Looking Back on the Redskins Garbage Decision to Give Albert Haynesworth $100 Million

A major star at the University of Tennessee and a former first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, 350-pound nose tackle Albert Haynesworth had the world at his fingertips after being named first team All-Pro in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

When he hit free agency, the Washington Redskins decided to give the hot-headed Haynesworth a seven-year, $100 million contract. After just two years of subpar performances, however, many went on to name this acquisition among the very worst in the history of NFL free agency. Today, on the 10th anniversary of that fateful deal, we'll explore just how disastrous it truly was.

While the Titans eventually restocked their defensive line by adding the likes of Jurrell Casey. Haynesworth did nothing but eat up salary cap space in Washington. In just 20 games and 12 starts, Haynesworth recorded just 6.5 sacks and 53 tackles.

One of the main factors that contributed to the decline in production was the fact that he went from being a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense in Tennessee to lining up over a guard in a 4-3 scheme, but overall, his lack of fitness is what is most remembered about that nightmare stint in Washington. He famously started training camp late in 2010 because of his inability to run basic wind sprints. A player who frequently took plays off, Haynesworth famously laid down on the turf for three seconds on Monday Night Football instead of chasing Michael Vick in a game against the Eagles.

The Redskins got rid of Haynesworth as soon as they could have, and he had brief stints with the Buccaneers and Patriots before retiring.

While he had carved out a solid NFL career for himself up until his arrival in the nation's capital, that can't help Albert Haynesworth avoid the dubious distinction of being named quite possibly worst free agent signing in the history of football based on the extent to which he crash and burned with the Skins.