Are the Washington Redskins Becoming the New York Yankees of the NFL?

Without a doubt, the Washington Redskins have made the biggest moves so far in the 2009 free agency. First, they resigned DeAngelo Hall after having a great 2008 season with the Redskins. It is a 6-year deal, worth $55 million and $23 million of that will be guaranteed money up front. Then, on the first day of the 2009 NFL free agency, a couple days ago, the Redskins made one of the riskiest moves, signing Albert Haynesworth to a seven year, $100 million deal which could reach $115 million if all incentives are reached. The deal also included a staggering $41 million guaranteed which is a record. And just recently, the Redskins signed guard Derrick Dockery to a five year, $26 million deal and $8.5 million guaranteed. With all three of these signing, this team has spent over $175 million on three players. That is significantly more than than any other team has spent or will spend the whole free agency period.

The only other team that could compare to this sort of spending are the New York Yankees of the MLB. The Yankees have the biggest payroll in baseball, estimated at about $210 million. The Yankees and Redskins are having a very similar off-season signing players to big deals. The Yankees signings this year have been Mark Teixera (8 year deal worth $180 million), C.C. Sabathia (7 year deal worth $161 million), and A.J. Burnett (5 year deal worth $82.5 million). For three players, the Yankees have spent a total of $423.5 million.

The Redskins are trying to make a statement this off-season with their signings because they finished fourth in the tough NFC East Standings last year with a record of 8 wins, 8 losses behind the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles. The Redskins have only made the playoffs two times this decade in 2005 and 2007 and last made and won the Super Bowl in 1991, almost 20 years ago. The Yankees and Redskins have two things on their mind with these big signings, win a Championship in their respective sports now.

Albert Haynesworth is the first non-quarterback in history to receive a seven-figure contract. He had a great year with the Tennessee Titans last year having 8 1/2 sacks and being invited to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year with the Titans. He was the defensive leader of a surprising Titans team who finished with an NFL best 13-3 record but lost in the playoffs. But Haynesworth has been criticized in the past for his efforts (sometimes taking plays off) and for his altercations on and off the field. He's had an on the field altercation when he purposely stomped on a player out of frustration. He was suspended for five games and fined for the incident.

The Washington Redskins are taking a big risk, but is a necessary risk if they want to be playoff contenders.