Albert Haynesworth gives advice to Ndamukong Suh
Former NFL defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth offered advice to Detroit Lions free agent Ndamukong Suh.
Ndamukong Suh is the biggest free agent in the NFL this offseason after the Detroit Lions chose not to spend a ridiculously expensive franchise tag on the defensive tackle who was largely responsible for the Lions having the top rushing defense in 2014. The Lions are still actively pursuing Suh, but so are many other teams around the league.
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Ndamukong Suh is expected to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL after he signs with a team this offseason, projected to surpass J.J. Watt’s $100 million deal that guarantees $51.8 million with the Houston Texans.
Albert Haynesworth, considered the biggest bust in free agency, offered some advice to Suh during this time of free agency. Haynesworth played seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2002-2008 where he was a pro-bowler in 2007 and 2008 before he made a huge splash in free agency, signing a $100 million deal with Washington that came back to bite them after Haynesworth did nothing and only played a year and a half with Washington before being traded to New England and then Tampa Bay where he played his last NFL game in 2011.
“I think, honestly, the difference between me and him is that I didn’t want to leave the Titans,”Haynesworth said about Suh in a radio interview with ESPN Nashville. “I wanted to stay because I was very close with (defensive line coach Jim Washburn), and it was just fun playing for him and to have the guys that I played with. The Titans, really, upper management really forced the hand of me moving. I think, with Suh, I don’t think he really wants to stay, and I don’t think the Lions want to keep him, either. It’s going to be a little different, and what he’s got to do is study and pick the right place and, hopefully, it works out.”
Haynesworth said it’s all about picking the right place and Washington clearly wasn’t the place for him where the defensive tackle faced questions of effort and passion on and off the field when he was with them until he was traded after struggling to do anything productive.
The difference between Haynesworth and Ndamukong Suh is that Suh has never faced effort questions. In 2014, Suh had 44 tackles and 8.5 sacks on one of the top defenses in the NFL. Suh and agent Jimmy Sexton are looking for big money especially in places like Miami and Oakland, who he will visit next week.
Anything can happen when a player switches teams, and while it’s not expected that you’ll see a downgrade in talent from Suh wherever he ends up, it’s always possible. You can expect Suh will pick the team that he wants to play for whether it be Detroit, Oakland, Miami or other teams in the mix that include the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.