Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is starting to like the way he’ll be used. That’s because he’s starting to see the sort of plays he can make.
What he doesn’t care about is criticism lobbed his way; nor does he want to talk about the conditioning test fiasco.
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Haynesworth spoke with the media for the first time since training camp began and made it clear that he’ll do what asked. And he made it clear that so far he likes playing for Jim Haslett; and his relationship with coach Mike Shanahan is clear.
“He’s the head coach, I’m a player,” Haynesworth said. “That’s what it is.”
Haynesworth worked as the No. 2 nose tackle in Washington’s 42-17 win over Buffalo Friday night. It’s a position he did not want to play, which is why he stayed away from Washington this offseason hoping to be traded.
“What I was told earlier was completely different from what we’re doing now,” Haynesworth said. “Being with Has these last few weeks has really cleared up a whole lot of stuff. I really enjoy it. It’s great to have him on my side and help me with the defense.”
He admitted he’s still getting used to playing over the nose, though the plan is to move him around as well.
“It’s a little different,” he said. “You do get double teams, but you have linebackers coming downhill, so they’re not going to stay on you the whole time. In the 4-3, they stay on you. You’d have some linebackers that would come and rub them off, but now it’s a lot different. It’s still going sideways, which I’m not used to, but after getting all that stuff down it will be fine.”
Meanwhile, he also addressed …
Criticism: “I don’t care. Hell, people have been talking about me since I’ve been born so it’s nothing different.”
His knee: “The knee is good. It was just stuff I had to deal with the last few years. It was nothing new or out of the ordinary.”
Starting: “I think I have the talent to and I’ve picked up the defense fast. It’s not my call. Whatever they want me to do man. I’ll just keep playing. I know I’m a good player and eventually I’ll be with the first team.”
Mending fences with teammates: “My teammates, the guys I hang out with and talk to, they never had anything. They said do what you had to do. They know it’s a business and they understand my position.”
