Mitchell Layton / Getty Images

Albert Haynesworth had a career-high 8½ sacks last year, more than one-third of Washington’s team total (24).

Haynesworth, 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, has 24 sacks in seven NFL seasons since the Titans drafted him in the first round out of the University of Tennessee in 2002. His possible downsides: He hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year because of various injuries, he’s been known to take plays off, and he’s still living down a five-game suspension for swiping his cleated foot over Dallas center Andre Gurode’s face in 2006.

The suspension is the NFL’s longest for an on-field act, and Haynesworth also was required to attend anger management sessions. Now, having signed with an NFC East team, Haynesworth will face Gurode twice a year.

“I started a new chapter in my life after my incident,” Haynesworth said. “It really tested my faith in myself. I had to look at myself and see if I wanted my career to go down the drain, and I wanted all of y’all to remember Albert Haynesworth as the player that kicked somebody in the head — or be remembered as a player that turned around, took his punches, did what he did, and stepped up and became a great player.”

Hall will be getting paid to get picks. His five interceptions for the season — three with Oakland, two with Washington — were three more than any other cornerback on the Redskins’ roster. Washington had only 18 takeaways in 2008, tied for 28th in the league.

The 25-year-old cornerback also netted his second big payday in as many years. He was guaranteed about $24 million in a $70 million, seven-year contract he signed a year ago with Oakland, but he struggled to adjust to the Raiders’ man-to-man defense and was waived after eight games.

The Redskins picked him up less than a week later, and he provided a needed boost to a secondary beset by injuries. He was also a model citizen, avoiding the outbursts that prompted the Atlanta Falcons to trade him to Oakland in 2008.

To fit Haynesworth and Hall under the salary cap, the Redskins spent this month renegotiating several contracts to clear money for the upcoming season. The team also saved money under the cap by releasing linebacker Marcus Washington last week. Then came an eight-hour session at Snyder’s house the day before the start of free agency to work out all the possible scenarios.

“The bags under our eyes — and under Albert’s eyes — are there for a reason,” Zorn said.

More on Albert Haynesworth  |  DeAngelo Hall

More news

NBC Sports

What's up with Alex and Cam?

  SportsTalk: 49ers quarterback Alex Smith rips on Panthers' second-year QB Cam Newton.

NBC Sports

Sanchez looking over his shoulder at Tebow?

  SportsTalk: Is Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez concerned about being benched for Tim Tebow? It's possible.

Headlines

• Label

PFT: Giants' confidence in Randle is growing

PFT: Bears have doubts about Forte's knees

PFT: Jeff Garcia still wants to play in the NFL

PFT: Ex-Dolphin testifies in bizarre murder case

PFT Live: Top picks bring QB competitions

PFT: Williams tape may hinder 'Hard Knocks'

PFT Live: Cardinals' DB Campbell is excited

PFT: Polamalu thinks kids should play football