Five (more) thoughts on Albert Haynesworth, because this saga is not about to ever end:
1. The Redskins were not impressed with what they saw on film of Haynesworth in 2009. Didn’t like his effort. Didn’t think he played with the strength that he needed to. Didn’t think he dominated the way he should. On many levels I agree with them. It also tells you how talented people think Haynesworth is because he still had moments where he could take over a play. And those plays are why people have salivated over him from the time he was in high school.
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2. However, if the Redskins did not like what they saw on film, why keep him around? The mess they’re now in is one of their own making. Mike Shanahan is a gifted coach, one of the best in the game, and he’s right to expect a certain amount of effort from every player. Ultimately, that attitude will help this franchise prevail. He’s right that Haynesworth has probably never been pushed the way he’s trying to push him. But Haynesworth is … not … going … to….change. Period. Seriously, how anyone could think that he would is a bit silly. I remember talking to his former defensive line coach at Tennessee before the 2009 training camp and he talked about how dominant Haynesworth was as a junior in high school. Might have been the best he’s seen, Dan Brooks said. His senior year? Brooks said he was puzzled by how his play dropped off. My take? He got the scholarship with his performance his junior year. Then, as a college junior, Brooks said he again dominated after two so-so years. Why? The draft. The pattern was established a while ago and continued in the NFL. He didn’t make the Pro Bowl until his sixth season. Got paid after two trips, too.
3. If Haynesworth were a rookie, then I could see the Redskins thinking they could “break him.” It’s great that Shanahan did that with Trevor Pryce, but he was a rookie. Big, big difference. Haynesworth twice has been named All-Pro, once was the AP’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year and is entering his ninth season. In his mind, what he’s done has worked (thanks for that phrase, Norv). Why change now? Besides, if the Redskins don’t like it, someone else will. And if the Redskins cut him, he’ll get another contract.
4. The Redskins new staff had to know all this. They also had to know his reputation. They also had to know how hard it is to change guys like this. So if that’s the case, why hang onto a guy like that? They gave him a chance to shop himself and that didn’t work, so they gave him the bonus and now feel it has to work. But the time to make a move was long before April 1. Sometimes a coach’s ego trips them up. They think they can make something out of anything. It’s great to have confidence and a belief in yourself and your system. But you HAVE to know what you’re dealing with to know if it will work. If Haynesworth had not showed certain traits that you liked before last season – say he worked really hard all the time in Tennessee and didn’t have such a pattern of up-and-down play — then you could say last year was an aberration. It wasn’t. What makes you think it wouldn’t happen again? The moment I think many of us knew it would never change, or maybe the 10th time we knew that, came after the Ravens game when he popped off in the locker room. If he’d bought in, if he was a new man, then he wouldn’t have fired away as he did. But he isn’t and he did.
5. This is not to excuse Haynesworth. If he doesn’t play because of his attitude — and his effort vs. Arizona was spotty at best — then he’s letting down his teammates. They know they’re better with him on the field. Just watch in preseason games when he’s motivated. Again, in the Jets game, on one stunt three Jets went his way leaving the middle free for a pressure from Vonnie Holliday. Against the Bills, blitzes up the middle worked because they came behind him. Against the Cards, Robert Henson’s blitz up the middle started with his first two steps coming behind Haynesworth. The coaches know what his presence on the field means: opportunities for others. Sorry, but not sure how well this pressure defense works without Haynesworth on the line. Creative schemes can only take you so far. I’d be ticked off at this whole saga if I’m a player – and I know guys will be. Cripes, they see his talent. I saw guys giving twice the effort who were cut; how could you not be ticked at some point. But they should be annoyed at everyone involved. Haynesworth’s attitude hasn’t helped. But this problem could have been solved long before the season opener.
