Tagged As: football, Giants, NFL, Titans, Patriots, Tom Brady, Albert Haynesworth

It is not but a week into NFL Free Agency time and there are already completed deals that are causing havoc in every football-obsessed sports fans life. They range from questionable signings to questionable trades and are boring our girlfriends who thought it was safe to take us out in public.

Questionable Signing of the Week: Albert Haynesworth leaves the Tennessee Titans for the Washington Redskins

Haynesworth is the defensive tackle who topped most free agent rankings. So, how could an interior lineman with 8.5 sacks, 51 tackles, and three forced fumbles be questionable? Well, take a team history of epic failure with regards to defense and free agency and add a player with an iffy injury record and fans can waft the scent of failure throughout the FedEx Field.

In the past 15 years Redskins owner Dan Snyder has signed such busts as Sean Gilbert, Bruce Smith, Dana Stubblefield, Deion Sanders, and Adam Archuleta. These players made 20 Pro Bowl appearances before signing and a zero afterwards.

In Albert Haynesworth’s seven seasons, the only complete year he played was his rookie year. Since then he has missed a total of 22 games. Short and simple, the guy has problems staying healthy.

While I feel that any time you can pry away a Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle who is only 27 years old you take the chance, some of my friends are much more cynical. Yes injury is a huge risk in the NFL. I understand the argument that paying nearly $15 million a year for a player to sit on the bench in plain clothes is a season killer, but I just do not see how you can find fault with a guy with two impressive consecutive years in which he totaled 14.5 sacks.

Defensive tackles generally plug a whole and make the running back change direction. They do not actually get to the quarterback unless they can fall on him from a standing position. I think the signing solidifies the defense and makes the Redskins a potential top-five team that can compete (with the addition of a real quarterback). My friend believes that the Washington Redskins should have used the money elsewhere, perhaps to sign a quarterback.

Questionable Trade of the Week: New England Patriots send recently franchised Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second round pick.

Allegations are running amuck that Patriots Coach Bill Belichick helped out a friend. He sent a high quality quarterback and a veteran linebacker to the Chiefs in a deal completed by new Kansas City General Manager Scott Pioli, the man who used to be the Patriots vice president of player personnel.

On the same night I commended the Haynesworth trade, I called this trade into question. Why would the Patriots do this? Why would they turn down (allegedly) a first and third round pick from the Tampa Bay Bucs? It screamed cheating (something Belichick likes to do to keep us all on our feet) or stupidity (something Belichick is definitely not).

My friend, the naysayer, mentioned that Tom Brady was coming back in 2009. He mentioned that the Patriots might not have wanted to pay top-five player money to a backup. I mentioned Gisele- paused a bit too long- and then finished my thought.

Brady just got married to the hottest supermodel in the universe and he is coming back after pretty much having his leg destroyed. If he was concerned about Haynesworth injuries then why not Brady’s? Few players come back 100 percent from having their ACL, MCL, and whatever-else-CL shredded. Few men can will themselves to leave a supermodel’s side.

My friend mentioned that the Patriots offense was explosive when Brady was in tip top shape and only needs a good quarterback to average 50 points again. I mentioned that I thought 2007-08 was a rare year. I also mentioned that the Patriots defense in the middle of the field has only weakened since losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. I think they need a great quarterback who is focused. Something I doubt Brady will be.

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