Haynesworth already becoming a problem?

[Countertrey]

I think there are plenty of "good points" all around. Haynesworth is a bit of a primadonna. I think he also sees the effort going into not sticking him on the nose. I think he understands that he will get his opportunities to blow up plays, as well as clog holes.

I also don't see Shanahan disagreeing with his approach to working out as representing a problem. As a "boss", there were plenty of times that I disagreed with the methods one of my staff were selecting to accomplish a task or project. I would tell them that I disagreed, but, unless I had an over-riding reason, I would not oppose them, nor would I see it as a problem between me and my employee...

Of course, if they were wrong, and it blew up, they heard about it. If I was wrong, I would acknowledge that, and consider it a lesson learned.

Shanahan understands leadership... it is not always about getting things done his way... it's about getting things done.

[vwoodzpusha]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/under- ... apped-year

Looks like Albert can buy his way out if he doesnt want to be here after this season....

[fleetus]

yeah, there's a little bit of tantrum, but a lot more straight points. Lavar's talking about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates. Instead, the highest paid player doesn't desire to be at the very first workouts where his new coaches are teaching his team mates about their schemes for the upcoming season.

Lavar is saying he doesn't even really care whether Albert has a good season or not, he cares what impression Albert leaves with his team mates, through his actions. It's a good listen.

Lavar:

I was gonna use Warren Sapp as an example and it's not even worth it...bringing Warren Sapp's name into comparison because you don't even compare enough for me to do it... You're not where you need to be, You're not, You're not...You need to realize that and you need to HUMBLE YOURSELF before it's too late.

Wow.

[1niksder]

yeah, there's a little bit of tantrum, but a lot more straight points. Lavar's talking about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates. Instead, the highest paid player doesn't desire to be at the very first workouts where his new coaches are teaching his team mates about their schemes for the upcoming season.

Lavar is saying he doesn't even really care whether Albert has a good season or not, he cares what impression Albert leaves with his team mates, through his actions. It's a good listen.

Lavar:

I was gonna use Warren Sapp as an example and it's not even worth it...bringing Warren Sapp's name into comparison because you don't even compare enough for me to do it... You're not where you need to be, You're not, You're not...You need to realize that and you need to HUMBLE YOURSELF before it's too late.

Wow.

Wasn't Lavar the guy that paid his way out of DC? Now he wants to talk about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates.

[fleetus]

yeah, there's a little bit of tantrum, but a lot more straight points. Lavar's talking about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates. Instead, the highest paid player doesn't desire to be at the very first workouts where his new coaches are teaching his team mates about their schemes for the upcoming season.

Lavar is saying he doesn't even really care whether Albert has a good season or not, he cares what impression Albert leaves with his team mates, through his actions. It's a good listen.

Lavar:

I was gonna use Warren Sapp as an example and it's not even worth it...bringing Warren Sapp's name into comparison because you don't even compare enough for me to do it... You're not where you need to be, You're not, You're not...You need to realize that and you need to HUMBLE YOURSELF before it's too late.

Wow.

Wasn't Lavar the guy that paid his way out of DC? Now he wants to talk about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates.

He had a quarrel with Snyder. i don't remember Lavar ever missing practice or workouts or anything related to supporting his teammates. regardless, what he said is spot on.

[PulpExposure]

yeah, there's a little bit of tantrum, but a lot more straight points. Lavar's talking about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates. Instead, the highest paid player doesn't desire to be at the very first workouts where his new coaches are teaching his team mates about their schemes for the upcoming season.

Lavar is saying he doesn't even really care whether Albert has a good season or not, he cares what impression Albert leaves with his team mates, through his actions. It's a good listen.

Lavar:

I was gonna use Warren Sapp as an example and it's not even worth it...bringing Warren Sapp's name into comparison because you don't even compare enough for me to do it... You're not where you need to be, You're not, You're not...You need to realize that and you need to HUMBLE YOURSELF before it's too late.

Wow.

Wasn't Lavar the guy that paid his way out of DC? Now he wants to talk about team work, pride, working together, supporting your team mates.

He had a quarrel with Snyder. i don't remember Lavar ever missing practice or workouts or anything related to supporting his teammates. regardless, what he said is spot on.

It was a lot more than Snyder. He pissed off Gregg Williams, Dale Lindsay, and Joe Gibbs, quarrelling with the coaches in front of the rest of the team. Which is totally inexcusable.

Oh and then he was such a stand-up guy he called Joe Gibbs a coward for retiring from the NFL. What a winner of a human being.

[PulpExposure]

Oh and this sure sounds like it's coming from a guy who is a problem.

I'm taking some of these questions in a different order than they appeared, but Haynesworth's overall message about the direction of the organization was overwhelmingly positive, especially concerning Mike Shanahan.

"I think with him being at the helm it's gonna be awesome," he said. "I don't think you'll hear anything from Dan Snyder as far as commenting on the team, other than maybe some little stuff, like regular owners. I think it's all gonna be in Mike's hands and Bruce Allen's hands."

I think he just thought the Skins under Zorn were bush league. And we were.

[1niksder]

He had a quarrel with Snyder.

Lavar is just a bitter ex Redskins player that was all about the money, when the gravy train ran dry he tried to sqeeze a little more out, then he bolted when he knew he wasn't getting any more cash... Yeah he's still a fan favorite but....

Ending Troy Aikman's career goes a long way with some fans, but other than that, It was all about the money.

He buddied up with "the Danny" in 2003 and and signed an eight-year, $68 million contract extension near the end of the 2003 season. Lavar got a lot of upfront cash but no new money. That's not a "quarrel" with "the Danny", that's hiring agents and not watching what they are doing. Lavar got a lot more cash than was due to him before the extension and "the Danny" had cap space to trade for Portis.

Arrington can blame "the Danny" for whatever he wants, actions speak louder than words. After saying he was cheated out of $6.5 million, Lavar paying over $4 million to "put the hold ordeal behind him" say a lot.

BTW... the "quarrel" was settled when Arrington's agent was suspended for two years. He was unable to represent NFL players longer than Lavar lasted as a NFL player after he left Washington.

i don't remember Lavar ever missing practice or workouts or anything related to supporting his teammates.

You don't remember....
I'll share some of what I remember shortly...

Maybe he will jog your memory...

"I called Joe Gibbs a coward for leaving," Arrington said. "You came in, you made some money for your NASCAR team. No one else is going to say that. I'm sure more people thought I was a [jerk] for saying that. Joe wouldn't call me because he knows. There are a lot of people who know the truth about what went down with me and the Redskins."

That's what you call supporting the team... take a shot at your ex-coach because you have a beef with "the Danny"

I remember his first year with the Redskins...
I remember his agents were the Poston brothers and he did what all of their clients did. He asked for a boatload of money, then planned to hold out until their demands are met. Granted he didn't miss any voluntary work-outs but he missed a few days of training camp (which are more important than these voluntary conditioning sessions). His hold out was very brief, but that's only because "the Danny" threaten to hit him with a $100K per day fine.

That had nothing to do with missing practice or workouts or anything related to supporting his teammates, Right?

From day one it was all about $$$$ with Lavar.

I am remembering how Lavar's best years were when he had Marty and S.O.S. as the head coach because:
(1)Schottenheimer let Arrington freelance and run

(2)Steve didn't know football included defense schemes let alone players needed to play with in that scheme.

I seem to remember that Lavar recored almost half of his career sacks during those years, then Marvin Lewis came in believing in team defense and Lavar fell off.

Marvin Lewis moved on to Cincy as their new head coach, even after running that group for a couple of years, Lewis still was quoted as saying:

Arrington was undisciplined and that his freelancing drove him "batty" when he was the Redskins' defensive coordinator in 2002

I remember that's about the time Lavar Arrington got close with "the Danny", but then "the Danny" hired a ledgend and his buddy Gregg. Gregg was another one of those "team defense" kind of D-Co-ordinators, and Lavar only lasted two years after their arrival.

Here's someone everyone here will remember...

Joesph Jackson Gibbs is/was a coach that understands/understoods both sides of the line.
If you don't remember him he's the coach that put those three shiney silver thingys with the shiny little football on top out at Redskins Park.

I remember when he responded to what was labled a "distracting soap opera" (Lavar crying about not knowing why he wasn't getteng any playing time) and said:

"I've talked to LaVar more than any other player I've ever coached in 30 years, probably three times more. I've had great conversations with him, and told him exactly what he needs to do. Our coaching staff here has got tons of experience, and, I believe, play the best guys. And so at whatever point LaVar's the best person to be in there, I'm convinced he'll be in there."

I remember a lot, mostly that Lavar was out for Lavar....

Gibbs buddy, the one that just helped the Saints get their first shiney silver thingy, said: players who want to play "have to do it in practice" when he was asked why Lavar wasn't

Joe Bugel put it right out there when he spoke about Lavar not playing when he said:

"You can't be a flash; you can't make one big play, then make four or five bad plays.

I remember Lavar being the King of freelancing and having a flare for over running plays.

regardless, what he said is spot on.

Lavar has been anti high paid Redskins since the day he left . Now he is talking like he knows what Haynesworth mindset is and how his teammates are going to re-act to him not being at voluntary offseason workouts during the first week.

If Haynesworth is being a problem and disrespecting his teammates by saying:

"I'm getting back to basics, what got me to be one of the top defensive players in the NFL, and that's what I plan on doing."

then the whole team needs to start showing less respect and start causing more problems.

These are voluntary workouts, not OTAs, mini-camp or training camp, so Haynesworth isn't missing anything. No one is being paid to be there and any private workouts Haynesworth takes part in comes out of his pocket. Why does what he make keep comiing up?

[SkinsJock]

well said Jake

I remember thinking we had hit the jackpot when we got Chris and Lavar, unfortunately, only Chris wanted to help and really be a part of a team

The Haynesworth 'issue' will not be a distraction for Shanahan, Haslett or the players - the media is another matter

[VetSkinsFan]

that should be the end of the LaVar tantrum discussion.

And CT had a good point, too. Lots of intelligence seeps thru the drivel here!

[SkinsJock]

I think there are plenty of "good points" all around. Haynesworth is a bit of a primadonna. I think he also sees the effort going into not sticking him on the nose. I think he understands that he will get his opportunities to blow up plays, as well as clog holes.

I also don't see Shanahan disagreeing with his approach to working out as representing a problem. As a "boss", there were plenty of times that I disagreed with the methods one of my staff were selecting to accomplish a task or project. I would tell them that I disagreed, but, unless I had an over-riding reason, I would not oppose them, nor would I see it as a problem between me and my employee...

Of course, if they were wrong, and it blew up, they heard about it. If I was wrong, I would acknowledge that, and consider it a lesson learned.

Shanahan understands leadership... it is not always about getting things done his way... it's about getting things done.

I agree with Vet too - this is good observation and another way to look at the 'issue'

Haynesworth, the coaches and the rest will adapt - the media is just doing their job and trying to make more out of it

[fleetus]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03014.html

Teammates to Albert Haynesworth: You should be at Redskins Park

Some of them, like Daniels, have called you; reached out by e-mail like Donovan McNabb; told you Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense has an end spot reserved for you; that other people have been brought in to play nose tackle and take on two and three lineman at a time so you can do your mountain-

moving thing and crumple the quarterback.

"From what I'm told, he can play the end spot," Daniels said. "I've called him and told him that. The thing is, we have 100 percent participation if he is here. It's now 99. He's got to be here."

The 37-year-old defensive end overcame anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction a season ago to resume his career. His knee will be scoped soon to clean out debris. Daniels began shaking his head about Haynesworth on Saturday as the team finished practice during its weekend minicamp.

"There is no room for negotiation at 4-12," he added, speaking of the team's woeful record last season. "I'm here, [London] Fletcher's here, everybody's here," Daniels added. "He's got to understand that. We need him to come here, be here and show these young guys that the veterans have bought in and that we want to win games."

Mike Williams didn't want to delve too far into the Bash-Albert conversation. But he was like a lot of Redskins this weekend, wondering why everyone else has bought in except the highest-paid player on the team.

"Albert carries so much weight with him, there's a lot of young guys that look up to him," said the veteran offensive lineman. "But you got to be here. . . . He's a grown man. With that comes responsibility. I think a lot of people say, 'Hey, you have a responsibility to this team.' There are a lot of other guys here that would like to be home. But obviously not, because there is a responsibility we have to this team."

It's not just about camaraderie and pledging allegiance to Mike Shanahan, Bruce Allen and the new republic; it's also about learning a new job on the fly.

"This is the type of game you have to buy in or get out," veteran safety Reed Doughty said, speaking of the changes confronting the team's players now that Shanahan is coach. "There's nothing I can really say to [Albert] except the more that we're here together, the more that we're working together -- not just from a team standpoint but from a chemistry standpoint.

"If LaRon [Landry] wasn't here and we're working on first team, we're not working together. There are a lot of nuances of the games beside just Xs and Os, like trusting each other on the field. Like today, I know everything on paper. But you get out here, they start motioning and start checking -- you make a few mistakes. Those are the things we're trying to get cleaned up. You come into camp just learning the Xs and Os, we don't got a chance."

[fleetus]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03014.html

Teammates to Albert Haynesworth: You should be at Redskins Park

Albert Haynesworth couldn't stand John Palermo, his defensive line coach last season, and therefore wasn't a big fan of practice. But even teammates could not believe his abject apathy as he sat on the side of the field while they were going through drills on one day last season, when Big Al had another little "owie."

"My ankle hurts," he complained in that soft, lilting voice that makes coaches lose their minds.

Phillip Daniels was playing through a torn biceps tendon that day. Another player later remarked, "I think that's the same day I was practicing with three cracked ribs."

Some of them, like Daniels, have called you; reached out by e-mail like Donovan McNabb; told you Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense has an end spot reserved for you; that other people have been brought in to play nose tackle and take on two and three lineman at a time so you can do your mountain-

moving thing and crumple the quarterback.

"From what I'm told, he can play the end spot," Daniels said. "I've called him and told him that. The thing is, we have 100 percent participation if he is here. It's now 99. He's got to be here."

The 37-year-old defensive end overcame anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction a season ago to resume his career. His knee will be scoped soon to clean out debris. Daniels began shaking his head about Haynesworth on Saturday as the team finished practice during its weekend minicamp.

"There is no room for negotiation at 4-12," he added, speaking of the team's woeful record last season. "I'm here, [London] Fletcher's here, everybody's here," Daniels added. "He's got to understand that. We need him to come here, be here and show these young guys that the veterans have bought in and that we want to win games."

Mike Williams didn't want to delve too far into the Bash-Albert conversation. But he was like a lot of Redskins this weekend, wondering why everyone else has bought in except the highest-paid player on the team.

"Albert carries so much weight with him, there's a lot of young guys that look up to him," said the veteran offensive lineman. "But you got to be here. . . . He's a grown man. With that comes responsibility. I think a lot of people say, 'Hey, you have a responsibility to this team.' There are a lot of other guys here that would like to be home. But obviously not, because there is a responsibility we have to this team."

It's not just about camaraderie and pledging allegiance to Mike Shanahan, Bruce Allen and the new republic; it's also about learning a new job on the fly.

"This is the type of game you have to buy in or get out," veteran safety Reed Doughty said, speaking of the changes confronting the team's players now that Shanahan is coach. "There's nothing I can really say to [Albert] except the more that we're here together, the more that we're working together -- not just from a team standpoint but from a chemistry standpoint.

"If LaRon [Landry] wasn't here and we're working on first team, we're not working together. There are a lot of nuances of the games beside just Xs and Os, like trusting each other on the field. Like today, I know everything on paper. But you get out here, they start motioning and start checking -- you make a few mistakes. Those are the things we're trying to get cleaned up. You come into camp just learning the Xs and Os, we don't got a chance."

[VetSkinsFan]

We'll see when the season starts. If I want to delve into frivolous drama, I'll watch the soap opera network.

[SkinsBrewCrew]

Not sure if I had posted this here yet but...

I said from day one this would be a bad signing, and that if we did sign him, it would be proof that Vinny wasn't working for the Skins.

As dominant as he is, he needs to be ousted from this team asap.

[Countertrey]

I said from day one this would be a bad signing

I guess we'll just have to take your word for that.

As dominant as he is, he needs to be ousted from this team asap.

Shanahan's been pretty consistent in his statements that Haynsworth is NOT being traded, so I wouldn't hold my breath quite yet...

[LORD GIBBS]

The Mike Shanahan era has begun at Redskins Park and Washington's players are buying in -- except for $100 million defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who again was a no-show for the team's second voluntary minicamp this weekend.

And some of his teammates aren't happy about it. Haynesworth is upset about the team's looming change to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett from the 4-3 that the team used in 2009.


“
It says this is voluntary, but for us, what we went through last season after a 4-12 season, it's mandatory.

”
-- Phillip Daniels, on the Redskins' recent minicamp, to The Washington Post

"There is no room for negotiation at 4-12," defensive end Phillip Daniels told The Washington Post, making reference to the team's record in 2009. "I'm here, [London] Fletcher's here, everybody's here," Daniels added. "He's got to understand that. We need him to come here, be here and show these young guys that the veterans have bought in and that we want to win games."

Haynesworth, a two-time All-Pro defensive tackle, would prefer to be traded. He has also irked Shanahan by working with his own trainer and staying away from all of the team's voluntary offseason conditioning sessions.

Haynesworth, who has been paid $32 million of the $41 million guaranteed in the contract he signed with the Redskins last year, stayed away from the first minicamp last month in hopes the team would trade him, possibly for draft picks. However, on the second day of the NFL draft, Shanahan announced that "Haynesworth will not be traded."

Haynesworth's first year with Washington was far from harmonious. He criticized Greg Blache, the team's defensive coordinator last season after being sent home from a practice for disciplanary reasons. He played in 12 of 16 games and recorded 37 tackles and four sacks.

Daniels told The Post that he's been told that Haynesworth will be allowed to play on the end and won't have to be the team's starting nose-tackle, which is an important although unglamorous line position in the 3-4.


NFC East blog
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley writes about all things NFC East in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation


"From what I'm told, he can play the end spot," Daniels told The Post. "I've called him and told him that. The thing is, we have 100 percent participation if he is here. It's now 99. He's got to be here."

However, in April, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Haynesworth was penciled in to be the team's starting nose tackle.

Offensive lineman Mike Williams said that, like it or not, Haynesworth has to realize he's a leader on the team.

"Albert carries so much weight with him, there's a lot of young guys that look up to him," Williams told the Post. "But you got to be here. ... He's a grown man. With that comes responsibility. I think a lot of people say, 'Hey, you have a responsibility to this team.' There are a lot of other guys here that would like to be home. But obviously not, because there is a responsibility we have to this team."

Daniels told The Post, that although these minicamps have been voluntary, the Redskins' last-place finish last season dictates that attendance should be mandatory.

"It says this is voluntary, but for us, what we went through last season after a 4-12 season, it's mandatory," Daniels said. "He should definitely be here. And it's a shame he's not."

Haynesworth will be required to attend the mandatory minicamp next month.

[Skins Fan in Indy]

He needs to get with the program or take a hike. Actually this could be the first real test for Allen as GM.

[Countertrey]

I have no idea why you're worried. Haynesworth's attitude can only be a problem if it is permitted to spread. What is becoming clear is that the players don't intend to let it. From listening to the players, it sounds like they are all saying that they are moving on either with Albert, or without him. Albert can join them... or be a pariah... but it doesn't sound like they are going to let him drag anyone else down with him.



Life's too short.

[bbatty]

I have no idea why you're worried. Haynesworth's attitude can only be a problem if it is permitted to spread. What is becoming clear is that the players don't intend to let it. From listening to the players, it sounds like they are all saying that they are moving on either with Albert, or without him. Albert can join them... or be a pariah... but it doesn't sound like they are going to let him drag anyone else down with him.



Life's too short.

I agree totally, why worry! Let's see what he show's up lookin like
this weekend. This is a manditory Team workout coming up. He came
out and talked with Shanahan about doing his own workout thing and
only Shanahan and him know what was discussed. I'll give the guy the
benefit of the doubt until he shows up and we see if it was all a sham
or if he's raring to go. For all we know he could come in like he said
he was going to... (In alot better playing shape than last year)


Hail

[bbatty]

I have no idea why you're worried. Haynesworth's attitude can only be a problem if it is permitted to spread. What is becoming clear is that the players don't intend to let it. From listening to the players, it sounds like they are all saying that they are moving on either with Albert, or without him. Albert can join them... or be a pariah... but it doesn't sound like they are going to let him drag anyone else down with him.



Life's too short.

I agree totally, why worry! Let's see what he show's up lookin like
this weekend. This is a manditory Team workout coming up. He came
out and talked with Shanahan about doing his own workout thing and
only Shanahan and him know what was discussed. I'll give the guy the
benefit of the doubt until he shows up and we see if it was all a sham
or if he's raring to go. For all we know he could come in like he said
he was going to... (In alot better playing shape than last year)


Hail

WASHINGTON
May 17-19, May 24-26, June 1-3, June 7-8, June 10-11
April 16-18 (voluntary), May 7-9 (rookies; voluntary for veterans), June 16-18

forgot to show mini camp dates sorry

[SKINS#1]

If AH is not in shape and able to give 100% when he shows up, I would make him a bench warmer for the rest of his contract. Either you are a team player or you are not.

[crazyhorse1]

If AH is not in shape and able to give 100% when he shows up, I would make him a bench warmer for the rest of his contract. Either you are a team player or you are not.

Since I'm old and grumpy, I'll speak the truth. Nobody is a team player. Nobody. People play at being team players to get along and make a buck.
AH only does what he has to, like everyone else. Daniels has to be there--to make the team. AH doesn't, and his contract says he doesn't.

[VetSkinsFan]

I'd say this is nothing new and was already talked about in the OTHER Haynesworth thread. I'm tired of regurgitating the same non-stories. Until week 1 vs Dallas, I really don't give a damn what's happening. If he's here, he's GOING to start. Plain and simple. He's too damn good not to. Anyone who can't see that is naive.

[SKINFAN]

I'm with Vet on this one.... If he starts showing that he can't get to the QB when he wants to, we have no probs.