The Detroit Lions, once believed to be interested in trading for Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, no longer consider that an option, a team source said Wednesday.
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With Haynesworth's ties to Lions coach Jim Schwartz -- his former defensive coordinator in Tennessee -- there had been mounting pressure for the team to think about acquiring the disgruntled former Pro Bowl selection, who is unhappy with the Redskins' defensive switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 formation.
The Lions did internally discuss trading for Haynesworth before April's draft, but that's not an option now after the team used its first-round pick on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has serious concerns about the kind of influence that Haynesworth could become, according to the source.
"Even though Suh is his own man, we don't want any negative influences around him," the source said.
Haynesworth has stayed away from all of the Redskins' offseason activities, including a mandatory minicamp earlier this month, despite collecting a $21 million bonus from the team April 1. He has maintained his desire to be dealt to another team, preferably one that runs a 4-3 defense, as Detroit does.
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