NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Albert Haynesworth's temper has landed

him in trouble with teammates and coaches before. By stomping

another player's head, the Tennessee Titans defensive tackle not

only disgusted himself, he also drew a five-game suspension -- the

longest for on-field behavior in NFL history.

And that may just be the beginning of the grief for Haynesworth,

who fell to the Titans in the middle of the first round of the 2002

draft because of maturity questions.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Haynesworth stomped on Dallas Cowboys

center Andre Gurode's head Sunday, knocking off his helmet, then

kicked and stomped his face. Gurode needed 30 stitches to repair

the cuts left by the tackle's cleats, and plans to talk with his

family about whether or not to press charges, his agent told

Nashville police Monday.

The league suspended Haynesworth for five games -- more than

twice the length of the previous longest suspension -- for flagrant

unnecessary roughness. He won't be paid while he serves the

suspension, effective immediately.

"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else,

for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's

Titans-Cowboys game," new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

Haynesworth's previous problems had been hidden from attention

because they took place in practice. As a sophomore at Tennessee,

he fought with a teammate and left practice, returning with a long

pole looking for tackle Will Ofenheusle before coach Phillip Fulmer

stopped him. He was suspended for a half of a game.

During 2003 Titans training camp, Haynesworth kicked center

Justin Hartwig, now with Carolina. Charges for a road rage incident

earlier this year were dismissed.

But the stomping, showed repeatedly in television replays, has

brought nearly unanimous condemnation, the unprecedented suspension

and possibly criminal charges and a civil lawsuit.

Nashville police and the district attorney contacted the Cowboys' general counsel Monday, offering their assistance to Gurode in prosecuting Haynesworth. The Cowboys declined to comment on the suspension.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher indicated that Haynesworth would not appeal the decision; however, ESPN's Chris Mortensen spoke with NFL Players Association president Gene Upshaw who said he would challenge the penalty because of its unprecedented length.

Before the suspension was announced, Gurode wasn't in the Dallas

locker room. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said the center lifted

weights and could practice Wednesday. Before the suspension came

down, linebacker Greg Ellis, the players' union representative,

said he had talked with Gurode and thinks it is worth pressing

charges if things don't get properly resolved with the league.

Haynesworth was penalized and ejected from the game early in the

third quarter after stomping on Gurode's head, causing his helmet

to pop off, then kicking him again following a 5-yard touchdown run

by Julius Jones of the Cowboys.

"What I did out there was disgusting," Haynesworth said

Sunday. "It doesn't matter what the league does to me. The way I

feel right now, you just can't describe it."

Fisher said Haynesworth learned of the

suspension a few minutes before the league's announcement and that

the tackle was remorseful and embarrassed. But he called

Haynesworth's actions unacceptable.

"I felt there needed to be some serious action taken from a

discipline standpoint, and I believe that what the league has done

right now is adequate," Fisher said.