Fat (Contract) Albert - Part One

Just don't make him mad. PS he's always mad.

Wow. So the Redskins nabbed Titans massive defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the jewel of 2009 free agency. And paid him a lot of money. A laaaaaahhhht of money. The deal Albert signed with Washington on the first day of free agency is worth up to 115 million dollars over seven years with 41 million dollars guaranteed.

If this works out like it is supposed to then the Redskins defense, already an elite squad four of the past five years, just became downright dangerous. Of course things sometimes have a way of working out in ways unexpected. Today The Curly R begins a two part series on Washington's new franchise player.

Part One: Off the Field
Part Two: On the Field

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Albert Haynesworth was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the fifteenth pick overall in the 2002 NFL draft out of the University of Tennessee, the same year defenders Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney and Ryan Sims were taken. Albert obviously brought talent, he also brought a barely controlled rage, in 2000 as a sophomore at Tennessese Albert got into an altercation with Volunteers offensive tackle Will Ofenheusle, Albert stormed off the practice field and came back with what is described as a pole, apparently looking to strike his teammate again and again until such time or number of blows as his sense of justice was satisfied. Now fired Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer quote suspended unquote Albert for all of one half game, sending an oh so clear signal that individuals of his skill are not above the rules of sportsmanship. That's one.

Three years later in 2003 training camp Albert kicked teammate center Justin Hartwig in the chest (op. cit.). Albert was later suspended for the last game of that season for punching teammate offensive tackle Matt Martin (ibid.). That's two and three.

Three years later in the 2006 offseason Albert was arrested in a road rage altercation, a woman and her son in law claim that Albert tried to run them off the road in his Ford F-650 truck on Interstate 40 in Tennessee. In the complaint the driver said Albert was harrassing them and tried to pass them on the left shoulder and that they felt threatened. If you have not have seen the Ford F-650 have a look here. I am terrified and ready to file charges just looking at it. Pretty close to four but this one went away for Albert.

Some of the charges were dismissed a week later when it became apparent the police did not know where they were, and the rest were dismissed the next day. The arrest was the result of a complaint by the other driver and after a quote investigation unquote the prosecutors declined to press the remaining charges.

Later that year, in October Albert stomped on the helmetless face of Cowboys center Andre Gurode, an injury that required 30 stitches to close. The YouTube of the incident is here, in the scrum at the end of the play Albert kicks Andre once in the head as the man is on the ground then once Andre's helmet is off just rakes his cleats over Andre's face in a very deliberate fashion. Albert is suspended five games by the league, a record for on field bad behavior. The Titans claimed back the five games worth of Albert's signing bonus and talked big about maybe cutting ties with him and in a heroic display of principle and fairness let Albert come back as though nothing happened. That's four.

Two years later in March of 2008 Albert was cited for driving 103 miles per hour in a 70 miles per hour zone (ibid.). Later that month Albert's wife filed for divorce, citing quote inappropriate marital conduct and irreconcilable differences unquote. Nine months later in December of 2008 Albert was fined one thousand dollars and placed on thirty days probation for that moving violation from March (op. cit.). Then it gets weird.

Four days later Albert was charged with careless driving after passing other cars at upwards of 80 miles per hour, causing one car to crash into a concrete median (ibid.), injuring the driver. Although the careless driving charge was eventually dropped (ibid.), Albert was indicted yesterday on reckless driving charges and for violating the probation he had been placed on FOUR DAYS EARLIER. (WaPo Redskins Insider / Friday paper)

Check that again, all Albert had to do was stay in the right lane and drive the speed limit for thirty days and could not do it. Ninety-six hours after being hauled in front of a judge and being yelled at for being a reckless driver he was out in his Ferrari driving like such a complete asshole that he left crashed cars and injuries in his wake. That's what, five, six and seven?

These charges carry possible jail time. Dan Dan the Sports Bog Man wonders aloud on his own platform why the Redskins official site and official blog are silent on the matter.


Great to see character matters in the Redskins' war room.


Fat Contract Albert continues tomorrow with part two, On the Field.



Albert Haynesworth resisting the urge to stomp on Warrick Dunn's face, uncredited image from here.