Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth addressed the media Thursday for the first time since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed him off waivers from the New England Patriots. Notably, reports Rick Stroud, Haynesworth explained his reasoning for not signing with the Buccaneers as a free agent in 2009. At the time, Haynesworth was coming off two consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and First-Team All-Pro selections, while Tampa Bay had lost four straight games to end their season at 9-7 and out of the playoff picture.
If the Bucs' disappointing end to that season affected Haynesworth's choice, he didn't say so Thursday. Instead, he cited Tampa Bay's weather as a negative. It's simply "too pretty, too much water, too much sun here," he said, according to Stroud. Further, says Stroud, Haynesworth had just bought a boat and "didn't trust himself to focus on football solely during the season."
But he's a Buccaneer now, two years after choosing the Washington Redskins in free agency instead. And there's a possibility he could play Sunday, Nov. 13 against the Houston Texans, coach Raheem Morris said, though he's yet to make that decision. If Haynesworth is in uniform, he'll likely play no more than 35 snaps.
Tampa Bay claimed Haynesworth for the express purpose of replacing the injured Gerald McCoy. GM Mark Dominik said he would not have claimed Haynesworth had McCoy been healthy.
New England waived Haynesworth after six games in which he tallied three tackles (two solo). The Patriots acquired him from Washington for a future fifth-round draft pick, but did not like what they saw from him and saw fit to release him.