See, Albert Haynesworth is a great guy

“Vacation Man” is certain the Bucs will make a major play for Albert Haynesworth on Friday, so he said today in an interview with The Fabulous Sports Babe on ESPN 1040 AM.

For those of you new to JoeBucsFan.com, Vacation Man is Pat Yasinskas, the ESPN.com beat writer for the NFC South. He also covered the Bucs for the Tampa Tribune and owned the Panthers beat for the Charlotte Observer after that. (Joe calls him Vacation Man because he said he didn’t watch the Bucs-Dallas game last season).

His comments today conflict squarely against the report by Peter King, of Sports Illustrated ,and the Houston Chronicle story that has Haynesworth ready to sign with the Redskins.

“I’m seriously convinced that the Bucs will make a strong play for Haynesworth,” Yasinskas said, acknowledging contrary reports. “And knowing the Bucs’ cap situation, he’d be foolish not to listen. …The Bucs are definitely interested in Haynesworth. …And the consensus around the league is Haynesworth will get paid [his asking price].”

Yasinskas has inside access, as does King. Joe will enjoy seeing how this plays out between the two MSM heavyweights.

Joe’s going to bet a 10-timer on Yasinskas. Somewhere Jim Bates is trying to sell his soul for Haynesworth.