"A Superior Court judge in Washington yesterday ordered Albert Haynesworth to perform 160 hours of community service, assuring that the District of Columbia will get more time and effort out of Albert than the Redskins ever did.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, the Patriots [team stats] had one question for Judge Geoffrey Alprin, a Providence native: Any chance you could get him to put in a few hours for us, too?

Haynesworth's plea deal surprised many observers, but it shouldn't have. This is, after all, what the Patriots wanted — a quick, quiet end to a potentially explosive case — and these days the Patriots usually get what they want. If Haynesworth fought the charges, we would have been treated to a titillating trial, and if convicted, he could have been sentenced to six months in prison. Just like that, his Patriots career could have been finished before it started.

Instead, he is free to return to New England, where he can immediately resume not practicing.

As he entered the courtroom yesterday, Haynesworth was peppered with questions. He smiled and said, "Go Patriots."

Haynesworth pleaded no contest to simple assault and agreed to stay away from the victim, a condition that, if you believe the police, shouldn't be a problem. In his defense, Haynesworth told investigators he doesn't care for black women. "I couldn't even tell you the last time I dated a black girl," he said to the cops."