They didn’t rib him during the meetings for finally passing the test, or even call attention to what happened. Albert Haynesworth passed his conditioning test and finally practiced — for a little while anyway.
No big deal.
“We didn’t pop any champagne and we didn’t pop no balloons out,” nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu said. “It was a normal day as usual. To have him back is really good for our defense.”
Several players spoke out about Haynesworth skipping the offseason workouts. But since camp opened, a number of them — both publicly and privately — have said there’s no issue.
“What’s done is done,” Redskins end Andre Carter said.
Redskins end Phillip Daniels said he senses Haynesworth would have taken a different approach in the offseason.
“I think he regrets it,” said Daniels, who speaks often with Haynesworth. “Albert is a prideful man. I know it bothers him, with everyone making fun of him. He does laugh about it sometimes. It’s funny sometimes. … I wish he would have gotten 50 percent so he wouldn’t have to go through this.”
Daniels said he can tell Haynesworth is anxious to be part of this defense.
“Just the fact that he’s asked a lot of questions,” he said. “That tells me he’s involved and he’s happy. … Now it’s time to play. We don’t hold no grudges.”
Haynesworth will play all three line spots; he’s opening as the No. 2 nose tackle. Often times he could start at right end and shift to nose tackle in certain situations.
“That’s the plan,” Kemoeatu said. “If I’m in on nose tackle on first and second down and then have Albert in on third down and rush the passer and get a sack and get himself a ticket to the Pro Bowl.”
