move that comes with some risk, but could produce a big reward. It's the type of value move we've come to expect from Belichick, where he pounced on a chance to potentially buy low on a struggling star player. If Haynesworth plays up to his ability then this deal is a steal for the Pats. In his last season in Tennessee back in 2008, Haynesworth was a dominating force, piling up 8.5 sacks and 51 tackles. At his best, he's an elite defensive lineman capable of providing some much needed pass rush.
The move certainly comes with it's fair share of risk. Haynesworth has been shadowed by issues on and off the field over the past couple of years. He repeatedly clashed with former coach Mike Shanahan in Washington. He openly complained about his role in a system he was not happy playing in. He skipped several workouts, failed conditioning tests and became insubordinate to the extent that his team benched him for the final 4 games of last season. For Redskins fans, he may always be remembered for laying down on this play, which perfectly summed up the lazy, selfish attitude Haynesworth had shown them since he joined the team.
It can also be questioned how well Haynesworth will fit in New England (seriously, not a fat joke). Aside from the obvious impact he could have as a locker room cancer, it's yet to be seen how Haynesworth will fit into the system. He thrived in the Titan's 4-3 defense, but like Washington, the Patriots play in a base 3-4 defense. This could place him in a similar role to the one he was adamantly displeased with in Washington. However, keep in mind that the Patriots version of the 3-4 is much different from the one that the Redskins use. The Patriots last year used sub packages more than half the time, including several four man lines, which Haynesworth may be more comfortable in. Even if he isn't a player they intend to use on every down, we should expect that Belichick has a plan for how to effectively use him. After the Redskins debacle provided plenty of evidence of how not to use him, it's unfathomable to think that the Patriots won't have learned from the Redskins' mistakes.
After the headaches he caused in Washington, the Redskins are just happy to rid themselves of Haynesworth and move on. For a player they had no intention of bringing back to their roster this year, getting anything for him was an upgrade in their mind. From the Patriots perspective, the cost is fairly minimal. A future 5th round pick is a bargain price for a player with his skills. Haynesworth is entering the 3rd year of an expensive 7 year, $100 million deal, but the majority of the $41 million in guaranteed money has already been paid by the Redskins. The Patriots will be on the hook for his base salary of $5 million for this season, and if he doesn't work out then they can cut him without having sacrificed much for their gamble.
Desperate for some pass rushing help after they mysteriously avoided it in the draft, the Patriots made a bold move to acquire a player that is capable of being one of the best at his position. As we saw last year, he's also capable of being one of the laziest, most immature prima-donnas in the league. He left the Redskins no choice but to wash their hands of him. Perhaps Belichick can work his magic the way he has in the past with other disgruntled stars, like a certain diva receiver that came to New England and posted record breaking numbers. Perhaps the veteran leadership of the Patriots locker room will again prove too strong to be divided by Haynesworth's negative influence and they will hold him accountable and demand he contribute with his full efforts. Or maybe he'll show up out of shape and unmotivated, which will surely get him sent packing.
Haynesworth is a physical beast, at 6'6'' and 335 lbs (or likely more). He's only 30 years old, so he should still be in the prime of his career. He possess all the physical skills, but his issues are all with his head. If it's screwed on right then he could still be an impact player.
Personally, I have mixed emotions on the deal. One one hand, I've been an advocate on the need to upgrade the pass rush, which this move has a chance of doing in a big way, with minimal cost. This could end up being the master plan Belichick envisioned to answer the questions as to why we passed on so many quality defensive ends in the draft, failing to address our biggest need. Perhaps now it has been addressed. On the other hand, Haynesworth's attitude makes him far from likable, and extremely difficult to root for. The change of scenery could do him some good, as could joining a potential Super Bowl contender. He's already made his big money contract, so if that doesn't motivate him then I don't know what will.
Patriots fans can hope for the best, but don't expect much or you'll risk being disappointed. Just ask a Redskins fan (assuming they are willing to admit to being a Redskins fan). If Haynesworth doesn't fall in line and play the "Patriots Way" then expect him to be shown the door fairly quickly. He'll be on a short leash. Given that they invested relatively little to obtain him, the Patriots will find it a much easier pill to swallow if they are forced to cut him than it would have been for the Redskins to do so. If he plays a key role in leading the Patriots to another Super Bowl then it will just be another embarrassment to add to the growing list of blunders by Redskins owner "Chainsaw" Dan Snyder.
Call me skeptical, but I'm not expecting much from him, which is why the Patriots are taking a big risk with this move. Yet the reward for what he could offer this team is great enough to make it worth the risk. If not, then expect to hear a lot more Phat Albert jokes.
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