Shanahan: DT had shot to leave before April
ASHBURN – As many of the Redskins’ players criticized the absence of Albert Haynesworth at a mandatory minicamp Wednesday, coach Mike Shanahan revealed the team had been willing to release the disgruntled defensive tackle earlier this year in exchange for not paying him a $21 million bonus April 1.
“We let Albert know [in February] that we would give him until April 1 to go to any team that he wanted,” Shanahan said. “Those rumors circulating around the National Football League that we were in trade talks, it was really his agent talking to a number of teams.”
But at the hefty price tag, the 6-foot-6, 350-pound All-Pro found no takers. When he accepted payment from the Redskins, according to Shanahan, it was under the coach’s assumption that Haynesworth was on board.
Shanahan would not say what Haynesworth would be fined. The maximum amount for a player at his salary — stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement — is $9,442 a day for blowing off a minicamp. A team spokesman said Haynesworth would not be fined the maximum.
“Obviously he decided to take our check,” Shanahan said. “We’re very disappointed he’s not here today.”
That wasn’t quite the reaction from Haynesworth’s teammates, who tended to be blunt.
“Everybody feels he turned his back on us,” defensive end Phillip Daniels said. “We supported him all summer, supported him all offseason, but now it’s come to the point where he’s gonna have to earn our respect again.”
Haynesworth’s gripe is with the Redskins’ scheme shift from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Linebacker London Fletcher said scheme changes are routine business in the NFL.
“If it doesn’t benefit him from a football standpoint, he just doesn’t get the big picture,” Fletcher said. “Right now, he’s not taking everybody else into consideration. It’s all about him, how he’s gonna benefit.”
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who said he spoke with Haynesworth for close to an hour Tuesday night, was one of the few Redskins who sympathized with the plight of the All-Pro.
“If they asked me to play free safety, who knows if I’d be here right now,” Hall said. “It wasn’t what [Albert] thought it would be. From that standpoint you gotta respect it.”
But Hall’s opinion was the minority view.
“He’s the highest paid player,” defensive end Andre Carter said. “You’ve gotta do what they ask you to do. It’s just the way it is. It’s a business.”
