Will Haynesworth give a hometown discount?
Albert Haynesworth | Titans | Interested: Panthers? Falcons?
Unlike Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is not going to give the team a hometown discount during negotiations for a new contract. That is, "not unless they give me a 100 percent guaranteed contract," as he told the Tennessean on Thursday.
"You want to try and make as much as you can because if you have a career-ending injury you are out," Haynesworth told the paper, "and the team sure as heck is not going to pay you. It's not like baseball or basketball. You want to get as much as possible."
Although specific demands have not been stated by Haynesworth or his agent, Chad Speck, it is believed that he's interested in a six-year deal that would make him the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is currently in that role, and he signed a six-year deal last offseason with $32 million guaranteed and $12.2 million per season.
Haynesworth told the Nashville City Paper, "Like I said, Tennessee has the first shot. We'll see how that goes, and if it doesn't go well, I could see the free agent market. I started my NFL career there. I'd love to retire in the same jersey. My kids are there. My kids were born there. It's a lot of history. I played at the University of Tennessee. There's a lot of stuff that factors in, but we've just got to see how it works out. Either way I want to stay by my kids and stay by my house in Knoxville." Because of this desire to stay close to his home, the Paper's Terry McCormick speculates that the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers would be likely destinations should he not re-sign with Tennessee.
Bookmarks