Haynesworth and the Eagles
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Haynesworth and the Eagles
Jonathan Tamari
A report from Yahoo! sports yesterday said Eagles coaches have interest in Plaxico Burress and Albert Haynesworth. We wrote a brief picking up that piece of news for today's paper and online because we figured it would be of interest, but didn't write much more because any moves for those players, and particularly Haynesworth, is still a long way away and the feeling here is that there are still long odds that either players ends up in green.
The Yahoo! report cited an unnamed Eagles source who described the thinking of Andy Reid and defensive line coach Jim Washburn. I've got no reason to doubt the quotes or that Washburn would love to be reunited with Haynesworth, who he coached to great success in Tennessee.
But there are big questions about the Eagles acquiring either man.
Start with Burress. His situation has been covered by me and many others on this site, so let's go with a quick summary: the Eagles are deep at receiver, scored a ton of points last season, were a touch above average in offensive red zone efficiency, and have no idea yet what Plax can so after two years on the shelf. In other words, they have much more pressing needs and other teams more desperate for receiver help are more are likely to offer the free agent a better deal.
Haynesworth is more intriguing, because the Eagles badly need a disruptive presence on the line and he has history with Washburn. Still, he's under contract for now. For the Eagles to get him via trade they would have to absorb a fat, uh, contract for a guy who turns 30 on Friday and who, while quite talented, showed questionable effort on the field and found trouble off it.
If the ‘Skins decide to deal him, I doubt they'd want to see him reunited with his old position coach on a division rival.
Maybe Washington can't trade Haynesworth and just cuts him. At this point, no one knows if that's where this is actually going. If it did happen, the Eagles would have to compete with contract offers from other teams. He would fit into their 4-3 scheme and it makes sense that he might make Washburn happy. But to the Eagles’ top decision makers – including Joe Banner, Howie Roseman and Andy Reid – effort and hustle are critical qualities. When invest big in a player, “love of the game” is always one of the first phrases out of their mouths. They’ll take draft picks completely off their board based on poor work ethic or attitude problems.
Haynesworth has shown both. Also, it’s worth noting that while Washburn seems to have a desire for the defensive tackle, the trifecta of top decision makers mentioned above has been very quiet about their potential targets. Those are the guys who will have to sign off on any move. Roseman was interviewed in the Yahoo! article and wouldn’t comment on specific players. The same has been true for me every time I’ve spoken with Roseman this offseason.
Obviously, we can’t rule anything out. The Eagles are not afraid to take chances and they always do their due diligence on all the options. I think all the talk from Banner, Roseman, Reid and even owner Jeffrey Lurie about making a big splash in the free agency and trade market is genuine. And yes, Washburn’s tie to Haynesworth is important.
Every position coach would love to have as many weapons as he can handle. But there’s a difference between one coach’s desire and the team's executives taking action.
What no Ogie Oglethorpe?— hunglikeaton- Maybe we get Haynesworth and his bloat, combine him with one of the undersized "high-motor" DLs, and have a really good hybrid!
- One lazy dude can corrupt any team. There is more downside on Haynesworth than upside. There is a need but they should fill it with another free agent.
I would love to have any cheap 6-5 plus receiver or tight end. It shouldn't take Burress to fill the need of a jump ball threat. Bootleg Vick fakes the the high fade and tucks it. Same need with a between the tackles RB. Somebody like Leroy Hoard, "Coach, if you need one yard, I'll get you three yards. If you need five yards, I'll get you three yards."
I really miss Weaver.— willbert31 - @Jimmy, Try to name one team without players that has a troubled past or personal issues? You make it sound like Eagles are the only ones.— penncrow19
Comment removed.
The Eagles are going in for it all. Signing Burress, Haynesworth, Babin and an LB and the Eagles will win the Superbowl this year. Go Eagles!!!!!!!!— briandawkins20- With Haynesworth it's not even the fact that he's an immature moron. He is NOT the same player that was a young buck for the Titans...He no longer has that fire to work his body into the type of shape it requires to be dominant at that level....Yahoo? Consider the source.— bearsfriend
- Last year Haysworth was a barrel full of trouble in Washington. Who cares if his reasons are that he did not like the defensive changes or the coach. He let his teammates down over and over again by not playing the game at the level he is capable of. What if he comes here and doesn't like Reid or the color of the lockeroom he will once again dog it and destroy any defensive morale in the team. We wind up with a team unity killer. Eagles front office will not take that chance. Send hime to the Florida Jauquars where he will rot outside the possiblity of any limelight.— unbelieveable!
- I love it when fans say no to questionable character guys. I'm sure you all rooted for Pete Rose, Lenny Dykstra, Brett Myers,TO etc..I just want my favorite team to win on the field.
- It amazes me when folks on here complain about the Eagles becomung a "Prison Team". As if the current "Choir Boy"versions have won anything. Give me a team loaded with guys of questionable character who WINS titles over the "Blue Collar guy i want to have a beer with'who wins NOTHING!— bkg126
- It's not an either/or scenario. There are plenty of teams that have been successful without having more than a couple guys of questionable character. On the flip side, you can go out and sign a bunch of high-talented guys with sketchy histories and still lose. Character and leadership matter. Look no further than the Redskins for proof of that. They've rolled the dice more than once on free agents with character issues and it hasn't gotten them anywhere. — Ltown215
- has anyone mentioned Albert's "play" against the Eagles last year where he just laid on the field while Vick ran around?
— ekw555 - Everybody knows that you go to Washington to get a Big PayDay... Ask Trotter... Haynesworth did contribute on the field sometimes... He just was in the wrong defense.... he should not play in the 3-4... He was doubled all the time, when he played... I think that the if he joins the Birds, it will be different.... Ask Trotter.... LOL.... Plax.... We need a jumper receiver... we got fast receivers, but they are small... Cooper does not come back to the ball... what we really need is a cornerback to compliment Samuels.... We always was getting burned on the right side of the defense....— Cool 1
- Don't like either.....don't want either.— djlen
- Haynesworth is a dog. We all watched him lay on the ground and watch plays go by. I'd rather have a young guy trying to prove himself.— rustypop58
