1. If you’re tired of Albert Haynesworth, read on. Sadly, we still have to report it; when national writers drop trade rumors about players we cover, it’ll get written about. Besides, as one NFL source said, “Tennessee really wants him. The coaches are motivated to get him.” So it will be a story until the Redskins say, “Albert Haynesworth will be here all season. Period.”
2. But coach Mike Shanahan did say Haynesworth would be here for Sunday’s game vs. Dallas. And if the reports are accurate that the Redskins would want a second-round pick for him – and that’s what the general thought was around the league – then that’s what they’ll stick to, say those who have dealt with (and worked with) Shanahan in the past. The Tennessean is reporting that the Titans only want to give up a fourth-rounder. If the Redskins are stuck on a second, it won’t get done.
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What it comes down to is this: “It’s how motivated Washington is to get rid of him,” the NFL source said.
Heaven knows we hope the answer comes soon. Sort of tired of getting up early, staying up late, missing family time, to pursue more Haynesworth stories/rumors, etc. And I’m far from alone in that sentiment.
3. Shanahan chastised the media again today, though for the life of me I don’t know why. However, I’m guessing it was a continuation of whatever irked him Monday. He had a reputation in Denver for “ostracizing” reporters who did not fall in line with his way of doing things, one Broncos insider said. Shanahan is right when he says the media in Denver would not divulge certain things, but it does go on all the time elsewhere.
4. But does anyone really care, aside from reporters, as long as he wins? Didn’t think so. That’s fine with me.
5. I hear what you’re saying: “Please, back to football!” Gotcha.
6. Trent Williams knows a good game vs. DeMarcus Ware can help him make a name immediately. He knows the flipside: “Or I could stink it up, too,” he said. Doubt that will happen; he’s too talented. But struggling? Sure, I can see that. Though the Redskins won’t say that he had problems vs. Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, it was clear that over the course of a full game Suggs would have had a terrific day. He’s a lot like Ware.
But that was good for Washington to see him face a player like that. Now the Redskins know that perhaps they should give him more help. Of course, I’m guessing they would have provided him some anyway. The trick for Williams is to be able to use his arms; that way if he gets beat, those long arms can help him recover. The problem vs. Suggs is that he couldn’t always get his hands on him.
7. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s advice to Williams? “Tell him just to block him,” Shanahan said.
8. Former Redskins LT Chris Samuels, still around as a coaching intern, has offered Williams some tips.
“One thing that I saw throughout the years is that DeMarcus will play you with a lot of speed and try to get around the edge on you and eventually he’ll turn it into a bull rush,” Samuels said he told Williams. “So definitely be on your guard to have the tight ends to stop him and anchor for the bull rush.”
9. WR Malcolm Kelly said he should have done a better job telling the Redskins how bad his hamstring injury was before training camp. That would have led to them putting him on the Physically Unable to Perform list instead of eventually landing on injured reserve and lost for the season.
“I told them what was wrong, but at the same time who wants to be hurt on the first day of camp? So you don’t tell them every little thing,” Kelly said.
Kelly said he plans to stick around, proving to coach Mike Shanahan that he wants to be here next season too. Shanahan wants him to watch film, sit in on meetings and, when finally healthy, run pass routes. Often times, players on injured reserve don’t stick around.
10. Mike Shanahan nearly signed Tony Romo in Denver. Offered him $20,000 to join the Broncos as an undrafted free agent; both he and Romo had played at Eastern Illinois. But Romo opted for $10 grand from Dallas – but a much better opportunity to land a position. Denver was only going to keep two quarterbacks that season and already had Steve Beuerlein as the No. 2. Yes, he now wishes he’d kept a third.
“Once Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones get you on the phone, you don’t have a chance,” Romo said.
He also said of Donovan McNabb and Shanahan, “I rooted for [Shanahan] from afar. We knew each other a little bit. He’s a great guy. And I thought if Donovan got traded, I could root for him again. Now I have to stop rooting for him and again the same with Mike.”
11. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan all but said Devin Thomas probably won’t have much of a role in the offense Sunday. He left open a possibility, but it didn’t seem likely.
12. Here’s a link to a Dallas blog on Jim Halsett vs. the Cowboys.
13. Got a Redskins question you want answered? Click here.
