The Washington Redskins have traded disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots for a 2013 fifth-round pick, sources confirmed to NFL Network’s Albert Breer on Thursday morning.
After a very busy Wednesday in which the Redskins traded Donovan McNabb to the Vikings, signed former Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield, re-signed receiver Santana Moss and acquired three other veteran receivers, unloading Haynesworth was the logical next step.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick acknowledged the trade during a news conference Thursday, but wouldn't confirm it had been completed or that the teams were waiting on a physical for the deal to go through.
"We're in the process of acquiring Haynesworth, but that’s not complete yet, so I can’t really comment on that at this point until it's completed, if it gets completed," Belichick told reporters. "We'll see how that goes."
The 30-year-old Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins in 2009. But it was an arrangement that never worked as Haynesworth was a frequent distraction for coach Mike Shanahan last season, mainly because he was not happy being asked to play nose tackle in the new 3-4 scheme.
The Redskins found a replacement in Cofield, who agreed to a six-year, $36 million contract with $12.5 million guaranteed. Cofield was a steady contributor up front for the Giants for five seasons, although he will now have to play nose tackle in Washington's 3-4
As for the Patriots, this is not the first time Belichick has acquired a one-time superstar who had fallen out of favor. But he indicated a comfort level in adding Haynesworth's character to the Patriots locker room when asked about his track record of acquiring veteran players.
"Anytime you acquire a player, no mater how you do it, you want to be comfortable adding that player to your team," Belichick said.
According to The Boston Herald, the Patriots also released defensive tackle Marcus Stroud on Thursday. Stroud, 32,signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in March but his shoulder has not healed after offseason surgery in January,according to the report.
After a very busy Wednesday in which the Redskins traded Donovan McNabb to the Vikings, signed former Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield, re-signed receiver Santana Moss and acquired three other veteran receivers, unloading Haynesworth was the logical next step.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick acknowledged the trade during a news conference Thursday, but wouldn't confirm it had been completed or that the teams were waiting on a physical for the deal to go through.
"We're in the process of acquiring Haynesworth, but that’s not complete yet, so I can’t really comment on that at this point until it's completed, if it gets completed," Belichick told reporters. "We'll see how that goes."
The 30-year-old Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins in 2009. But it was an arrangement that never worked as Haynesworth was a frequent distraction for coach Mike Shanahan last season, mainly because he was not happy being asked to play nose tackle in the new 3-4 scheme.
As for the Patriots, this is not the first time Belichick has acquired a one-time superstar who had fallen out of favor. But he indicated a comfort level in adding Haynesworth's character to the Patriots locker room when asked about his track record of acquiring veteran players.
"Anytime you acquire a player, no mater how you do it, you want to be comfortable adding that player to your team," Belichick said.
According to The Boston Herald, the Patriots also released defensive tackle Marcus Stroud on Thursday. Stroud, 32,signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in March but his shoulder has not healed after offseason surgery in January,according to the report.
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