Why is Albert Haynesworth still on the Redskins' roster?

By LaVar Arrington

Today's question: Does the fact that Albert Haynesworth is still on the Redskins' roster mean that business is more important than changing the culture of a losing team?

Is the sacrifice of Coach Mike Shanahan's message outweighed by business moves? My answer would have to be yes, and it's made clear every day that Haynesworth remains on this team.

Haynesworth's behavior continues to challenge Shanahan's running message this past season that it's his way or the highway. What I can't seem to figure out is how Shanahan made examples out of other players all season long to drive his point home while Haynesworth remained on the team. And now with all kinds of allegations flying his way, from road rage gone bad to sexually assaulting a waitress, Haynesworth remains a Washington Redskin.

At first, the general consensus was that Haynesworth was paid too much money for the Redskins to just release him in order to prove a point -- and that very reason seems to be why he is still on this roster -- but when do the actions of a man outweigh the business side of things?

The team may be holding on to Haynesworth for either a trade or until March 4, which is the expiration date for the collective bargaining agreement between players and owners. If the Redskins were to release him at that point, it would send Haynesworth into a free agent wasteland where he is not to be signed until an agreement is in place, making free agency a much more crowded and competitive time for players.

Seems to make sense, but does it really? Haynesworth has been a one-man wrecking crew since joining the team, and not in a good way.

He remains on this team and it goes to show you that money is the deciding factor.

His actions have embarrassed the owner, coaches, teammates and fans over and over again. He's been paid his guarantees in his contract already. Make your stance now and release him, it's late but better late than not at all. Salvage your self respect as a coach and a team. Does it really matter if a team can pick him up right away? No! It does not. Let some other team deal with all that drama. Cut it off now and try and get some order in that building out in Ashburn.

If there was ever a time to make the stand for the sake of the Redskins, my goodness, it's now.