Did the Titans Try to Keep Haynesworth?

The Redskins made the big early splash in this year's free-agent market, inking DT Albert Haynesworth to a seven-year, $100 million contract ($41 million guaranteed). But this latest from Terry McCormick of the Nashville City Paper makes you wonder if Washington needed to pay Hayneworth even half that much:

"Tennessee's final offer to Haynesworth, according to a league source, amounted to a four-year package worth $34 million total, with about $20 million in guarantees, The City Paper learned."

Can't imagine ol' Albert had to think too long about that one.

The point of McCormick's story is that the Titans have established a pattern in the way they handle free agency -- i.e., they decide what they think a player is worth, make their offer and then don't go over it. Really, this story seems to say a lot about the way both of these teams do business.

McCormick cites specific examples of the ways in which Tennessee has executed this philosophy in recent years, including decisions to let players such as Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and Randy Starks all leave for greener pastures. That list, plus Haynesworth, makes you wonder if they just feel like they can plug any old defensive lineman into their system and be successful. They did go 13-3 this past year without those three guys.

As for Washington ... well, Daniel Snyder has been called the George Steinbrenner of the NFL, and it's possible he just likes to make the biggest possible splash with the most possible money. Surely there must have been other teams willing to beat Tennessee's offer for Haynesworth, but once the Redskins got to $100 million, it's hard to imagine anybody else thinking it'd be worth their time to try to compete. This is an old Steinbrenner trick -- bid so high you scare off everybody else from even making the effort to get the guy you want.

So maybe Haynesworth makes a huge impact in Washington (though it's hard to imagine him living up to the money), but if that happens, the Titans don't seem likely to sweat it. Their free-agent philosophy seems to be, "If you want to play for us, you'll do it for what we think you're worth, or you can go somewhere else and we'll live without you."

If they keep winning 13 games every year, they're probably going to notice a lot more teams doing it their way.

Just don't expect one of those teams to be the Redskins.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-09-2009 @ 9:39PM

Phillip said...

Dan, you seem to be forgetting that the Bucs were the other team next in line to get Big Al. The Titans were not even close to what the Skins and Bucs were offering Haynesworth. ESPN, Profootballtalk both said the Bucs had essentially the same contract for Haynesworth that the Redskins did, but a huge thing for Al was when the Bucs released veterans like Derrick Brooks.

4-09-2009 @ 9:42PM

Come to think of it, the Giants were also in the mix to get Haynesworth. So not only did the Redskins improve their already 4th ranked Defense, but they keep him away from a team in the division. The Redskins could not pressure the QB AT ALL last season, and they were still 4th on total defense.

4-09-2009 @ 10:01PM

Adam said...

I think we need to keep in mind that it's not really a seven year, $100 million contract. It's more of a four year, $48 million contract that's back-loaded. So with that, the Titan's $34 million offer and what Haynesworth got isn't as far off as it seems. It's a lot either way, but there's very little chance he'll get even half of that contract.

Haynesworth got his big a** number, Snyder got the attention he seems to crave, and the Redskins got one of the best players in the league.

4-10-2009 @ 8:08AM

coach16 said...

It's amazing to me how people love to bash the Redskins and the owner who will do what it takes to win.The Titans formula is good for them,but have won nothing!The Redskins may not be as successful as the Steelers or went 13-3 last year, but they have been to 5 SB's and have won 3 and 2 league championships and this year will contend in the toughest division which boasts more champions than any.Snyder will be there at the end and has helped many other owners stay afloat in tougher times.
Perception of Snyder is very wrong.
I will take Snyder over any owner in the NFL.
You only are getting your body worn down so you can hardly walk in a few years ,but that money will help get you through, ask any player who gave it up.
Go Redskins!

4-10-2009 @ 4:00PM

DaveWill said...

I'm a huge redskins fan and since that football IDIOT dan snyder took over the team we have won NOTHING!!!!!! His formula is a blueprint on how to LOSE in the NFL. I wish someone would just blow up redskins 1 with him on it.

4-10-2009 @ 10:02AM

geb202 said...

Just don't expect one of those teams to be the Redskins.

Truer words were never spoken. As a Redskins fan I can say:

Dan Snyder will never, ever get it.

4-10-2009 @ 10:51AM

checka624 said...

geb202, Dan Snyder will never "get" what? He wants to win, he loves the redskins. I dont blame him. He's learning as he goes but hes willing to do whatever it takes to win, and I greatly respect that. At least he doesn't sign thugs and make them rich like jerry jones, and btw, Jerry Jones has won a few superbowls himself, so trust when I say that Dan Synder will have the last laugh in the nend, and I'll love it.

- when the patriots sign old/washed up players, they are getting great value and trying ot squeeze more life out of vets. But when the redskins sign an older player, Dan Snyder is signing aging players again and trying to "buy a championship".

4-10-2009 @ 12:24PM

What Snyder doesn't get is that the base of a team doesn't come in FA or in trades. It comes in the draft. The great teams, the SB winning teams have mostly their own guys as starters. With the Redskins, only FOUR offensive starters were drafted by the Skins: Campbell, Cooley, Jansen and Samuels. Only a few more on defense. That's not how to build a franchise.

Every year, Snyder has the mentality that we're one or two big names away from a SB, so instead of rebuilding in the draft or adding good depth, he gets a few big names, which obviously isn't enough. This is why we're stuck with the oldest line in the league.

It's not the 'sexy' part of football, but games are really won and lost on the lines. Eli Manning isn't a great QB, but he has one of the best o-lines in the game. He's certainly no better than Campbell, and we've probably seen the best from him. Campbell, I think, has a higher potential than Manning, and all he needs is a stable line and time to throw, something Snyder won't give him.

4-10-2009 @ 12:43PM

karrl said...

Snyder bought the Redskins in May, 1999. In the 10 years since, in spite of all the money he has spent on players, and the coaches he has hired, the Skins have gone 76-84 and have made the playoffs 3 times. Various comments that he wants to win, which I don't doubt, but the record shows he hasn't figured out how to do so.

4-12-2009 @ 3:55PM

steve said...

hey dan i think you to be honest you should be smacked for this pathetic excuse for an article Are you KIDDING ME DAN "they're probably going to notice a lot more teams doing it their way.
Just don't expect one of those teams to be the Redskins." please when you write something like make sure you do your homework on the actual situation the bucs were gonna try to match are offer but the situations with brooks basically made him lean towards us just because your not a titans fan ( im assuming ) doesn't mean you need to bash are owner and are players when specially you Dont KNOW JACK SHIT ON WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT get your shit straight and i hope you reply to this i wana see what you have to say

4-10-2009 @ 2:07PM

viper said...

i ment to say your a titans fan lol i was angry

4-10-2009 @ 3:56PM

4-10-2009 @ 4:12PM

and dont give me that he's trying to win crap. no he isnt. he's trying to MAKE MONEY, which he's very good at. He just signs the biggest name and charges fans to come see that name. if you think he's buying these guys to try and win your as big of an idiot as he is. there is a formula for winning in the NFL and he does everything the exact opposite of the formula. he gives away draft picks like they grow on trees. he also lets our homegrown talent go, only to overpay someone else's homegrown talent (see adam archuletta and ryan clark). he's the worst owner in football and has made our beloved redskins a JOKE