Albert Haynesworth Set To Earn $1.5 Million In 2011 As Part Of Incentive-Heavy Contract

Albert Haynesworth To Earn Nearly $4 Million Less In Guaranteed Salary With Patriots

Albert Haynesworth's restructured contract with the New England Patriots reveals just how savvy the franchise really is. Haynesworth is set to earn $1.5 million in base salary this season, nearly $4 million less than the $5.4 million he earned with the Redskins last season. The contract is heavily incentive laden, however, allowing Haynesworth to earn back his money depending on how many snaps he plays this season.

The first bonus kicks in once Haynesworth plays 20 percent of the available defensive snaps, earning him an additional $1 million. Afterwards, the bonuses start coming in $590,000 increments once he hits 45 percent. From then on he'll earn an additional $590,000 at 50, 55, 60 and 65 percent. He will earn another $400,000 if he makes the Pro Bowl.

The system should help motivate the notoriously work-adverse defensive tackle to, you know, work. Haynesworth gets a significant pay raise in 2012, up to $6.7 million in base salary, providing him even more incentive to wreck offensive lineman like the defensive MVP of yore. 

The Patriots are set to kickoff their preseason Thursday against the Jaguars. Head over to Pats Pulpit for the latest analysis on Haynesworth's prospects and this year's team.

Albert Haynesworth Sounds Excited About Trade To Patriots

If Albert Haynesworth's production is really as tied to his motivation as so many people claim, he could be in for a monster year if his interview with the Boston Herald is any indication. When asked for his reaction to the trade that sent him to the New England Patriots, he responded, "Hell yeah."

He also sounds particularly excited about playing alongside Vince Wilfork: "That’s going to be scary. That’s going to be scary for other teams."

Among other tidbits from the interview was the apparent revelation that Hayneworth, a native of South Carolina, is a Patriots fan and even watched a playoff game after receiving tickets from former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison. He also seems intent on making sure people remember his days as a Patriot, describing his new mission this way: "Restoring my name.... Albert Haynesworth the Patriot."

At various points in his career, Haynesworth has been among the best defensive players in football. His best year was 2008 when he registered 8.5 sacks and made 51 tackles, while earning his second straight All-Pro selection and being named the Sporting News' Defensive Player of the Year. He signed seven-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins the following offseason. In two seasons, he's appeared in just 20 games and registered 6.5 sacks. He also clashed with coaches over the defensive system and was eventually suspended for the final month of the 2010 season.

Conditioning Test Is Still No Friend To Albert Haynesworth

Albert Haynesworth Trade To New England Has Patriots Fans Excited

Albert Haynesworth is the talk of the town after news broke overnight that the Washington Redskins had decided to trade their often troublesome as he is talented defensive lineman to the New England Patriots.

Not surprisingly the Patriots' faithful have decidedly jump on board with the move, going so far to say they are excited with their team's acquisition due to the precedents set by former 30-year-old pick-ups Randy Moss and Corey Dillon.

As is typical, SB Nation's Patriots blog Pats Pulpit summarizes the move from their side as well as anyone on the internet, calling it a "classic Belichick move" before explaining why the deal makes sense.

And while the Patriots' early-morning trade for disgruntled defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth certainly doesn't guarantee Haynesworth will get his act together like Dillon and Moss did - I can tell you one thing: this is Haynesworth's last chance.  Haynesworth is a player that has generally succeeded in contract years, when things actually mattered for his career.  However, if Haynesworth doesn't give it his all in a Patriots uniform, he will likely never get another contract again. If he doesn't play like he has a chip on his shoulder now, then he never will.

That's exactly what has me excited about this deal and why I think it was yet another shrewd move by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.  The compensation, a 2013 fifth round pick, is virtually nothing.  

As they say, what the team gave up is inconsequential considering the impact Haynesworth could have if he's able to keep his head on straight in New England -- and precedence says he should be able to do so, at least at the start.

Albert Haynesworth Will Return To Washington On December 11

The Washington Redskins did what many folks expected them to do -- trade Albert Haynesworth. The disgruntled DT is headed to the New England Patriots where some are already predicting he'll revitalize his career similar to the way WR Randy Moss did in New England four years ago.

Haynesworth will be remembered for a number of things and not many of them good. The two bad years in D.C.. The $100 million contract, which he received $32 million of in the first 13 months. The suspensions. The training camp holdout. The beef with Mike Shanahan. Barely trying to play in a 3-4 defense. 

I know a lot of Redskins fans that work for SB Nation. I get it when it comes to Haynesworth. So these fans will have a chance to voice their displeasure for Haynesworth on December 11. That's when the Patriots travel to Washington D.C. to play the Redskins.

What will the response to Haynesworth be? I see the options as bad or very bad or very, very bad.

For much more on the Haynesworth saga, visit SB Nation D.C., Hogs Haven, SB Nation Boston and Pats Pulpit.

Albert Haynesworth Rewarded With Trade To Patriots

The Washington Redskins traded DT Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots marking one of the biggest trades yet in this young NFL free agency period. 

My first reaction upon hearing the deal is that Haynesworth has been rewarded for acting like a dope. He moves to a team that's going to be in the Super Bowl talk, and to a team that runs less of the 3-4 defense (just 40 percent of the time last year). 

He got what we wanted. He leaves town, keeps his paychecks and goes to a winner. He's more likely to see a Super Bowl ring this year than the Redskins. The Redskins didn't have any other chance but to trade him but I think a lot of 'Skins fans wouldn't have minded seeing him go to a place like Oakland where he would wallow away. It's amazing to think a 2013 fifth round pick could've been the high bid.

A few other thoughts on the Haynesworth trade:

-Good point from our Patriots blog: A 2013 fifth rounder is equivalent to a 2012 sixth rounder which is equivalent to a 2011 seventh rounder. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

-Haynesworth is only due $5 million this season. That's still a lot of money on his deal but the Patriots can get out of this one pretty quickly if it's not working.

-Remember WR Randy Moss coming to the Patriots and lighting it up in 2007? I'm wondering if this will be a similar situation. Talented player not living up to their potential moves to the Patriots and revitalizes career. Haynesworth may have a couple of good seasons left in him like Moss did.

For much more on the Haynesworth saga, visit SB Nation D.C., Hogs Haven, SB Nation Boston and Pats Pulpit.

Albert Haynesworth Traded To New England Patriots, According To Report

The Albert Haynesworth saga is finally over in Washington D.C. The disgruntled defensive tackle is now a member of the New England Patriots. The Redskins have agreed to deal Haynesworth to the Patriots in exchange for a 2013 fifth-round draft pick, according to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The move is a big gamble for the Patriots, but they must feel he would fit in their 3-4 defensive scheme. For nothing else, it shows that coach Bill Belichick is willing to gamble on pretty much anybody if the price is minimal. Haynesworth can certainly be dominant when he wants to be, which has been few and far between during his Redskins career.

Washington can finally move on from the free-agent disaster of 2009, which had become necessary after a drama-filled first year under Mike Shanahan. Haynesworth was planning on attending the first day of training camp on Monday, so this deal allows them to avoid that problem.

For much more on the Haynesworth saga, visit SB Nation D.C., Hogs Haven, SB Nation Boston and Pats Pulpit.