Albert Haynesworth Compares His $100 Million Contract to Slavery
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Ace Bandage
The one and only.
Your thread title is misleading. Here's the full quote:
He's saying that he shouldn't have to change what he does as a football player because he signed a contract. In other words, he works for the Redskins, but signing a contract does not mean that they own him. Hence the reference to slavery.
When he signed with them, they were running a base 4-3 defense. They've now switched to a 3-4 defense. Albert does not like this and he stayed away from the team's off-season conditioning and skipped mandatory minicamp as a way of voicing his displeasure. Was this the right way to handle it? Probably not.
The Redskins then countered by saying that Albert was not in shape and subjected him to all sorts of conditioning drills and physical fitness tests. They were trying to make it look like Albert had not done anything on his own during the off-season when in reality he had been training independent of the team.
Both sides are at fault here. The slavery reference was unfortunate, but don't paint Albert as the only party at fault here. Shanahan has had it out for him since day 1. They need to just trade him or release him. Clearly, it's not working out.
He's saying that he shouldn't have to change what he does as a football player because he signed a contract. In other words, he works for the Redskins, but signing a contract does not mean that they own him. Hence the reference to slavery.
When he signed with them, they were running a base 4-3 defense. They've now switched to a 3-4 defense. Albert does not like this and he stayed away from the team's off-season conditioning and skipped mandatory minicamp as a way of voicing his displeasure. Was this the right way to handle it? Probably not.
The Redskins then countered by saying that Albert was not in shape and subjected him to all sorts of conditioning drills and physical fitness tests. They were trying to make it look like Albert had not done anything on his own during the off-season when in reality he had been training independent of the team.
Both sides are at fault here. The slavery reference was unfortunate, but don't paint Albert as the only party at fault here. Shanahan has had it out for him since day 1. They need to just trade him or release him. Clearly, it's not working out.
roronoa3000
Banned
That is all he said about "slavery" so I fail to see a problem with that statement.
He's saying some of the dumbest shit in the history of recorded interviews.
Idiot! They're paying you to do what their coaches tell you to do on that damn football field. The fuck did you think they were giving you that money for???
They're not paying you to play where you think you should play for your own interests...They're paying you to play where they say for their interests (and your teams interests clown).
The guy needs a reality check...not because of the amount money but because he doesn't understand why he's on that team and getting paid any amount of money.
Idiot! They're paying you to do what their coaches tell you to do on that damn football field. The fuck did you think they were giving you that money for???
They're not paying you to play where you think you should play for your own interests...They're paying you to play where they say for their interests (and your teams interests clown).
The guy needs a reality check...not because of the amount money but because he doesn't understand why he's on that team and getting paid any amount of money.
:glugglug:
Ace Bandage
The one and only.
Nose tackles are not as effective in a 3-4 defense because you're only rushing three down lineman. As a result, they routinely draw double teams from the defense. Albert was an All-Pro as a DT in a 4-3 scheme. He has a legitimate gripe with not wanting to switch defenses because it will limit his effectiveness. It's comparable to telling Peyton Manning that he's now going to lead a run first offense that does not utilize the no huddle scheme that made him so effective.
As I mentioned earlier, when he signed the contract, they were running a 4-3 defense. Had they been running a 3-4 defense at the time, he would not have signed there. It's comparable to changing the terms of his contract. He didn't sign up for this.
roronoa3000
Banned
Then simply trade him.
roronoa3000
Banned
Nope
He would have a point only if the contract stipulated what his role was exclusive to or what defense he would exclusively play in.
Having learned from this, in his NEXT contract he might want to have those details written into it. The issue is moot in this contract.
He may not like it but if it was that big of a concern to him...he should had it written into his contract.
Barring that, it's his job to play whatever role on that team they ask him to.
Ace Bandage
The one and only.
Okay, so if Coach Caldwell told Peyton Manning that from now on he was going to lead a run first offense, thrown only check down passes and screens, and no longer use the no huddle offense, you'd expect him to whistle a happy tune and oblige?
No, you wouldn't. Because you're taking away everything that makes him an effective player. That is essentially what the Redskins are doing with Haynesworth. You can't take a player who has been a DT in a 4-3 scheme his entire career and suddenly switch him to nose tackle in a 3-4 and expect him to embrace the change. It's too big of a leap.
It takes years to fully understand your role and adapt to a new defensive scheme. The Packers made this same change a couple years ago and are just now beginning to play moderately well on defense. It's not a simple change and Albert has every right to resist it. If you aren't going to use him properly, trade him. Obviously he doesn't want to do it, and that's going to limit his progress.
He's paid to play the game the way that the coaches have decided to. That's what athletes do...they are not the ones who devise systems, etc. Yeah, he would have better individual stats in 4-3 defense, but if he's drawing a double team, he's doing his job. Regardless of what the salary, he is paid to do that job the way that his bosses have decided it should be done. As a player, he should realize that the system may well change from year to year, that happens a lot in the NFL. That is not comparable to changing the terms of the contract...he gets paid to do his job, not to complain about it and miss trainings.
If I don't like the way the office does something, and skip half a year's worth of meetings and trainings as a statement, the statement that I get back will be "get a new job". But, with the system as it is, if the Redskins release him, they will have paid $100 million for nothing from him. Their hope is that he will see the effect that his whining has on his teammates, and toe the line. Not likely to happen, but that's all they can hope for.
IMO, Fat Albert is a spoiled child, whining because he has not gotten his way.
If I don't like the way the office does something, and skip half a year's worth of meetings and trainings as a statement, the statement that I get back will be "get a new job". But, with the system as it is, if the Redskins release him, they will have paid $100 million for nothing from him. Their hope is that he will see the effect that his whining has on his teammates, and toe the line. Not likely to happen, but that's all they can hope for.
IMO, Fat Albert is a spoiled child, whining because he has not gotten his way.
I said I didn't expect him to like it.:dunno: But unless you have a contract to do what you want to do instead of what they want you to...it's a moot point.
I would expect that if a team is going to part ways with that kind of money..they are going to use the player in the way the benefits their team (first)..and by extension the player. That would be a win-win...to do otherwise should be a lose-lose...right?
You're making a case against a point I haven't made.
vodkazvictim
Why save the world, when you can rule it?
It's not the place of the guys who sit on the benches to tell the sportsmen how to play ball. I don't tell my local sewage works how to clean water.
But for *puts finger in mouth doctor evil style* a million dollars I'd be anyones slave.
But for *puts finger in mouth doctor evil style* a million dollars I'd be anyones slave.
You're right. You shouldn't because you presumably don't have the experience.
But his bosses do and their job isn't to just make sure the pipe he's working on gets fixed but that the entire system works.
How dare they ask you to go out and play a game they way they want you to play it for $100 million dollars, Albert!!! That is totally and accurately comparable to being forced to do heavy farm labor around the clock under threats of being beaten or even killed for doing anything less than what you overseer says, whether it is dance or grovel at their feet. FIGHT THE POWER, ALBERT!!!
Look man, get over yourself. Yeah they're asking you to do something different that you feel may not be best for you as an individual, but there's a little thing called reality, and in reality, on the job changes exist especially when both you and the rest of your co-workers are performing below average. Just like any contract, you are subject to terms and conditions, Albert. It goes both ways. Nowhere in that contract does it state that the Washington Redskins are going to do exactly whatever Albert Haynesworth deems to be proper, right, or what is best for Albert Haynesworth, and you still signed it. They are paying you top dollar to not perform at the highest level, but to also do so while adjusting and adapting to whatever your position entails. If you don't feel you can do this, give back the money, and take your ass elsewhere, but don't bitch about it... you're too big and too paid for that shit.
Look man, get over yourself. Yeah they're asking you to do something different that you feel may not be best for you as an individual, but there's a little thing called reality, and in reality, on the job changes exist especially when both you and the rest of your co-workers are performing below average. Just like any contract, you are subject to terms and conditions, Albert. It goes both ways. Nowhere in that contract does it state that the Washington Redskins are going to do exactly whatever Albert Haynesworth deems to be proper, right, or what is best for Albert Haynesworth, and you still signed it. They are paying you top dollar to not perform at the highest level, but to also do so while adjusting and adapting to whatever your position entails. If you don't feel you can do this, give back the money, and take your ass elsewhere, but don't bitch about it... you're too big and too paid for that shit.
Ace Bandage
The one and only.
^^ It's the NFL. It's not real life. If he doesn't want to play in the 3-4, he'll just play like shit or refuse to play until they trade or release him. Eventually, he'll be a big enough distraction that they won't want him anymore. Then he'll go to a team that runs the 4-3 and be an All-Pro again. That's how the the real world works in professional sports. I'm telling you, if he doesn't want to adapt, he won't have to. If you whine, bitch, and moan enough, you'll get your way. That's what happens when you pay a man 100 million dollars to chase other men holding an egg shaped ball.
He'll play like an all pro again as soon as he's not getting paid like an all pro again. That's how it works. He played his ass off for a new contract and he got that shit. Now he wants to run the team and find excuses not to do whatever it is he feels like he doesn't want to. Take that money away, and his ass will play in a 46, 3-4, Tampa 2, whatever it takes to get that dough. He sucked last year, bitched all off-season, came back out of shape, and faked some bullshit injury during conditioning drills. This is just the type of person Haynesworth is. Washington failed for overpaying him in the first place.
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