The Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans are in discussions about a trade of disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The people spoke to the AP Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential.

Washington signed Haynesworth to a $100 million US contract in 2009 as a free agent, and the tackle accepted a $21-million bonus in April. It's been a non-stop battle of wills between Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and Haynesworth since then.

The Titans declined to comment, and the Redskins did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Shanahan was hired in January, and Haynesworth did not participate in the team's off-season program while lobbying for a trade because he didn't want to play nose tackle in the new 3-4 defence. Shanahan gave Haynesworth a chance to leave, but the tackle stayed and accepted the bonus in his contract.

Haynesworth skipped a mandatory minicamp and was fined. In training camp, Shanahan required Haynesworth to pass a conditioning test before practising, which Haynesworth didn't do until the 10th day of camp. The tackle seemed to be accepting his role in the 3-4 defence by the third pre-season game.

Then Shanahan made Haynesworth play almost the entire game Thursday in the pre-season finale against Arizona when the regular starters had the night off. Haynesworth played 49 of 55 snaps and was on the field in the final minutes.

His status for Sunday night's opener against Dallas has been in question with Shanahan saying only that he will play the best players ready to play.

The Titans have missed Haynesworth's presence in the middle of their line, slumping to 31 sacks without him helping collapse offensive lines. He managed only four sacks with the Redskins himself, a big dip from his 8 ½ sacks in 2008 with Tennessee.

And the Titans know him well, having drafted Haynesworth in the first round in 2002. They used the franchise tag to keep Haynesworth in 2008 to help keep him focused, and the deal they eventually offered in 2009 was nowhere near what he got from Washington in the first hours of free agency.

The former University of Tennessee lineman has 28 career sacks and six forced fumbles in his first eight NFL seasons.