Report: Redskins Will Land Haynesworth; Is This Tampering?

NFL free agency doesn't begin until Friday. That said, anyone who has followed the NFL knows that there will likely be some huge signings on the first day. Surely, you don't believe those contracts were negotiated in the few hours from the start of the signing period until the announcement of the signing, right?

I'm pretty sure that negotiating with a player under contract is generally considered "tampering." If I were Titans head coach Jeff Fisher or Tennessee general manager Mike Reinfeldt, I'd be looking very carefully at the news that broke Tuesday.

The Houston Chronicle's Lance Zierlein reports that Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will join the Washington Redskins once he's able to sign with them. That would be Friday.

Furthermore, Sports Illustrated's Peter King reported Monday that he expected Haynesworth to land in Washington.

I wonder why Redskins owner Dan Snyder was having dinner with the agent for Haynesworth, Chad Speck, at Morton's here Saturday night. I'm sure they were just talking about how it was colder here than at the Arctic Circle.

Hmm, tamper much?

Sure, everyone does it. Well, not everyone. A good number of NFL teams tamper, simply by talking to guys who aren't free agents yet. That's how so many signings are announced on the first day of free agency. Complicated contract negotiations don't get wrapped up in two hours unless the framework of a deal was already in place.

It's a pretty ballsy move by Snyder. It's one thing to dine with the agent of a guy like Haynesworth, who is set to make a bunch of money on the open market sometime soon. It's another thing to dine with said player when that player's team is coached by a prominent and long-time member of the NFL's Competition Committee.

Fisher has to say something, right? A big-name sportswriter reports that one of his players was potentially being tampered with, and there is already a report stating where that player will sign once he's actually a free agent.

Doesn't this justify an investigation?

I get that "everyone does it." Even if that statement isn't literally true, there are plenty of teams who engage in tampering. And it's not like the Titans made a serious push to re-sign Haynesworth this week. They've already taken their shot, and it was simply a matter of waiting to see what offers he got.

Perhaps the idea that "everyone does it" is the reason no one ever gets turned in for it (well, almost no one). If the Titans want to slam the Redskins and get an extra draft pick, they need to be prepared to get caught by the Redskins or someone else. Then again, if more teams got caught, perhaps fewer would try it, figuring it isn't worth losing a draft pick or two just to gain an advantage on a free agent.

That said, if the league wants its rules to be taken seriously, it's high time it makes more of an effort to enforce them.

(Pat on the helmet: PFT)

Tracking NFL Free Agents

Julius Peppers, Defensive end
FRANCHISE TAG USED BY PANTHERS
The Latest: Despite his expressed wishes, Peppers was tagged by Carolina. He'll make nearly $17 million next season, but the Panthers will have to work out a trade for him to leave.

Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

Antonio Bryant, Wide receiver
FRANCHISE TAG USED BY BUCS
The Latest: Bryant will stay in Tampa, and receive nearly $10 million next year, a huge jump from the $600K he earned in 2008.

Joe Robbins, Getty Images

Dunta Robinson, Cornerback
FRANCHISE TAG USED BY TEXANS
The Latest: Houston will keep Robinson for next season, and continue to work on a long-term extension.

Greg Trott, Getty Images

LeRoy Hill, Linebacker
NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TAG USED BY SEAHAWKS
The Latest: Seattle franchised Hill and, though he's free to talk with other teams, it's unlikely anyone will cough up multiple first-day draft picks for a trade.

Ted S. Warren, AP

Terrell Suggs, Linebacker
FRANCHISE TAG USED BY RAVENS
The Latest: The Ravens opted to lock down Suggs for next season, at the risk of losing both Ray Lewis and Bart Scott. Suggs will earn $10.2 million in 2009.

Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

Darren Sproles, Running back
FRANCHISE TAG USED BY CHARGERS
The Latest: Sproles will earn $6.6 million next season after San Diego franchised him. Now the question is, will he be the starter or LdT's backup?

Donald Miralle, Getty Images

Bo Scaife, Tight end
NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TAG USED BY TITANS
The Latest: Tennessee signed kicker Rob Bironas to a long-term deal, freeing up the franchise tag for Scaife, who will make nearly $4.5 million in 2009.

G. Newman Lowrance, Getty Images

Jordan Gross, Offensive tackle
RE-SIGNED WITH CAROLINA - Six years, terms not announced
The Latest: The Panthers locked up Gross to a long-term contract, and did so just in time to place the franchise tag on Julius Peppers.

Paul Jasienski, Getty Images

Brandon Jacobs, Running back
NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TAG USED BY GIANTS
The Latest: The non-exclusive tag means that Jacobs is still able to sign elsewhere, but would cost two first-round picks as compensation. He'll spend at least one more season in New York because of that.

Bill Kostroun, AP

Max Starks, Offensive tackle
FRANCHISE TAG USED BY STEELERS
The Latest: In a surprise move, Pittsburgh decided to drop the franchise tag on Starks, guaranteeing him $8.5 million in 2009.

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images