Albert Haynesworth attends practice, unable to participate
For the first time since starting his sit-out protest against the Washington Redskins’ adoption of the 3-4 defensive scheme, Albert Haynesworth finally joined his teammates at the Redskins Park practice facility on Thursday.
Unfortunately, attendance did not result in Haynesworth’s participation after he failed newly-hired coach Mike Shanahan’s pre-camp conditioning tests. Haynesworth had another opportunity on Friday to pass the exam, but sources indicate that he has failed it again.
Haynesworth’s absence from the team workouts is apparently for his own safety. As Shanahan put it: “We don't want to put a guy out there that's not ready to go, then something happens and he's out two weeks.”
Though he did not participate in team training, Haynesworth did work out for a short period with the Redskins’ new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett prior to shuffling into the locker room.
Shanahan’s conditioning test apparently consisted of three 300-yard sprints. Haynesworth’s first failure occurred because the 29 year-old took a bathroom break deemed too long by Shanahan. There is no word yet on the circumstances behind his second attempt.
The test is rather difficult for someone of Haynesworth’s size, and he reportedly told teammates that he had never previously been subjected to similar conditioning tests. Haynesworth’s teammate, nimble cornerback DeAngelo Hall, also noted that the tests were particularly hard.
Shanahan will not be showing any mercy to Haynesworth, and when asked if the test was too hard for a player with Haynesworth’s 6ft 6in, 350lb frame, he told reporters: "Well, I'll say this [...] All of our other linemen passed the test."
Once Haynesworth does pass the conditioning test and starts practicing with the team, he is expected to take over the nose tackle position in Shanahan’s 3-4 scheme. Shanahan has added that he will also be moving Haynesworth to the outside when he finds it necessary.
With the Tennessee alum lineman missing, the Redskins practiced with a front of Adam Carriker, Maake Kemoeatu and Kedric Golston -- with Kemoeatu filling in for Haynesworth at nose tackle - during the team's offence vs. defence drills at the end of practice.
Though Haynesworth is missing from practice right now, the rest of the Redskins line-up is not particularly worried about the two-time Pro Bowl selection.
"He'll join us later, we'll go with the flow right now," said Kemoeatu, who is attempting to return from a brutal 2009 season, during which he had to sit-out due to injury. "The pieces are still fine, still good. When he comes back, there will just be another addition to our defence.”
Offensive lineman Derrick Dockery shared a similar sentiment. He told reporters: "I'm just glad he's back out with us. He's a great competitor, a great player. I'm just glad he's on my team. Whatever he has to do to get ready, I know from that first game, he'll be ready."
After Friday’s failure, Haynesworth will get another shot on Saturday, and each subsequent day until he finally passes the exam. According to Shanahan: “When he does come back, he's going to be in shape."
Interestingly enough, Haynesworth may not even be particularly out of shape. Shanahan is a particularly hard-nosed team-oriented coach and may be punishing Haynesworth for his previous sit-outs. By making Haynesworth continue a conditioning test, which is no doubt brutal on someone of his size, not to mention entirely uncorrelated to the position he plays, Shanahan is showing Haynesworth who runs the team and what happens when a player decides to go against an established system.
Either way, when Haynesworth returns, he will have to prove himself beyond just conditioning. 2009 was a disappointing year for the run-stopping monster, and he needs to show fans he is worth all the money Washington is paying him.
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