Shanahan: Sickness, poor practice to blame
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Redskins entered a must-win game — one that could have kept hope alive for the playoffs — by making a decision that could have a lingering impact: They deactivated defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.
Coach Mike Shanahan said it was because Haynesworth couldn’t practice Friday because of an illness. Shanahan also said Haynesworth did not practice well Thursday. He was limited the previous week vs. Minnesota because of an illness.
“Without practicing Friday and Thursday, not having one of his better practices, he was deactive,” Shanahan said.
It’s another in a long line of issues that have developed this season between Haynesworth and the Redskins, from his reluctance to play in the 3-4 defense to his missed time in camp as he took a while to complete the conditioning test.
“They choose to sit me, they choose to sit me,” Haynesworth said. “It’s their organization; I’m just a piece. … It would have been nice to play. I talked to one of my boys on the team over there. He was like, ‘Man, I’m happy that you wasn’t playing.’?”
Haynesworth admitted he was late to practice Friday but did not think that was the reason he sat. Both sides denied that there was a heated exchange. Teammates didn’t step into any controversy.
“Coach Shanahan will play the guys that he feels gives us the best chance to win games,” linebacker London Fletcher said.
Minus Haynesworth, the defense struggled as New York scored 31 points. However, the Redskins used their base 3-4 for most of the game, including almost the entire first half. Haynesworth only plays in the nickel.
And the base defense had its own issues, starting with missed tackles.
“You can’t tackle the way we did … and expect to win,” Shanahan said. “It was embarrassing the way we tackled.”
The Redskins also benched cornerback Phillip Buchanon, who started for injured Carlos Rogers, in favor of second-year Kevin Barnes.
“Because he wasn’t playing good,” Shanahan said when asked about the benching.
