Linebacker Brian Orakpo made it clear what he wanted, and didn’t want, regarding Albert Haynesworth this season.
“This year we’re not going through all that Albert nonsense,” Orakpo said. “If he’s here, if he’s not, I don’t even want to discuss it. Love Albert to death, wish him the best. If he’s here there’s a role, if not we have to move on without him and forget about all this saga, Albert, [Donovan] McNabb. You name it. We just need to start winning games and forget about all the drama we go through each and every year.”
Orakpo said he would love to play with Haynesworth again. Two years ago Haynesworth’s presence helped open rush lanes for Orakpo. And the two worked well at times on stunts.
But Orakpo, like many of his teammates, would not want to see Haynesworth kept around so the franchise could make a point.
“Obviously it wears you down,” Orakpo said. “We try to say it don’t, but Albert don’t want to talk about it, we don’t want to talk about it. We just want to focus on us as a team. I thought last year and in years previous we talked too much about individuals that have problems with the organization instead of trying to go out and perform well.
“We need to forget about all the nonsense and negativity and focus as a team. That’s how it’s supposed to be done. That’s what the great teams do. And we need to stop talking about being a great team and actually start doing some action out here and start preparing as a great team.”
But Haynesworth was a big storyline last summer, last season and in the offseason. And nothing will change this summer. Until Haynesworth is traded or released he will be a big storyline.
Teammates, including two players who were closer to him in Phillip Daniels and Vonnie Holiday, aren’t sure what to expect from him.
“I’m not sure man, I don’t think about it no more,” Daniels said. “He’s a good player. Everyone knows he’s a good player. We went through a lot with him last year. I wish things could work out. He’s a physical guy who can beat people up. I hope for the best. I wouldn’t mind having him on board and playing with him again. But a lot of things have to change for that to happen.
“He was unhappy last year in a 3-4. That’s not going to change and how you react to last year is the same as how it will go this year.”
Holliday said he too isn’t sure what to expect.
“A lot of things remain to be seen,” Holliday said. “Once again it’s how did he take that criticism? Will it be motivation for him to come in and prove that he is still that guy and that he loves the game? I’m not sure how he handles it. I know this, if Albert decides to come in and be a Redskin and play in this system, then we’re gaining an impact player. And someone who raises the level of play of everyone around him.”
