Albert Haynesworth “Happy,” On Short Leash
November 10th, 2011
Joe has to give Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik credit. A lot of team executives, after making a controversial player acquisition, would hide behind a desk.
Not Dominik. He’s been talking about the move and opened up to NFL Network’s Albert Breer.
A story will be posted later on NFL.com, Breer Twittered, but he also posted a few of Dominik’s thoughts on Haynesworth on Twitter.
In short, Dominik claims that Haynesworth is “happy” to be in Tampa Bay and his leash is short with the Bucs.
@AlbertBreer: Had a good talk last night with Bucs GM Mark Dominik on Haynesworth. Asked if Haynesworth’s leash is short. His response: “Sure it is.” … Dominik also told me that Haynesworth was adamant about “how happy he was coming to Tampa, and that this is a system he wants to play in.”
This is going to be interesting. If Haynesworth truly is “happy” as Dominik suggested, perhaps he will be motivated.
If not… welp.
November 10th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Why wouldn’t Haynesworth be happy to play in Tampa ?
Tampa is a defensive minded football town that plays a 4 3 defense that Albert likes.
Plus, Tampa is a LOT better place to live then New England or Washington DC.
November 10th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Welp… lets see if the honeymoon lasts ~8 more weeks
November 10th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Per NFL.com, “He’s excited and fired up. He asked, how soon can we get him a flight? He said he wants to get in tonight, so he can go to practice tomorrow. Those were his words.”
Sounds like Fat Al really is excited to play in a 4-3 again. Let’s hope he can garner more than 3 tackles… in six games.
November 10th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Hey…Hey…Hey gonna have a good tiiiiiime. HeyHeyHey…
November 10th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Perhaps Dom is more forward thinking than we give him credit for. He saw this coming. Saw failure in DC, saw failure in NE. Figured, why pay huge when I could get him for the fraction of the price later on.
November 10th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I think it is a good buy considering the DL situation. Lets give him a tryout for low $$ and see if he can get his act together.
November 10th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
I’ve been gone for 3-4 days and had heard nothing about this until now. When I pulled up the site, I thought it was a joke, but it’s not April Fools Day.
How I feel about the move…
I’m a firm believer in speaking against something I disagree with to a point…and the point at which that policy ends is when the move is made and there is no going back.
Would I have wished for us to sign Hayneworth 6 months ago? Nope. He was too expensive in my book.
Would I have agreed with a signing last week? Yes. Probably so.
And here’s why:
We’re hurting. We have no veteran leadership on the defensive line. Not that Haynesworth is exactly leadership material.
Maybe its Karma. Maybe the fates wanted him to choose Tampa all along, and when he didn’t, everything went downhill. Who knows?
I don’t even expect him to make a huge difference. It would be nice if he did, though.
But as to how I feel right this minute? Signing him can’t hurt anything. This is a player-friendly atmosphere. Maybe he’ll be inspired.
Truth be told, you guys had time to get over the shock, lol. I haven’t.
But instead of being a negative nancy, I’m going to hope for the best.
November 10th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
@ joe
Since salmon died they have worn the stickers on the helmets is there any way there gonna wear the throwback oranges at all this season? I know I’m off topic maybe they need that to build focus and remember who there dedicating this season to.
November 10th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Selmon* damn smart phone…lol
November 10th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
@bucsalltheway: the throwback game is the Carolina Panthers game
November 10th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
If Haynesworth finishes the year REALLY strong, what do we do next year? Keep him at $7 mill? Trade him? Release him? They are not going to want Albert taking snap away from McCoy…
November 10th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
David, we won’t have to worry about that.
November 10th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
If anything i just hope he doesn’t get injured. Then we’ll really be in trouble.
November 10th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Ed,
I am with you but one thing about old grizzly veterans, most play through injury. McCoy should be the one on a short leash. Im not calling him sorry but until he proves he can condition himself to be healthy we need a better and veteran presence to help the development of these players.
November 10th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
“They are not going to want Albert taking snap away from McCoy…”
Well, they won’t have to worry about that the ENTIRE season. McCoy will get hurt sooner or later.
November 10th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
I don not get how tearing a bicep muscle off your arm calls for fans getting on McCoy for not producing or being injury prone.
Whatever. the guy made all the difference in the world against the run and for the DEs on the pass rush.
When he is not in there the numbers show the massive dropoff in both.
As far as Fat Albert: nothing to lose. If he does good…. they can cut him and resign for less. If he like it here and isn’t all about the money anymore and accepts… great. if not, didn’t want him anymore anyway right?
But that is getting ahead, let’s just see if he gives a good effort the rest of the season. heck, let’s start with this Sunday
November 10th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
I definitely don’t wish for this to fail, and once the shock wore off, I realized that it meant less Roy Miller. At that point the clouds opened, the golden rays of sun shone down and angels, unicorns, etc. frolicked in a pastoral Eden.
November 10th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I call bulls*t …if he wanted to play for us so badly why didn’t he sign with us the last two times he was a free agent ???
November 10th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Of course it’s BS, but who cares. He’s here now, end of story. I would rather him BS than say something derogatory towards Tampa or the team, wouldn’t you?
November 11th, 2011 at 12:37 am
He’s joking.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:42 am
I think he is happy. Belichick buries vets on the depth chart until they perform, and runs a hybrid defense. Shanahan installed a 3-4. The Tampa 2 is ideal for a lineman who likes to attack. Plus, he’s gotta realize this is his last chance. Tampa is completely different from Washington and New England in pretty much every way, so I think the signs are falling into place for a resurrection in his career. Either way, the deed is done, so I really have no choice but to be cautiously optimistic. Please play well for us, Albert!