This doesn't have a whole lot to do with the 49ers, but it's just something that's been on my mind lately. Actually, it has to do with the 49ers in the sense that I do NOT want them to sign Albert Haynesworth. I've gone through with my free agent addition predictions, so why not come up with a prediction of a guy I would strongly prefer the 49ers not sign?
The whole Albert Haynesworth situation has been very odd, really dating to the beginning of his career. Haynesworth has always come across as the proverbial "bad apple." He's had anger issues, motivation issues and just general pain in the butt issues. The most damning evidence was when he stomped on Andre Gurode. I just can't see any possible excuse for that.
Lately what's really gotten me thinking is the way this so-called pre-free agent process has gone with him. The NFL takes tampering (and so-called tampering) very seriously and yet it honestly seems like the Washington Redskins, Daniel Snyder and Albert Haynesworth are just ignoring the implications of their activities. Snyder had dinner with Haynesworth's agent. Now Haynesworth has been interviewed by a Washington, DC CBS affiliate. It's felt like Pro Football Talk and I are the only people getting up in arms about this.
However, more importantly than the apparent tampering issues is the contract Haynesworth seems to be angling for, just north of $100,000,000 over seven or eight years. I'm sorry, but that's just insanity. Particularly for a guy with a questionable non-contract year motor. He claims he wants to get naysayers off his back, but how many people really believe him?
Or am I just getting myself in a huff over nothing at all? People here have expressed serious interest in Albert Haynesworth as the 49ers next nose tackle. Personally, I don't trust such a move and am strongly against it. But maybe I'm just being a hater. For the Haynesworth supporters out there, talk me off the ledge.
Even if he doesn't crack $100 million, Albert Haynesworth is going to get a heck of a lot of money over many years. The 49ers have sufficient cap space, but why should they make such a move? Why not potentially just go after a guy like BJ Raji in the draft and avoid spending $100M on a notoriously bad motor? I'd like to hear why it would be a good idea for the 49ers to back up the Brinks truck and dump a bunch of cash in Haynesworth's lap.