Redskins spend freely despite cap

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By David Elfin

The economy is in a tailspin - but not at Redskin Park.

After atypically not registering on NFL radar screens last winter, the Washington Redskins made easily the biggest splash of the first day of free agency Friday, giving former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth a record $41 million in guaranteed money as part of a seven-year, $100 million contract. The deal came less than four hours after the Redskins retained cornerback DeAngelo Hall with a six-year, $54 million deal that includes $22.5 million guaranteed.

The Redskins completed a wild first day by bringing back left guard Derrick Dockery with a five-year, $26.5 million contract that includes $8 million guaranteed. Dockery, a third-round pick in the 2003 draft, was a Redskins starter for four years before leaving for Buffalo's seven-year, $49 million offer in March 2007. Dockery will reclaim the job filled the past two years by Pete Kendall, a free agent whom the Redskins won't re-sign.

Also Friday, the Redskins cut cornerback Shawn Springs because he earns $6 million in base salary and will turn 34 next month. Hall and holdover Carlos Rogers are set to start at corner.

"I called [DeAngelo] up and said, 'You waited until the 11th hour,' " Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. "We ended up getting things done with DeAngelo, and we went to work. To put a contract like [Haynesworth's] together, it took a lot of creativeness from [owner] Dan Snyder, [vice president of football administration] Eric Schaffer and [executive vice president] Vinny Cerrato."

It also took winning a bidding war with the Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to land Haynesworth. Unlike his hero Reggie White, Haynesworth didn't make a round of free agent visits. He researched the teams and their cities on the Internet. So even though the Bucs had plenty of cap room and topped the Redskins' offer, they came up short.

With the team's three Super Bowl trophies prominently displayed, Haynesworth said he sees the Redskins on the cusp of returning to greatness.

"What you can kinda expect out of me is what you saw I did at Tennessee those last two years," Haynesworth said.

That kind of production would be just fine with the Redskins, who last season had an NFC-low 24 sacks.

"He's an explosive, powerful guy," defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin said. "It will be great to play next to him. We definitely upgraded our defensive line."