In the afterglow of a nice performance against the New York Giants' backup offensive line, Albert Haynesworth proclaimed "I'm having fun playing football again" and said that he wishes he'd been a Patriot all along.
He also made a statemet that demonstrated that he was truly deliriously happy about being traded from the Redskins to New England. “You know what, when all is said and done, hell, I’d give that money back and I’d come here," he said.
It is well known that last year Albert could have given money back to buy his freedom, which would have enabled him to sign with the Patriots or any other NFL paradise out there. When Haynesworth skipped the Redskins mandatory minicamp in June of 2010, Mike Shanahan revealed that they offered Haynesworth an out if he did not want to play in the team's new 3-4 defense.
Haynesworth was due a $21 million bonus on April 1 of last year. Shanahan told Haynesworth that he could decline the payment and become an unrestricted free agent. Of course, Albert took the money rather than run.
"Obviously, he took the check," Shanahan said, "so I was surprised he wasn't here [at minicamp] today. ... Don't take our check and then say that, hey, you don't want to be part of our organization."
So, Haynesworth apparently was a little bit giddy when he talked to the fawning Boston media about giving back money. Maybe it affected his memory or something.
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