Redskins suspend DT Haynesworth for rest of season
Associated Press
Published: Dec. 7, 2010 at 12:56 p.m. Updated: Dec. 7, 2010 at 01:16 p.m.
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins have suspended defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth without pay for the last four games of the regular season.
The team says in a press release Tuesday that Haynesworth was punished for "conduct detrimental to the club" and that he was told of the suspension by general manager Bruce Allen.
Coach Mike Shanahan says in a statement that Haynesworth "repeatedly refused to cooperate with our coaching staff in a variety of ways over an extended period of time."
Shanahan says Haynesworth "consistently indicated" to defensive coaches that he wouldn't play in certain defensive packages and refused to follow coaches' instructions in practice and during games.
Haynesworth has settled into a role as a part-time player this season, happy not to be a regular part of the team's "Okie" run packages. He's not the starting nose tackle -- as was envisioned when the Redskins switched to the 3-4 scheme this season -- and instead is playing mostly in nickel packages as a "three-technique" tackle, the role he had during much of his seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
It was Haynesworth's aversion to the 3-4 that led to months of offseason drama. The Redskins offered to released him if he didn't take his $21 million contract bonus on April 1, but he accepted the money. He later asked to be traded, skipped offseason practices, needed 10 days to pass a training-camp conditioning test, traded verbal volleys with Shanahan and was well behind in learning the new scheme.
"We've got a guy in front of me who can play the 3-4 better than I can, so whatever helps the team," Haynesworth said. "I do get to play the nickel, and I play well in that, so that's when you see me in there."
Doesn't he want to be a starter?
"I would like to start and start playing like I used to ... but right now I'm fine with it," he said.
On Monday, teammate Phillip Daniels called him out, essentially for being selfish. He was publicly summoned to the coach's office. A television report suggested he appeared "hung over" at practice last week.
Then, late in the day, Haynesworth had his own say. Appearing on a radio station, he blamed the report on "haters" who don't like him, said he's too upset to meet Tuesday with coach Shanahan, and again proclaimed he could be the greatest ever if he could play the way he wants to play.
"I believe there's some kind of haters in the organization, that they don't like me," Haynesworth said on 106.7 The Fan. "I don't know if it's players, I don't know if it's coaches, I don't know who it is. Obviously, somebody who doesn't like me, which is fine. But when you go out there and start making up lies, then, yeah, I've got something to say."
In defending himself, Haynesworth seemed to confirm what Daniels was saying, speaking disproportionately about personal goals rather than team goals. He also referenced how he was used in Tennessee before signing with the Redskins last year. "Everybody's saying I'm not committed," he said. "I'm committed. I'm out here to play. I always play hard. I play hurt. I mean I'll blow out something before I quit playing. Haynesworth said that he was too upset to talk to Shananhan Tuesday and that he would postone their meeting. "I'm not going into the office tomorrow," he said Monday. "I'm still heated over this. I just got sick of it."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press