Titans Think Redskins Tampered With Albert Haynesworth

The Tennessee Titans believe that the Washington Redskins broke the NFL's tampering rules in their signing of Albert Haynesworth, and now the only question is whether they can prove it to Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean is reporting that the Titans are interested in pursuing the charges. That's no surprise: Reports swirled in the days before free agency opened that the Redskins and Haynesworth already had a deal in place. That would be a textbook example of a violation of tampering rules.

But can the Titans prove it? We know that Haynesworth's agent was spotted talking to Redskins owner Daniel Snyder at the NFL Scouting Combine, but that doesn't prove anything. And Haynesworth says he didn't hear anything from the Redskins until four minutes after the free agency period officially started.

Of course, last year, most people thought the evidence that the 49ers tampered with Lance Briggs was fairly flimsy. That didn't stop Goodell from ruling that the 49ers had, in fact, tampered -- and from giving the Bears one of the 49ers' draft picks.

The Titans aren't making a big deal out of this publicly, other than Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt saying, "It's always something we can address with the league.'' You can bet Goodell will hear more than that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-07-2009 @ 11:35AM

Luz said...

I think the Redskins are in the clear. Not because they won't be found to have tampered but because they don't have any draft picks for the Titans to take.

3-07-2009 @ 12:00PM

lucy said...

lol you got that right!!!

3-07-2009 @ 12:18PM

Adam said...

Boo hoo, it's part of the business.

3-07-2009 @ 12:30PM

scott said...

Haven't the redskins learned anything from the yankees in baseball. Just because you have a big payroll doesn't amount to winning championships. Build you team from the draft and have a good coaching staff to bring them along. Oh thats right, the skins don't have any draft picks. They keep trading them. Chalk it up to another losing year deadskins.

3-07-2009 @ 12:31PM

Donald said...

go cry in your beer, Titans!!!! you just didnt feel like paying Haynesworth what the Skins could. DEAL WITH IT!!! As far as tampering goes, have fun proving it!!

3-07-2009 @ 1:11PM

Sue said...

Redskins tampering? Come on now. Next thing you'll be telling us that baseball players have been using steroids or that horse racing is fixed. I'm just shocked, shocked!

3-07-2009 @ 1:25PM

Kevin said...

The deal was on here at 5:28am. Would think it takes at least that long to ype up the conract.

3-07-2009 @ 1:51PM

Mike said...

Scott, you sound like a broken record. Try getting your own opinion instead of just repeating the same mantra everyone and their mother does. Your insight is nonexistent.

3-07-2009 @ 2:16PM

HEADHAWG said...

First of all,The Redskins hold the lucky number 13 in this years draft.As for my man Dan meeting with Haynesworth's agent,he is also Malcolm Kelley's agent,and who knows how many players in the draft.

3-07-2009 @ 4:33PM

robebars said...

The tampering charge is just the Titans' way of an excuse to their fans for not resigning Haynesworth. With the money they saved on Haynesworth, they can afford to have Jeff Fisher skyjump onto the practice field a few more times.

3-07-2009 @ 4:49PM

Redskins0492 said...

They probably did, but there isn't any evidence to prove it.

3-07-2009 @ 4:56PM

Ken said...

Of course the Redskins tampered, but only with the help of Bill Belechek! Hey, hasn't he been accused of everything else in the last 2 years? If there's a rule broken, Belechek and the Patriots shold be investigated and all of the wins taken away from them. Hey, the didn't win 3 super bowls, go 18-0, and set all kinds of team and individual records without cheating (or could they have?)

3-07-2009 @ 5:10PM

crzydav111 said...

the redskins are cheaters , the redskins are cheaters

3-08-2009 @ 2:59PM

gernjewels24 said...

Tampered or Pampered? heh,heh...

3-08-2009 @ 7:16PM

I won't lie, I was like "WOW" when he was locked up so fast. But, if they pursue it they must feel like they can prove it.

3-08-2009 @ 9:13PM

Richard said...

tampering means you talked and had a contract in place with him already...knowing your gonna make some bucks in free agency isn't a tampering problem..just you unable to lock up your guy...we prolly had a contract written up and once 12:01 hit we called him up and said "BAM your makin some searious scratch son" and he went for it...how is that cheating?

3-09-2009 @ 5:46PM

brian said...

This is BS, the Titans are just mad because we destroyed their team ...Go Skins

3-10-2009 @ 2:00PM

Krakka said...

It wouldn't matter if they had. Titans are famous for not resigning someone that has proven themselves in the past, so they would have lost him anyway. They should be happy he is in the NFC now and someone in the AFC didn't get him because he would have destroyed them twice a year instead of maybe just once a year.

3-11-2009 @ 7:15AM

Steve said...

Titans Think Redskins Tampered With Albert Haynesworth..(OH PLEASE)WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH FROM THE LIP.. Tha titan managment know the messed up and are now pulling at strings to try make it look good for you the fans..We the Redskins have him now and are over the moon to get this LEGEND and are looking forward to next season..SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS HAHAHA..Best Reagrds Steve