If Albert Haynesworth was ranking schemes that he enjoyed playing in, Tennessee’s system clearly ranks first. It surprised me to hear Haynesworth is enjoying this season in Washington more than last year under Jim Zorn and Greg Blache, though.
Haynesworth said he doesn’t feel “deprived, like last year,” he said via Jason Reid of the Washington Post. “I felt like I wasn’t doing what I could do. But now, I’m getting back to it. It’s still a different role, but still a little more similar to what I did at Tennessee.” (Lying on the ground is part of his new role.)
With Haynesworth visiting the Titans this week, he admits he wonders what could have been if he stayed with the team.
“Do they wish they still had me? Yeah,” Haynesworth told Reid. "[Sometimes] I wish I was still back there, because I feel like I could still be dominant. I think people still think that I’m not playing as good as I can or whatever.”
The Titans were very interested in keeping Haynesworth, but couldn’t match Washington’s offer. Perhaps they will sign him at a reduced rate next year if the Redskins don’t want to keep him.
Before Haynesworth left via free agency, he was quoted saying, “I want to show I’m better than I was in Tennessee. It’s not about the money, it’s about being great.”
When they say it’s not about the money, it’s about the money. And money doesn’t always equal happiness, especially in Washington.