Skins make Haynesworth $100 million man

Albert Haynesworth’s goal was to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL history, but when the bidding opened at 12:01 a.m. Friday, he didn’t want to hear about the dollars until a proposal was finalized.

The call came at about 3:45 a.m. from agent Chad Speck with information Haynesworth would later describe as “astounding.”

The Washington Redskins‘ offer: seven years for $100 million, $41 million guaranteed, including $32 million in the next 13 months.

“I was like to myself, ‘He said what?’ ” Haynesworth said. “But it kind of all worked out.”

Worked out for the 27-year-old defensive tackle, who got his record-setting contract, and worked out for the Redskins, who believe they have acquired a difference-maker on the defensive front who will prevent slumps like the 2-6 skid that ended last year.

An agreement was reached at 4:30 a.m., and Haynesworth arrived at Redskin Park at midafternoon and signed his contract after meeting with the front office and coaching staff for the first time.

Haynesworth vowed during a packed news conference that he will not join the long line of free agent mistakes who have cost the franchise millions but have produced no championships.

“You’re not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust,” he said. “You’re going to remember me as a great player, and that’s what I live for. When I put that helmet on, it’s to kick butt and make sure that [opponent] knows I’m the best player he’s played against. Any team that faces me will have to worry about me.”

Even when they put together the huge contract offer, the Redskins were concerned it wouldn’t be enough. Six teams seriously pursued Haynesworth, and the Redskins crafted a deal that featured only a $7 million salary cap hit this year.

“When we first started, [salary cap specialist] Eric [Schaffer] came in at one point and said, ‘No way we’re in this,’ ” Redskins vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said. “That’s why it goes on for four hours. Eric did a great job doing the numbers, and Chad Speck and him kept working and didn’t let it stop and kept pushing until we came to the conclusion.”

One of Haynesworth’s goals is to be linked with another former University of Tennessee defensive lineman who changed teams in the prime of his career: Reggie White.

White went from Philadelphia to Green Bay and helped return the Packers to prominence while becoming a Hall of Fame performer.

Haynesworth comes to the last-place Redskins from a contender in Tennessee.

“He’ll give us that inch of difference in the pass rush, the difference between a pressure and a sack,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. “Everybody made the same noise about Reggie White, but he proved the naysayers wrong and continued to be the great player he was. They can both dominate the game in the same way.”

Said Haynesworth: “I want Albert Haynesworth in the same sentence as Reggie White. That would be amazing. I want to be the best player on the field and to eventually get to that Hall of Fame status and be mentioned with Reggie White and Bruce Smith and all the greats. That’s where I want my name. This is only the first step.”

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