Before defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth could get to training camp and take his conditioning test, the Washington Redskins traded him to the New England Patriots for a 2013 fifth-round draft pick, according to league sources.

Haynesworth arrived at the Patriots' facility Thursday night. He still must pass his physical, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Thursday morning that the trade was not yet completed.

"I talked to [Redskins coach] Mike Shanahan last night and we're in the process of acquiring Haynesworth, but that's not complete yet, so I can't really comment on that at this point until it's completed -- if it does get completed," Belichick said during a news conference. "So, we'll see how that goes."

Haynesworth clashed repeatedly with Shanahan and frequently skipped workouts. Shanahan suspended him for the final four games of last season for conduct detrimental to the team.

The 30-year-old Haynesworth was at his best when playing in the 4-3 scheme as a Tennessee Titan and seemed to prefer that over the Redskins' 3-4 defense.

The Patriots, though, run plenty of multiple fronts, and Haynesworth lends needed help along their defensive line for a reduced price.

Haynesworth agreed to rework his contract as part of the trade, a league source told ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss. The exact details were not immediately known, but tThe former Pro Bowl player's base salary for the coming season is $5 million. He is two years into a seven-year, $100 million contract that the Redskins signed him to in 2009, which included a then-NFL record $41 million in guaranteed money.

He played only 20 games with the Redskins, recording 6½ sacks.

Speaking in generalities about adding a pass-rusher, Belichick said: "Defensively, the two things you want to do are pressure the quarterback and cover the receivers in the passing game. That's what pass defense is: those two things working together and the timing of it, the coordination of it and the execution of it. ... You can never have too much pass rush. You can never have too much pass coverage. You're always trying to improve that."

The Patriots have had a propensity for reaching out to talented but troubled players and succeeding, having done so with running back Corey Dillon and wide receiver Randy Moss.

Haynesworth was charged in two separate incidents this offseason. He settled out of court in a road-rage case and also was accused of fondling a waitress at a hotel bar in Washington. He has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of sexual abuse in that case and is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 23.

"I think anytime you acquire a player, however you do it, you want to be comfortable putting that player into your team," Belichick said. "So whether you draft them, sign them, trade for them, however you do it, that's what you want to try to do."

In a 24-hour span, the Redskins will have unloaded Haynesworth and quarterback Donovan McNabb, giving Washington an entirely different atmosphere as it prepares to open camp.