National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Earlier today, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth made National Football League history by becoming the first defensive player to sign a $100 million contract. He also achieved the most guaranteed money ever given to any NFL player — offense or defense. The Redskins held an introductory press conference this afternoon and here are Albert’s thoughts and comments.

Opening remarks

“Man, I’ll tell you. I never really thought I’d be here as far as a Redskin. And, you know, actually being a Redskin and … a player [for] a team that my uncle likes. My uncle is a big Redskins fan, and growing up you hear the tradition of it, and to be standing here in this organization with this history and looking to go forward … I mean, it’s amazing. I’m just excited, and I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play. And what you can expect out of me is what you saw, what I did at Tennessee in those last two years. I mean, like I said, I’ve started a new chapter in my life after my incident, and this is a big chapter and I’m looking forward to keep adding to it.”

On what he’s learned from the mistakes he’s made and how he’s grown:

“Well, you know, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That’s what my mom said. So, it didn’t kill me. It almost did, but it didn’t kill me, and I feel like I’m stronger from it. Y’know, what happened was really a bad day, and it really tested, I guess, my faith as a person in myself, if that makes any sense. Like, I had to really look into myself and to see if I wanted my career to go down the drain, if I wanted all of y’all to remember Albert Haynesworth as a player that kicked somebody in the head, or if I wanted to be remembered as a player that turned around and took his punishment, did what he did, and stepped up and became a great player. You know, it’s only two short years past, but I expect to keep taking those steps and kind of covering it up or kicking dirt over it.”

On interest from other teams:

“We looked at a lot of teams and looked at situations, but as far as this team being right there … it really reminded me of coming into the league and being drafted by Tennessee, a team that was 9-7, 8-8, right there on that verge only needing a couple little pieces to put you over that top. You know, you’re looking at it and to actually have a choice to go somewhere … this franchise, the history here, I mean, I definitely want to be a part of it.”

On the influence of Reggie White:

“I want to be Reggie. I definitely do. Just to be in the same sentence — Albert Haynesworth, Reggie White — to be in the same sentence is amazing. And what I’m doing is, I just want to go out here and play ball. Like I tell my agent, everything else’ll take care of itself. I go out there and do what I’m supposed to no matter what else, and it’ll take care of itself.”

On where he’ll find motivation after receiving that much money:

“Well, it’s like the same thing. You’re not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust or the guy who had the Dallas incident or anything. You will remember him as a great player and that’s what I live for. You know, the money’s awesome. It’s great. But I’m out here, when I line up in front of somebody, when I put the helmet on, it’s to kick butt and it’s to make sure that guy knows that I’m the best player to play against. After the game or something you can think about the money, but during that game … I’m gonna make sure he knows that I’m the best player. Any team that faces me, they’re gonna have to worry about me.

On motivation with that amazing amount of money:

“Yeah, to play a game. I guess it’s from all those years of my mom making me run around the house when I was getting too big and waking me up at six o’clock in the morning to get me ready for the season…. I guess this is a recouping or something like that. No, it’s amazing. To play a game that I love and that I’ve played ever since I was six years old … I mean, she put me in and to actually get paid for it is awesome.”

On when the Redskins emerged as a favorite to sign him:

“You know, I always looked at them. They were right there at my top teams I was looking at. Only, I didn’t get to come to the city and see it. You know, I’ve got a lot of family here, but I got a lot of information, I really looked up a whole lot of stuff on the internet and I had my agent do a whole lot of stuff — compared the weather to Nashville, the population of the city, just a ton of stuff that you wouldn’t even believe. And after talking to the coaches … I didn’t talk about any money, I was talking to the coaches and seeing ‘How are you going to use me?’ Regardless of the money, I wanted to see how they were going to use me, so I wouldn’t just go someplace and be another guy. I wanted to be that same player, that dominant guy, and if you’re going to use me that way, that’s where I want to go.”

On how he’d like to be used in the defense:

“If you look at my game, I’m a player that goes straight forward. I’m a disruptive player, I take on the double-team, I free up other guys, and that’s what I want to play like. I want to be able to attack my guy, make plays, and everybody to make plays off me. So that’s what I want to do. I want to do the same thing I did in Tennessee, but now I’m surrounded by a star-studded cast in my defense here. So I’m just excited, cause it’s gonna be fun and I think we’re gonna win a lot of games. I’m not putting pressure on us, but that’s what I think.”

On how much responsibility is on him:

“Well, I mean with the contract it’s gonna be all on me. My job is, if you don’t see me being really as productive, I’m gonna probably be drawing double-teams and triple-teams and it’s gonna be freeing up our other guys to make plays. So to kind of judge how I’m doing, you can just see how we’re doing as a team and how we’re performing as far as a defense. So as long as the defense is performing well … I mean, it’s kind of hard to go up from number four in the league, but it’s a little bit easier to go up in the sack [totals], because other guys can get sacks too.”

On being the most sought-after free agent:

“I wanted to be the best player out there. When I go out on the field and play, I want to be the best player on the field, and my goal is to be the best player on the field, and to eventually get to that Hall of Fame status and be mentioned with Reggie White, Bruce Smith, and all the greats. That’s where I want my name. So coming into this free agency, that’s kind of what happened, but it’s just only the first step.”

On bringing something from Tennessee to the tradition of the Redskins:

“All I really can do is just bring me and who I am, and go out there and play ball and make plays and help my teammates make plays. You know, what I had in Tennessee was great — seven years, we had a lot of fun, I learned a lot of stuff, good and bad. Here I’m just gonna be myself and we’re gonna go out there and play ball like we’ve been playing.”

On what it’s like to be “wooed” by the Redskins:

“Just talking to all the coaches. Our defensive coordinator, our defensive line coach, Coach Zorn … just the whole thing. I just wanted to get a comfortable level with them on the phone. Me, I love to look at people and listen to people and read to see how they’re acting. I can tell a lot of people if they’re telling the truth or not, and [Zorn] was telling the truth. I felt comfortable and then when I got up here, you know, I said I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the whole thing, the whole situation before I signed anything. And that’s why we came in a little late, because I just signed a contract. I met with Mr. Snyder and met with everybody, I’m very comfortable with everybody. It’s totally different here and Tennessee. It’s not like everybody’s separate. Everybody’s together, this is like one big family.”

On how difficult it was to leave Tennessee:

“Well, I consider myself a Tennessean. being there so long — being there since ‘99 in Knoxville, and then moving to the Titans in Nashville and playing seven years there. My kids were born there, and I’ll still love Tennessee and I will miss it, but, honestly, I’m kinda looking forward to that fresh step. Because there was a lot of stuff that, no matter what I did I was gonna drag stuff along with me. This is a new place, y’all can get to know me, I’ll get to know y’all, and we’ll go out here and have fun and win games.”

On signing quickly instead of going on a free agency tour:

“One of the teams that was in it was Tampa. I went to the Super Bowl and saw the city, and, really, I study a whole lot as far as the teams and what they were doing. One that was shocking was when they released a lot of players, and then I’m hearing that the GM wanted to kinda rebuild. Well, I’m somewhat young — I’m 27. I’m not that young. So I didn’t want to be really like that. I wanted to be somewhere where we could take the next step and be the organization that’s dominating the NFC East.”

On if Detroit was ever in the picture and what other teams spoke to:

“I always told Schwartz [Jim Schwartz, new Detroit Lions Head Coach and former Titans defensive coordinator] during the year, we’re playing and I guess we were 9-0 and I was looking at Schwartz like, ‘Man, you’re probably going to be the head coach over there.’ I was like, ‘I love you, but I don’t know about Detroit.’ So I always gave him a hard time about it. I don’t think we even talked to Detroit much. I love Schwartz and if he would have asked me to come I would have had to take a look but here honestly is the best fit for me because I have a lot of players around me. There were a bunch of teams. A couple guys in the conference called. I don’t know if they were egging the Skins on or what, but there were a couple guys calling. We didn’t know how serious they were. There were two or three guys that were extremely serious and really throwing a lot out there and my agent handled it well and he put the numbers out there for me. They were almost identical and here is where I chose.”

On why he chose Washington:

“I was just looking at what you got here, as far as your players, your coaches, where you are at as far as an organization. Are they rebuilding or are you a team that has older players that is declining? This team right here is right here, perfect in the middle, add a couple of pieces and we could be right there in Dallas, or Miami, not Dallas. Well, Dallas and Miami actually.”

On what he knew about the team before he started looking at it:

“All I knew, like I was telling people earlier that, when I was growing up and I have family that lives up further north in Pennsylvania, in Philly and I knew my uncle hated the Eagles. I mean, they were getting in fights. So I knew for one thing, I knew that we don’t like the Eagles.”

On what can he do this offseason to get better:

“Really, just keep working and staying in shape and coming in here, learning the system. I don’t know if I really actually learned something these last few years. It’s kind of like fine wine I guess. I just got better. The game kind of slowed down for me. That is the way I see it. Right now it is in play. This year it was in play. I was joking with our other guys in Tennessee, I’m just ready for the game to be kind of in the Matrix, you know where it is all slow and I just dominate.”

On how much he has been able to talk to Greg Blache to get a feel for the defensive scheme and how he would be used:

“Oh we talked a lot and actually when I got here we spent a lot of time together and have been talking and sharing ideas and things as far as I already learned a little bit of their scheme as far as some of their plays and stuff. It is similar to what I had at Tennessee, just some different terminology.”

On spraining his knee and the playoff loss at the end of last season:

“Well first when I did it, I’m not going to lie to you, it hurt like hell. I thought it was a lot worse than what it was. We got the MRI and it came back as a sprain. I have had that before in college so I knew what the rehab was. I knew what the time length was going to be. I really wasn’t concerned once I found out what it was. As far as the season with the Titans, I mean it was very disappointing because I feel like we were the best team out there. Too many turnovers are going to cause you not to win that game. When you do that in the playoffs, you just can’t.”

On how healthy he was in the playoffs:

“Honestly, I feel like I was about 95 percent. I felt like about where I was at the beginning of the season. I really didn’t want to wear a brace, but the kind of made me wear the brace, which is good. I felt really good. Our schedule was set up for us to take it all the way because if you look at it we had a bunch of breaks in the middle. We had our bye week, then we had that Thanksgiving Day game then we kept winning, then we got the extra week off. I was really fresh. I was ready to go and ready to go to Tampa.”

On his favorite member of the Redskins and who he’s meshed with:

“Definitely I would have to say Dan Snyder. I talked to a few players. I talked to Clinton [Portis] at the Pro Bowl. I have been texting with [Fred] Smoot a lot. I have met Chris Samuels a couple times. I am just kind of meeting the guys. I am really enjoying it. Everybody I have talked to all said nice things about the organization. Once players get around players they tell the truth and everything they said was positive so that was definitely a big step for me.”

On that impressively large sum of money:

“When my agent called and told me, it was probably like 3:45 in the morning, and I was like, ‘He said whaaaaah?’ It kinda opened my eyes. But we knew kind of what we were looking for, and it kinda all worked out. I’m just astounded. But what they wanted me to come here to do is to play football and be disruptive and do what I do, so that’s what I’m coming here to do. When you’re on the field, you’re not thinking about dollar signs or anything like that. You’re just going out there to play.”

On if he feels any pressure from the money:

“Well, yeah, it’s a lot of money, but honestly I put more pressure on myself than what the contract would do. Because I have such high standards for myself that, you know, he could’ve given me half a billion dollars and it still wouldn’t've been the pressure that I put on myself. ‘Cause I expect myself to play at a high level and to dominate, and if I’m not making plays that people around me are making plays. So as far as the number, I mean, yeah, it’s great. Like I say, it’s awesome. I mean, don’t get me wrong, but … as far as the pressure? No.”

On playing against Andre Gurode twice a year:

“We actually hung out a lot this year at the Pro bowl. We were kind of in downtown Waikiki together, hanging out and stuff like that, so I don’t think it’s any bad blood between us. I’ve definitely apologized, and I think he’s accepted my apology, but we’re gonna go out there and play hard against each other and show our talents.”

Source: Redskins.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Albert Haynesworth Presser Quotes

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

As the 2009 NFL free agency signing period began, the Washington Redskins wasted no time improving their defense. Mere hours after re-signing defensive back DeAngelo Hall to a new deal, the Skins signed a player many felt was the most coveted free agent available on the market this offseason — former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. In doing so, NFL history was made on two levels because Albert is now the league’s first $100 million defensive player. He signed a seven-year, $100 million deal. That includes $41 million guaranteed in the first three years so he will also be the record-breaker for most guaranteed money ever given to any NFL player.

Source: Redskins.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Albert Haynesworth Signs With Redskins

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Washington Redskins defensive back DeAngelo Hall kicked off the free agency signing period by re-signing with the Skins on a six-year, $54 million deal that includes $22.5 million guaranteed and $30 million in the first three seasons. This comes as no surprise. DeAngelo is still one of the best defensive backs in the NFL and his agents — Alvin Keels and Joel Segal — spent the past couple weeks negotiating with the Redskins to put the finishing touches on this deal to keep him in DC. And the Skins are rumored to be very interested in Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, so they could be making a huge defensive statement on this first day of free agency signings.

Source: Redskins.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Redskins Keep DeAngelo Hall

Franchise and transition players for the 2008 NFL free agency signing period that begins on February 29 were announced today. Don’t know what a franchise or transition player is? Here’s your quick 101. A club can designate one “franchise” player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player’s club determines what type of franchise player he is. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position as of April 18, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha was designated by the Raiders this year as an exclusive franchise player. If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for non-exclusive franchise players to sign with new clubs is February 29 through the 10th week of the season (November 11).

A transition player receives a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

That wasn’t so complicated, was it? Anyway, here are the franchise players for 2008. There was only one transition player named and that was Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Max Starks.

• Jared Allen, DE, Kansas City
• Stacy Andrews, G, Cincinnati
• Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Oakland
• Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona
• Jordan Gross, T, Carolina
• Ken Hamlin, S, Dallas
• Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee
• L.J. Smith, TE, Philadelphia
• Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore
• Marcus Truffant, CB, Seattle
• Corey Williams, DT, Green Bay

A lot of people were up-in-arms because New England Patriots WR Randy Moss hadn’t been franchised, thus making the Patriots’ intentions for him unclear. I feel certain the Pats have an arrangement with Randy already in-place. How else can you explain it? New England just isn’t dumb enough to let the best wide receiver in football get away from them. But if Randy and the Patriots do have a multiyear contract in-place, it cannot be announced until February 29.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Franchise and Transition Players Named

The New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers lead the AFC’s 2008 Pro Bowl squad with a conference-high eight players each. New England’s eight All-Stars equals a franchise high set by the 1985 Pats. The AFC roster includes 18 first-time All-Stars, including Cincinnati WR T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who leads the NFL with 101 receptions.

Among a group of talented AFC quarterbacks, four-time All-Star Tom Brady of New England, who leads the NFL in passing yards (4,235), TDs (45) and passer rating (119.7), will be the starting QB in his fourth Pro Bowl. Tom is one of seven Patriots that will start for this year’s AFC squad. Joining him to aid the AFC passing attack will be Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning, who will make his eighth Pro Bowl appearance, and first-time selection Ben Roethlisberger of Pittsburgh, who ranks third in the NFL with 29 TD passes.

San Diego’s duo of running back LaDainian Tomlinson and fullback Lorenzo Neal have been named starters for a second year in a row. Earning his fifth Pro Bowl honor, L.T. ranks second in the NFL with 1,311 rushing yards this season and has passed the 1,200-yard rushing mark for the seventh consecutive year. Lorenzo, in his 15th NFL season, has been selected to his fourth Pro Bowl and third as a Charger. Adding to the AFC’s explosive backfield will be Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker and Joseph Addai of Indy. This is the second consecutive Pro Bowl trip for Fast Willie, who leads the NFL with 1,317 rushing yards. In his second NFL season, Joseph Addai ranks second in the AFC with 11 rushing TDs and will make his first Pro Bowl trip. Once again, Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor has been snubbed despite averaging a gaudy 5.1 ypc. He’ll need to lead the league in rushing to get consideration.

Four receivers are named to each All-Star squad. And it has to be nearly impossible to come up with just four. Chosen for the AFC’s 2008 team are New England’s Randy Moss, the NFL’s receiving yardage (1,343) and TD (19) leader. Randy records his first Pro Bowl appearance since 2004 (because he was lost in the black hole for several years) and sixth overall. Lined up across from Randy will be Reggie Wayne of Indianapolis, who will make his second All-Star game in consecutive seasons. Two first-time selections from clubs in Ohio will round out the AFC All-Star receiving foursome — Cleveland wide receiver Braylon Edwards, whose 13 TD receptions ranks second in the AFC, and the aforementioned T.J. Houshmandzadeh of Cincinnati. I know this is a very elite list of receivers and it’s incredibly hard to pick just four, but I could make a case for Wes Welker (Pats), Chad Johnson (Cincy) or even Brandon Marshall (Denver) in this group.

Representing the AFC at tight end will be nine-time all-star Tony Gonzalez (big surprise) of the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego’s Antonio Gates, who will play in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and start for the second year in a row.

Pittsburgh’s 10-year veteran guard Alan Faneca will make his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl trip and will be joined at the other starting guard position by first-time All-Star Logan Mankins of New England, who has helped pave the way for the league’s top-ranked offense. San Diego’s Kris Dielman, a former undrafted free agent who has been a mainstay for the Chargers offensive line this year, will make his All-Star debut.

AFC starting center Jeff Saturday will book his trip to Hawaii for his third consecutive Pro Bowl. First-time AFC All-Star Dan Koppen of New England will back him up.

Assigned to keep the pocket clean against a talented group of NFC edge rushers are a group of AFC All-Star tackles — New England’s two-time Pro Bowler Matt Light and first-time Pro Bowl selection Jason Peters of Buffalo. Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore will play in his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl in his 12th NFL season.

Lining up in the middle for the AFC defensive front are starting interior linemen Albert Haynesworth of Tennessee and New England’s Vince Wilfork. Both linemen will make their first appearances in the All-Star game. Accompanying Vince and Albert will be San Diego’s Jamal Williams, who has secured his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth.

Ranked second in the AFC with 11.5 sacks, Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen will make his Pro Bowl debut as a starter and will be joined by Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who will play in his second Pro Bowl in three seasons with the Titans and his first as a starter. Miami’s Jason Taylor will cap off this trio with the sixth Pro Bowl of his career.

Two first-time All-Stars — Mike Vrabel of New England and Pittsburgh’s James Harrison — will start at outside linebacker for the AFC. Mike has tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks and James leads the league’s top-ranked defense with 8.5 sacks. Joining them at outside linebacker is Shawne Merriman of San Diego, who tops NFL linebackers with 11.5 sacks. Shawne will make his third consecutive All-Star game appearance.

Roaming the middle of the AFC defense will be middle linebackers Ray Lewis of Baltimore and DeMeco Ryans of Houston. DeMeco, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of Year, will start in his first Pro Bowl, while Ray-Ray, a 12-year veteran, will record his eighth appearance in Hawaii.

Interceptions are plentiful for the trio of AFC All-Star cornerbacks. Starter Champ Bailey of Denver has earned his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and will be teamed up with two first-time All-Stars. New England’s Asante Samuel will start opposite Champ and Antonio Cromartie of San Diego, who leads the league with 10 INTs, will make his All-Star debut in his second season.

Indianapolis strong safety Bob Sanders earns his second consecutive AFC All-Star berth and Ravens ball-hawking free safety Ed Reed is a four-time Pro Bowl choice in six NFL seasons. Four-time Pro Bowl selection Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh will join them as a reserve.

The AFC special teams unit is comprised of four players, including two first-time Pro Bowl honorees. Cleveland kick returner Joshua Cribbs is making his first trip to Hawaii. Joshua leads the NFL with a 30.9-yard average and is tied for second in the league with two scores. Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas, who leads the NFL with 31 field goals and set the NFL record for most field goals in a game earlier this season, will make his All-Star debut. San Diego wide receiver Kassim Osgood, who will serve as the AFC’s special teamer, makes his second consecutive trip to Hawaii. Concluding the special teams group will be Oakland’s veteran punter Shane Lechler (third Pro Bowl). Shane leads the NFL with a 49.0 average and has placed 21 of his 63 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Patriots, Chargers Lead AFC All-Star Squad, 18 First-Time Selections Named