According to several media reports the New England Patriots have acquired former All Pro NT Albert Haynesworth, 30, from the Washington Redskins for a 5th round draft pick.
Haynesworth, a 2002 1st round pick out of the University of Tennessee (15th overall), made his mark in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans where he played for 7 seasons making 2 Pro Bowls and being named a NFL All-Pro twice. Named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, he left Tennessee after the 2008 season when he signed a huge free agent contract with Washington that was reported for $100 million over 7 years.
Haynesworth, once a dominant force in the middle with the Titans, is expected to regain that form in New England as one of the leagues brutal run stoppers.
Haynesworth is not without his baggage though.
In training camp in 2003 he kicked Tennessee teammate Justin Hartwig in the chest and had to be restrained. In 2006 he stomped on Dallas lineman Andre Gurode in the chest during a game and was suspended for five games. Then in 2010 he had several issues between himself and the Redskins coaching staff eventually leading to his exit from the Beltway.
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Haynesworth has had off the field issues too, having had arrest warrants issued for him over a traffic incident in 2006. The charges were later dropped. In 2009, he was indicted on traffic charges for an accident that led to a man being paralyzed in which he was reportedly driving his Ferrari in excess of 100 mph.
In 2004, a bank took legal action for failure to repay a commercial loan of nearly $2.4 million and filed suit against Haynesworth. In 2010 he was sued for paternity by an exotic dancer in New York State, who asked for $10 million for child support and expenses. And earlier this season he reportedly threw a punch during a traffic altercation in Leesburg, VA.
New England is known in the Belichick-era for taking on troubled players and having them return to form. Two of the Patriots success stories were running back Corey Dillon and wide receiver Randy Moss.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s in his morning press conference refused to talk about the trade other than to say the team was “in the process of acquiring Albert Haynesworth” from the Washington Redskins.
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