FOXBORO, Mass. — Head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged the Patriots are in the process of acquiring mercurial defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, but he wouldn't elaborate on the potential trade until its completion.
Belichick said he spoke with good friend and Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan on Wednesday night to get the deal in motion. ESPN reported the Patriots would send a 2013 fifth-round draft pick to Washington.
"We're in the acquiring process of Haynesworth, but that's not complete yet," Belichick said Thursday morning. "I can't really comment on that at this point until it's completed, if it does get completed, so we'll see how all of that goes."
Haynesworth, who will have to pass a physical to complete the trade, signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins in 2009. At the time, though, ESPN reported that he would earn about $29 million in 2013, which effectively made the deal worth $48 million over four years.
If that's the case, Haynesworth could be in Foxboro through 2012, although it's unclear if his contract will be reworked as part of the trade.
The 6-foot-6, 335-pounder turned 30 in June. He was the most disruptive defensive player in the NFL in 2007 and 2008, ransacking offensive lines on a regular basis. He had a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2008, but he only registered 6.5 sacks over 20 games in two seasons with the Redskins.
Belichick would likely use Haynesworth as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, though he could also rotate inside in three- and four-man fronts.
"Of course, defensively, the two things you want to do are pressure the quarterback and cover the receivers in the passing game," Belichick said. "That's what pass defense is. Those two things working together, the timing of it, the coordination of it and the execution of it, that's what the passing game is all about. You can never have too much pass rush. You can never have too much pass coverage. You're always trying to improve that."
