By not showing up for mini-camp today, Albert Haynesworth may be costing himself a substantial amount of money, according to Adam Schefter.
Now that the defensive tackle has declined to report to a mandatory minicamp and the Redskins are expected to pursue whatever money they can. The source added, "this is the type of case where a longshot may be given an extra hard look because it is so egregious."
Normally a signing bonus can not be re-couped by the team solely because of irreconcilable differences; but Schefter is reporting that because of the unique circumstances of this particular case, the incredible amount of money involved, and the language of Haynesworth's contract, the Redskins might have a chance to get some of that money back.
Schefter also looks at the Players' Association role in this dispute, and how it might affect their upcoming labor agreements with the NFL.
It also puts the NFLPA in a difficult spot, since it will have to take a stand publicly defending Haynesworth. While players such as Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson and New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins want lucrative new deals, Haynesworth became the highest paid player in history at his position -- and then chose not to honor the contract because he didn't like the way he was going to be used in the Redskins defense.
In the end, the NFLPA will have to defend Haynesworth. But that will not endear it to the public at a time when it is gearing up to battle the NFL on a new collective bargaining agreement.