Is there any chance Haynesworth becomes an Eagle?


I cannot be the first person who had this thought.

The Eagles are likely down a starting defensive tackle, and there's a former All-Pro defensive tackle on the trading block. Sure, that guy is headcase Albert Haynesworth, but should that stop the Eagles from pursuing the trade?

Blockbuster trades are not usually something in which the Eagles partake, but they have done it in the past when they felt it was necessary. They traded for Terrell Owens in 2004, and most recently traded Donovan McNabb within the division to the team that reluctantly employs Haynesworth.

In between they have pulled a lot of smaller trades here and there (Billy McMullen for Hank Baskett, picks for Ernie Sims, Antwan Barnes, and Reggie Wells, a trade deadline move for linebacker Will Witherspoon, etc.), so while they try to stay away from trades, they're clearly not opposed to pulling their fair share.

But, again, would it be wise to add Haynesworth to that list of trades?

As mentioned before, Haynesworth has shown the ability to play like an All-Pro. In the Tennessee Titans' 4-3 scheme he was able to play inside at tackle, outside at end, and switch from side to side.

He was a run-stuffer and also a pass-rushing presence that opened a lot of possibilities for the guys playing beside and around him. That ability earned Haynesworth Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods in 2007 and 2008 as he racked up 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 73 tackles.

Needless to say, that's a guy the Eagles could really use.

Unfortunately, out of Haynesworth's nine-year career, he's only played at an All-Pro level for two seasons -- both of which were contract years. So unless the Eagles can get Haynesworth to agree to one-year deals year after year, he likely will only produce like a middle-of-the-road player but demand to be paid like a superstar.

And if you think for a second that's a player Reid would ever have on his team, then you haven't paid attention to the NFL or the Eagles for very long.

In fact, there were rumors that Haynesworth was offered up as a part of the McNabb trade and the Eagles essentially told the Redskins "thanks, but no thanks."

So while the Eagles likely won't trade for Haynesworth, should they? Or in other words, is Reid's resistance to a player like Haynesworth ultimately a mistake?

Many will say yes, but I don't believe so.

Reid has made it very clear he's going to build a young team, and Haynesworth doesn't fit into that. Giving up draft picks for a guy like Haynesworth might help them win this season, but they're not built to win this season so ultimately the trade would turn out to be a waste.

Brodrick Bunkley will be back next year, and then the team would be left with three starting defensive tackles, but one would be very unhappy as he hits the bench. Unhappy players create controversy and, even though you wouldn't know it by watching the quarterback situation, Reid avoids controversy at all costs.

The more likely scenario is the Birds ride out this "re-tooling" year with Mike Patterson and a rotation of Trevor Laws and Antonio Dixon, while Haynesworth and the Redskins organization pretend they can stand one another.

There's a possibility Haynesworth finishes the 2010 season in a different uniform, but there's almost zero chance Haynesworth is part of a second intradivisional trade between the Eagles and their rivals down the interstate.
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Even the Redskins think his contract is ridiculous.


Per Adam Calpan of Scout.com, the Eagles were reportedly offered defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in the recent blockbuster trade of Donovan McNabb. The Eagles will receive a second-round pick in 2010 and either a third or fourth in 2011, but they could have had Haynesworth as well.

"The Redskins actually offered - I'm told by two league sources - Albert Haynesworth, the oustanding defensive tackle, but Albert Haynesworth has an enormous contract," Caplan said before sneaking in that Jim Zorn and his staff couldn't stand Haynesworth.

Apparently, the Eagles do not believe (and neither does the rest of the league) that Haynesworth is worth the ridiculous money the Redskins paid him. And if the Danny Snyder thought he'd get lucky enough to have a team like the Eagles take on the burden, he's crazy.

Despite the need for a playmaker along the defensive line, the Eagles still didn't think the money was worth having an underachiever who plays when he wants to.

It will probably upset a lot of fans in Philadelphia, but I'm with the Eagles on this one. There was absolutely no reason to pick him up for the sole fact that he's not worth the money he's being paid.

Add in the fact that he's a crybaby and an underachieving locker room cancer and it doesn't take a lot of thought to figure out why the Eagles turned that down.

There's absolutely no doubt that it would be great to have Haynesworth on your team, but only if he's in a contract year and thinks he has some incentive to play well. Simply playing to win is clearly not good enough for him and the Redskins are starting to realize that.

I've always joked that the only way Hayneworth would be on my team is if I could just keep signing him to one-year deals. That's the only way anyone will get any real value out of him.

But now that the 'Skins have paid him, they're stuck with him. Outside of releasing him and admitting right out that it was a huge mistake, they're stuck paying his ridiculous salary for the next six years.

In the whirlwind of trading for McNabb, I almost forgot what a hilarious trainwreck the Redskins have been under the ownership of Snyder.

I'm not exactly sure what McNabb was thinking, perhaps it was just the opportunity to stick it to the Eagles and the fans who made the last 11 years of his life a living hell, but if it were me I'd have been on the first plane to Buffalo.
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Haynesworth stands over a defeated Warrick Dunn.


In any defense, the tackles may be the most important part.

They are the first line, and they're the tone-setters. Their play can determine the difficulty or ease of the linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties behind them.

If the line is playing well and keep the linebackers clean, odds are that team will be fairly successful. If they're not, their respective team is looking at a very long day.

They're the biggest guys on the field and their only intention is to make sure that the other big guys across from them don't move them. They growl, they snot, and they snarl just to defend that six inches of ground.

The trenches. It's the reason why we love football and what makes it such a man's man of a sport. Giving up or keeping that six inches can be the difference between a win and a loss.

These are the guys who do it best.


5. Mike Patterson - Philadelphia Eagles

54 games started, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 154 tackles

Patterson has been solid since his first days in the NFL, but over the last two seasons he has really began to separate himself as one of the better tackles in all of football.

He's grown into a brick wall. He's not tall, and not all that big at only 5'11 and barely breaking 300 pounds, but he understands that leverage is all that counts when you're a lineman, and he uses it better than most.

His shorter stature seems to help with this, as it's much easier for a guy at 5'11 to get lower than a guy at around 6'4.

Look for Patterson in the Pro Bowl this year, and several times in seasons following. If this list is put together again in a few years, he may find himself much higher.

4. Marcus Stroud - Buffalo Bills

100 games started, 24.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 245 tackles, *3-time Pro Bowler

Stroud is an absolutely dominating force.

He's highly underrated because of the small markets he's played in (Jacksonville and Buffalo), but make no mistake there is not a single offensive coordinator in the league who doesn't gamplan for a way around Marcus Stroud.

Even without the deserved media coverage, Stroud has still found his way to three Pro Bowls. One more than his former teammate, John Henderson.

Stroud is always going to command a double-team, and will make his teammates better because of it.

3. Tommie Harris - Chicago Bears

69 games started, 24.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 143 tackles, *3-time Pro Bowler
Tommie Harris may be the quickest man playing defensive tackle.

Unlike Patterson, Harris is much more of a pass-rush specialist. While he certainly doesn't seem to lack against the run, his forte is getting pressure on the quarterback and creating havoc in the backfield.

Barring injuries, Harris may be considered the best tackle in all of football, regardless of the scheme. Unfortunately for Harris and the Bears, he has been injured throughout his career and unable to reach his full potential.

Even while he may not ever get to that point, he is still a force to be reckoned with and should be recognized as one of the most complete tackles playing the game today.

2. Albert Haynesworth - Washington Redskins

74 games started, 24 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 200 tackles, *2-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Albert Haynesworth. He seems to only be motivated by the money and the glory of playing professional football. I may be wrong, but the fact that he has only produced in contract years does nothing to temper the criticism.

As far as on-the-field goes, no one has been better than Haynesworth the past two years. He has been a disrupting force anywhere along the line. While he's mainly a tackle, he has moved out to defensive end on occasion with great success.

He is a beast of a human being and is able to beat nearly any offensive lineman that the league can throw at him. Again, the only problem is that he has only produced in contract years.

If we throw out the past two seasons (both contract years), Haynesworth has a mere 9.5 sacks. He also has never finished out an entire season. This, in my mind, does not entitle him to the $100 million contract he received. He has his money, now will he be motivated to perform?

1. Kevin Williams - Minnesota Vikings

94 games started, 42.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 5 forced fumbles, 4 TDs, 223 tackles, *4-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro

Kevin Williams is without question the very best defensive tackle in the entire NFL.

He is incredibly reliable (having missed only two games in his career), and can rush the passer as well as stuff the run.

He's an absolute wrecking ball on the line. Moving him is a nightmare for any offensive line. He consistently must be double-teamed if he is going to be taken out of a game, and even then he usually dominates.

His rare mix of being able to get to the quarterback and hold his own on the line is something the NFL hasn't seen since back when Reggie White graced the football field with his presence.

The four career interceptions, two of which he's returned for touchdowns, shows the rare athleticism he possesses for a man his size. He also has scooped up two fumbles for touchdowns.

Williams is a talent that only comes along once a generation. He's a man who's extremely underappreciated because of the position he plays, but should get serious Hall of Fame looks if his career holds up the way it is.
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