Haynesworth: Bucs Would Have Given More Money

When Albert Haynesworth signed his seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins he immediately became the highest paid defensive player in the league.

But now he's told Sirius radio (as relayed by the Bucs Beat) that he could have actually earned a lot more if he was willing to become a Tampa Bay Buc. Instead, he wanted to go to Washington because he wanted to be part of a team in a big market--something that disqualified both the Titans and Bucs in his mind.

"They offered me a whole lot more, and even with their tax situation, it could have been 20 percent more. But you look at Washington, they've got a lot of the pieces together. They're right there. They're in a huge market. It's one of the largest markets in the world. You've just got a large, huge media outlet and it can be life beyond football. Going to Tampa, I mean, great city. Looking at it from the off-season standpoint, I love the water. I love to be out in the sun. It's just awesome, but it would've been like another Nashville. Tampa doesn't have that big market and they don't have a huge fan base like the Washington Redskins do, so I think it was just a choice just to look at it that way."

The Redskins do have arguably a larger fan base than the Bucs or Titans, but does it really help to lob a grenade at the fans of another team in the same conference?

But more notably, this is just a further reminder that either there was some tampering going on or the first hours of the free agent signing period was amazingly busy, as Haynesworth's agent managed to field a massive offer from the Redskins, take down the details of an even bigger offer from the Bucs (and work out the tax ramifications), decide to go back to the Redskins and work out the parameters of a deal and nail it down, all in the first couple of hours after teams could legally talk to free agents.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-26-2009 @ 4:21AM

Steve said...

This goes to show that although Albert Haynesworth was offered a lot more money from Tampa Bay Bucs to play for them he decided to sign for the SKINS (still a lot of money), he is a football player of emense tallent and i for one am glad we got him,lets hope he can play for us the way he played for the TITANS who of course are still very upset by loosing him LOL..And futher more why does the MEDIA still like to bring up dirt (that there was tampering going on or the first hours of the free agent signing period) LET IT GO PEOPLE (MEDIA)!!! STOP TRYING TO STIR THINGS UP HE IS A REDSKIN NOW LIVE WITH IT...Best Regards Steve Dublin Ireland

6-26-2009 @ 4:06AM

guesswho said...

Haynesworth; HAIL to the REDSKINS!

6-26-2009 @ 11:30AM

mnkstr1 said...

The author thinks that the agent himself is the only one working on fielding offers and working out deals. These agents have staff that work for them. It's entirely possible that offers from the skins, bucs and probably a few other teams too were fielded, reviewed, and a deal hammered out within the first few hours. These tampering allegations are going to go nowhere. The league can't prove anything. I wish the media outside of the Redskins market would relax their coverage of the Redskins and give them a fair shake.

6-26-2009 @ 4:42PM

Stoney said...

J.J., How do you see this as "throwing a grenade"? All he said was say, D.C. had a bigger market. Why is it than when ever the Skins do anything it's Grandstanding, cheating, or "The Dan" is trying to be "The King of sports". After a while it gets pretty F***ing silly. Just because he had the B*LLS to make a move early, everybody says "he cheated". Hail man, every team in the league knew what it would take to sign Big Al. Snyder just did it better.

6-26-2009 @ 11:09PM

ken72864 said...

Face it he cheated!! But who cares because they overpaid for an overrated player. Will fit in nicely with the rest of the Redskins. I say they finish their usual 8-8.

6-26-2009 @ 9:38PM

bizzyblackvm said...

Who cares about Tampa anyways?? There sting is gone. Us Skins Fans call there stadium "FEDEX SOUTH" that's our second home

6-27-2009 @ 1:39PM

beachlife37 said...

The last time the skins played in Raymond James in "07, they lost. In '06 they lost at raymond james. In '05 they got lucky in the playoffs but during the regular season the skins lost again. It appears that Washington is 1-3 in its last 4 games at raymod james. You justify calling raymond james FedEx South with that record????? you guys are a joke.

6-29-2009 @ 1:48PM

meangreen said...

The Bucs didn't miss out on anything. I laugh at the Redskins for over paying for a guy that doesn't give his full effort on every play. This is yet another example of a soft free-agent market with only a hand-full of over-rated players available. The Redskins think that they can throw money around and buy a championship. Good luck to you Redskins fans but don't get too excited, because you will just get let down in the end.

6-27-2009 @ 12:02PM

HogHeaven21 said...

First of all, F U to all you haters who do just that. There is a reason that the redskins were the most valuable franchise for all those years and are second now...and hold the current attendance record for who knows how many years in a row. Ticket waiting list is ridiculous. Blackout in dc, please thats a joke. So its a definite and not "arguable" that we have a larger fan base than tampa, or any other team for that matter. And albert, welcome home. We love you already. Anyone who wears that burgundy and gold is a part of the family. So for the rest of you punks who follow the rest of those dumbass teams, HAIL TO THE MUDA F'N REDSKINS!

6-27-2009 @ 9:08PM

Meangreen. Is that from smoking PCP or the stain in your pants when you play the SKINS. At least us SKINS fans say we are SKINS fans from the get-go, MO FO! We don't need to be asked the name of the team we support. It's in our blood and usually we are wearing something with the colors in it. You must be a "brain doner" from Philly, Meangreen! Don't give us your Bull Sh*t about anything. We have titles, money, the players, and time. So B*E*L*O*W**M*E*!

6-28-2009 @ 10:02PM

hatrick said...

Big Al is a very pratical man, of course he would choose to play and live in the DC-Maryland region. I live in beautiful Southern California and would gladly live in DC as well.

Go Skins and Lakers!

6-29-2009 @ 11:22AM

Carlos said...

6-29-2009 @ 7:40PM

sucio said...

aint it funny, as in sad, how many ppl have nothing better to do then talk shit about the skins?! i mean c'mon grow up!!

7-04-2009 @ 9:32PM

MIKEH3875 said...

albert got paid up so now he is going to be laid up.motivation is only there when he is chasing the big contract.this signing will backfire on the redskins.