Albert Should Be In The Can

There was an interview with Albert Haynesworth on Sportscenter last night that kind of got me going. He's been out for the last six weeks because he wiped his cleat on the face of Dallas' Andre Gurode during a game against the Cowboys.

Here's an excerpt from the interview: Haynesworth said his six weeks away from the NFL and the prospect that he might not ever play again or even be hired for any job was very scary. Asked if he had figured out why he exploded, he called it a bad moment, probably one of the worst in his life.

Gurode needed 30 stitches to sew up his face. Ask him what his fears were following the incident and he'll probably say something along the lines of "I was just hoping I'd still be able to see/chew/smell anything". Oh, it was scary to think that you might not play another game in the NFL? Albert, if this happens outside of the arena of football, you're probably facing jail time. Granted, there's a lot of shit that goes on within the confines of an NFL game that would never be tolerated in the real world. Those who have played the sport know what happens at the bottom of a scrum following a fumble; you get kicked in the junk, poked in the eye, bitten and punched everywhere. But that's a scrum. If a guy is laying on the turf following a play with his helmet off, I don't know how you evaluate the situation and decide that the proper course of action is to drag your enormous cleat over the guy's face.

I also found it interesting that Haynesworth talked about learning different ways in which to channel his anger so he doesn't explode on the field. Personally, I can't think of a better way to channel anger than to legally beat the shit out of an opposing lineman/running back/quarterback on the field of play between the whistles. You have a license to beat the bag out of someone on EVERY PLAY. I'm not sure I understand why Albert has been so remiss in finding ways to release some of his internal anger. By the way, his community service contributions following the incident involve working with children. Future headline: Haynesworth jabs crayon in youth's eye following incident of coloring outside the lines. I'd feel safer leaving my kid under the watch of a pack of grizzly bears.

My real problem with Albert Haynesworth is not really about the incident at all. In the interview, he wore an all-white Yankee hat. At that point, I just snapped.