As Redskins coach Mike Shanahan continues to rub defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth's face in the mess the player created by not showing up for offseason workouts, Shanahan runs the risk of alienating other players on the team -- and/or causing them to change their feelings about the player who previously had become a $100 million pariah.
Jason Reid of the Washington Post reports that some players privately have expressed concern that Shanahan is trying to make an example of Haynesworth. Unnamed team officials have conceded to Reid that Haynesworth is "clearly in shape" after losing 35 pounds in the offseason.
Reid also reports that Redskins players who failed to attend 50 percent of the offseason workouts are required to take the conditioning test. Again, this justification has no relevance to the stated purpose of the test -- to ensure that the player is ready to participate in training camp without being injured.
Under that reasoning, every player should be required to pass the test before setting foot onto the practice field.
Of course, it wouldn't be the first time Shanahan singled a guy out. Said one
source with knowledge of Shanahan's tactics, "What's happening to
Haynesworth is exactly how he's handled a hundred other situations like
that."
We've got a feeling that specific examples of Shanahan's tactics with the Broncos will surface soon, now that he's out of Denver and back in the league.
We've also got a feeling that Shanahan's specific end game as it relates to Haynesworth is to provoke the volatile player to say or do something that will allow the team to pursue the recovery of all or part of the $21 million he received on April 1.
Along the way, Shanahan could lose a sizable chunk of the locker room.
Shanahan's tactics could cause players to rally around Haynesworth
Posted by Mike Florio on July 30, 2010 12:00 PM ET
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85 Comments 
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Top Stories, Washington Redskins
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Top Stories, Washington Redskins
Redskins are falling apart, Big Al is in shape and ready to go but the rat wants to play games.
and that's when the whores come in...
Excuse me, what?
The whores...
Christ. how about just one long post on this saga.. instead of one every 5 minutes?
Keep on making up ridiculous possibilities.
shanahan is pulling a herb brooks.
Gimmie a break!!---Keep punishing this fat turd..love it!!
Maybe if they all rally behind Haynesworth, Shanihanigans can claim it was a team unity building project, and win over the whole locker room...evil genius is what he is...
lose the locker room?
come on man!! its been TWO days!! the locker room is going to rally around Haynesworth and he is going to be a humbled player who kicks everyone's ass during the season.
He is doing what he needs to do right now..
I may be confused but of course Shanahan and the organization by and large is sticking it to Haynesworthless.. How would you feel if you the employee is pissing in the face of the employer.. Yeah who will stand for that. He should STFU and pass that darn test
Jason Reid you have zero credibility. Didn't you say on Thursday that Fat Albert "killed it" during his first conditioning test?
# jbone2005 says: July 30, 2010 12:05 PM
and that's when the whores come in...
Excuse me, what?
The whores...
_________________ _______________
I like her idea!
Sweet Tommy Boy reference.
Shanahan has won a Super Bowl. Those players were on one of the league's worst team's last year. That pretty much sums it up. Those overpaid losers should shut their mouths and do what they're told, now that they're lucky to have someone who knows what they're doing on the sideline.
Classic Shanny. Unite the players early on against him, then win them back.
It's time to get this terminal team out of the cancer ward and into the hospice.
I beg to differ Florio. I think that you are right in saying Shanny is trying to alienate Fat Albert on purpose and I also agree that this may make the team rally around old fatty. But I think that is exactly what Shanny is intending. A lot of Skins players spoke out against Albert during minicamps and I think this is Shanny's way of getting him back in the good graces of the rest of the guys he has to play next to week in week out for the next 5 months.
The only player that's expressed concern and sided with Haynesworth is DeAngelo Hall. Stop blowing it out of proportion by saying "some players", implying that it's more than one.
Also, reports are that unless Shanahan publically apologizes to Haynesworth, the rest of the players will refuse to take the field. And Fed Ex stadium will get swallowed up in a sink hole. And an Earthquake will hit D.C.
Jeeze.
Ummm Mr. Florio, again you are off the mark. Most players that have been busting their tails off for farr less money are probably as infuriated as the fans at the fat man's lack of respect. They are likely applauding and laughing at him. Then again neither of us are in the locker room, or a player of the team, neither is Reid, so none of us know what the hell we are talking about.
The only reason the whole team would be around Haynesworth would be if they were trapped in his gravity well.
Skins got themselves into this mess with this mediocre free agent by WAY over paying in the first place.
Whole lotta BS to go through just to finish last again.
What do you mean trying to make an example of him? That's exactly what he's doing. Showing him who's boss and who pulls the strings around there now. This is NOT softball. This guy got $21M check then went against what he'd said to get that check. There's no crying in football. Suck it up. Do what he says and earn your way back on that field.
Starting to look like the Shanhan that got thrown out of Oakland when he lost the team and was power hungry. Shanny has coached a lot of teams before Elway and after Elway and never won ONE playoff game. His arrogant ways won't last long in Washington.
Shanahan has ALWAYS been a dick...he's just doing it in Redskin's colors now. Why do you think so many of his past players never have anything good to say about the guy.
once he starts sacking QB's, none of this crap that has gone on for all this time will matter. same for Big Ben. If he starts throwing TD's, the media will praise him. all of this is just filler headlines before anything counts.
remember last year when the packers were picked to win the superbowl because of their performance in the preseason? wow. it just shows nothing in the preseason matters but staying healthy and being ready to play.
This is a needless trivial distraction ... better to yak about Favre coming back or the Jets winning the SB without playing any games.
It's sad when I prefer every other writer over Florio now with his predictable, left-leaning, pro-union posts.
Mike, do you get a check directly from Demorris Smith or does he funnel it through MSNBC?
This "scenario" is so far-fetched and such a pathetic attempt to bolster his idiotic opinion, that it's literally nauseating.
You really don't think jealously didn't rule that lockerroom when it comes to Haynesworth? I'm guessing (which is all you really do) that 90% of the players love what is going on. Especially the ones that bust their asses every day to see this POS refuse to integrate himself into the team.
Shanahan may have a better idea than you on how to motivate and dicipline a team. Haynesworth set himself up to be an example and Shanahan took advantage of it to assert his will and establish himself as their coach.
Why don't you let your staff do the writing exclusively and go back to watching your son play the drums, badly.
I'm pretty sure the money is paid and can't be recovered. For the Skins to get their money back....Haynesworth may have to become the ultimate embodiment of everything wrong with the NFL.
He'd have to stomp on Shanahan's face, retire, unretire, rape him, get him pregnant, punch him while he was pregnant, then hit him with a car while drunk, killing him. After that, he'd have to drive off and have Shanahan's limp, lifeless body shot by Haynesworth's cronies. I don't even think a man with the resources of Haynesworth could get all that done. At least not before the season starts.
End-of-season press conference, Redskins Park in Ashburn, VA, January 2011.
Reporter: Coach, talk about the season and your thoughts as you look back on it. Obviously, coming back into the league, you didn't want to finish with a 4-12 record, but talk about some of the accomplishments you felt the team achieved.
Shanahan: Well, I think we made real progress. Obviously, I wanted us to finish better than 4-12, but I feel very positive about the direction we're heading in. One of the highlights this season was that I proved to Albert my dick was bigger than his. I think we can build on this over the offseason and use it to help the team do better next year.
Reporter: Thanks, Coach. Enjoy your vacation.
If he's not worried about losing the locker room it may be that he's taking the long view and isn't planning on having a lot of those guys around for too long.
efangule says: Christ. how about just one long post on this saga.. instead of one every 5 minutes?
I like PFT but that's my one problem with it, too. I don't mind the gossipy type stuff at all, but there was another post just what 15 minutes before this one that insinuated the exact same thing this one does- why the need for both? Okay, there's one more thing that annoys me the over use of 'we' think this or 'we' did that or 'we' reported.
This is funny. A tool that works for a tool that works for a tool. Nice franchise you got there.
Just as easily and likely that you will lose a large chunk of your readership over this. First ever repsonse, but had to convey my disappointment with how far this site has fallen over the last year. It's ALL about shock value with very little substance.
a month ago everyone was giving big al hell now if he would have showed up like coach said he wouldnt have to worry about it. push his him he will play and play well and gain respect for coach shanahan
These numbskulls haven't played on a "TEAM" since college.
Now, they're just a collection of whiney, millionaire punks with skills. A collection of "me-first" bitchers.
Team, my ass...
Just ask Shanny's old Denver Guard Montrae Holland about what he's doing to Haynesworth....
If no one is able to pass this test why dont they all get out there and do it with him. If they all fail then there wont be anyone left for the training camp to continue and it could make team stronger. Mcnabb claims to be the leader he should rally everyone around AH
Anybody who sides with Fat Al will most likely be gone soon enough since there is really nobody on the roster good enough to build around.
Shanahan will have to strip this old car down to the metal before he can begin to start painting.
HAIL TO THE DEADSKINS, HAIL MISERY
PUSSIES ON THE WARPATH, FIGHT.....FOR.....OL D.....DC!
This is classic Mike Shanahan. He always feels like he has to make a point with a player EVERY year... Funny they were probably praying he wouldn't come into camp in shape (which makes no sense cause he can be a good DL in a 4-3 or 3-4...It's more important to Mike to show he has control of the locker room then wins or losses. I hope the players do rally around Haynesworth, which brings me to my next point, why in the hell do coaches change from a 4-3 to 3-4 or vice versa when your roster doesn't have the players to play the defense? KC did it when Haley came in no matter if he didn't have the personnel to run the defense. I hate to say this but Oakland is about the only team recently who gathered the parts before they decided to switch from 4-3 to 3-4
So it would be better if Shanahan kissed fat Albert's ass and told him all the crap he caused is forgotten? Fat Albert has caused enough crap around Redskin Park, now it's time for him to put up with some.
Shanny could walk in and call Albert a fatso and his mom a whore then sit him on the bench for 16 games.... Outcome.... Better than the four wins they had last year.
In other words... who gives a crap?
This type of shit should maybe get play a month ago when things are dead, but there's plenty going on now - no need for such dramatizaions. At the end of the day, it's a new coach pushing for discipline and showing who's boss... and a player pushing back. We've seen it a thousand times. This is no rookie coach. Is there any question as to who wins?
Thought not.
Ever occur to you that Shanahan WANTS the players to rally around Albert???? Duhhh. Ever read anything written by oh...say...a COACH.
Wooden...etc.
Shanahan is getting Hayensworth in football shape, period.
Somewhere along the line (probably after he received a very big check), Big Al seems to have come to believe that just having great talent and strength will get you through in the NFL.
Granted, he is probably better than 75% of the defensive linemen in the league without much effort. Think of how great he can really be when pushed to another level. Think of what he would/will look like on Sundays when he is at the apex of his game (and can easily play a full series of downs without needing oxygen).
# jbone2005 says: July 30, 2010 12:05 PM
and that's when the whores come in...
Excuse me, what?
The whores...
------
whores runnin' around doing their little behind shake for the menfolk.....
Wow.. You guys just make things up when there is nothing else to report..
Why not just jump all over the long dead Larry Johnson controversy while you're at it? Make up some speculation of why he didn't resign with the Bengals after last year?
C'mon guys.. I know you have more imagination than this even if they're non-issues.
@BuccanAy
You've been coming here for a year and you JUST now realized this site is mostly all sizzle and no steak?
Not enough happens in the sports world to have 24/7 coverage but that hasn't stopped ESPN, FOXSPORTS, PFT, and their brethren from covering non-stories 24/7.
That's why 80 plus percent of what is aired or posted is just some guy's opinion.
Watch yourself Shanahan, you're no longer the "Teflon Don" of coaching. Snyder sides with players and will fire you in a New York minute, just ask Marty Schottenheimer.
Albert's agents are scouring gyms across the country, but it isn't easy to find a fit body double for a man his size.
Equating Shanahan as being a dick versus a hard nosed coach that wants his team in shape going in early, may be one in the same.
Let more players call the shots and run the asylum and this great game of football will turn into more of a circus...(see prima donna in MN wearing #4). Until some of these overpaid, over-hyped turds realize there's more to a making a team cohesive and winning then themselves, the more the league will see of this crap. The fat a$$ signed a binding legal contract that states he will show up and participate and be IN SHAPE. He's not. They should fine the living crap out of him too and hold money back.
Apparently, he doesn't realize that one D-lineman rolling over his ankle could put an end to all of "this B.S." for good.
While I fully agree with what Shanny's doing with scumbag Haynesworth, I have to ask all you people defending Shanahan by saying he's won Super Bowls why you don't mention he only won them through salary cap cheating ?
Every one of you who slams the Pats but don't criticize the Donks for their cheating is a hypocrite, plain and simple.
rooster75 says: July 30, 2010 12:26 PM
End-of-season press conference, Redskins Park in Ashburn, VA, January 2011.
Reporter: Coach, talk about the season and your thoughts as you look back on it. Obviously, coming back into the league, you didn't want to finish with a 4-12 record, but talk about some of the accomplishments you felt the team achieved.
Shanahan: Well, I think we made real progress. Obviously, I wanted us to finish better than 4-12, but I feel very positive about the direction we're heading in. One of the highlights this season was that I proved to Albert my dick was bigger than his. I think we can build on this over the offseason and use it to help the team do better next year.
Reporter: Thanks, Coach. Enjoy your vacation.
-----
Lmao, post of the day.
Cash a 20+ million dollar check and not do everything team related...lmao
I feel like besides for just the love of the game players are not always guaranteed great amounts of money like Haynesworthless was. So your Shannahan and you've seen and coached hall of famers that probably never made anything close to what this brat is getting paid....basically I'm just saying make his complaining ass work!
Shanahan simply needs to make it a mandatory team policy, for anyone whom skips the optional and mandatory offseason training, to do this conditioning test. I know what he is really doing, but he does have a point. Haynesworth has not done anything football since the last game of last season.
Shanny was, is, and always will be a d-bag. Now I obviously don't know him personally, but you rarely hear locker room guys complain about Bill Parcells, Mike Holmgren, or Mike Ditka. What is it about Shanny that makes people so angry? What Shanny doesn't realize or maybe he does and doesn't care, Players will dog it to get a coach fired. If Shanny thinks pushing around Albert is a way to motivate the team, then he is sadly wrong. The league is not the same as it was 10 years ago. Players have changed and coaches have to change with them. Shanny should realize that.
Let's see, he's done this "hundreds of times" in Denver and he won back to back Super Bowls, and an armchair coach is telling him how to run his locker room.
You know the best way Haynesworth can turn this more in his favor ??? Just come to practice and do what is expected to you ... Shanahan seems to be digging his own hole on this one ... If Haynesworth is smart, he could make this all work in his favor at least in the fans eyes, maybe even the media ...
Shannies an a$$. Always has been. I dont like how Haynesworth handled himself in the offseason, but this is just plain wrong. Its not evenly administered to each player, just those that didnt drink his kool aid. I hope this comes back to bite him in the backside!!!!!
"Reid also reports that Redskins players who failed to attend 50 percent of the offseason workouts are required to take the conditioning test. "
Doesnt this violate the CBA? The workouts that they are reffering to are voluntary right? So how can he use them as a reason why some players and not other have to do conditioning tests?
My understanding of voluntary means you dont have to do something and there will be no penalties for not doing it. Well cleary Shanahan doesnt see it that way or just doesnt care.
I think if the NFLPA wanted to they could make a stand here and stop Shanahan from using this tactic. This is something that deserves looking into.
I side with Haynesworth..
He's a 4-3 DT being asked to be a 3-4 NT..
That's like saying you're a trial attorney and now we're going to make you work on wills and trusts for old people..
He was thrown into an unfamiliar, pedestrian position that brings double and triple teams and keeps the o-line off the lbs, simply taking up gap space..
that's Ted Washington stuff.. He's a better player than that.
Yes, he makes money but the hapless Skins' screwed him.
Mark0226 says:
July 30, 2010 1:18 PM
Let's see, he's done this "hundreds of times" in Denver and he won back to back Super Bowls, and an armchair coach is telling him how to run his locker room.
==================== ==
Vince Lombardi won back-to-back SB's too. Not sure how he would do with today's players.
Shanny didn't win a playoff game in his last 10 years as coach of the Broncos.
If he thinks publicly bullying players in today's day and age is what gets it done- he won't win too many in DC either.
Listen, I don't personally like Haynesworth or today's athletes in general. But this is the way it is. You don't need to kiss their asses, but public humiliation isn't going to get it done, either. He'b better find a happy medium somewhere or the Skins will be starting all over all over again in 3 years.
hawk22314 says:
July 30, 2010 12:10 PM
Classic Shanny. Unite the players early on against him, then win them back.
====================
You mean the tried and true method that lead to zero playoff wins in the last 10 years?
Poor Albert, just count all the money in your head that they paid you, be the easiest time yo0u've ever spent.
i doubt Shanahan loses the team Florio, he's too good a coach to let that happen and London Fletcher is too good of a man to let that happen.
McNabb compared himself to Jesus once - why doesn't he lay hands on Albert and cure his fattyness and insubordination, in the name of the Lord, our Savior?
Get in straight. There were 3 mandatory camps in addition to the optional.
This guy just took 21 million dollars of the Skins money and made a mockery of the off-season program. i'm amazed some of you are taking Haynesworth side on this. he's single-handedly trying to sabotage the defense by losing weight so he doesn't have to play the position that would most befefit the Skins. Unbelievable!
Fathead Albert needs to just shut up and play. The 'Skins free agent signings recently are some of the dumbest moves in Sports history not just NFL history. Even Jamarcus Russell look like a bargain compared to Fathead Albert.
How 'bout reading what the strength and conditioning coach has to say? I realize that won't do much to quell the rumormill, but sheesh.
htt p://blog.redskins.co m/2010/07/30/ray-wri ght-explains-the-con ditioning-test/1#c29 610109
"you rarely hear locker room guys complain about Bill Parcells"
@JuicyMelon are you nuts ? They don't complain while he's with the team because he'll cut their asses or make them so miserable they'll walk away from football to not have to deal with him.
Quite a few players have said after he's left various teams that they hate the guy. One high profile example was Drew Bledsoe who said after he retired that he loathed practice with Parcells because the Tuna would stand right behind him every practice and give him a rash of sh*t for every tiniest mistake he made.
@Scourge
Actually McNabb's father compared Donovan to Jesus. Looking at it that way is actually funnier. If Donovan is Jesus, then Sam McNabb has to be God the Father.
This would not even be a problem if the $100 Million dollar baby would have manned up and attended the minicamps. Or at least 50% of them. And seriously, just because he is 35 pounds lighter, doesn't mean he is in good cardiovascular shape. Just means he is lighter and a lower body fat count.
"Shanahan has won a Super Bowl. "
No. Elway and Davis won. Shanahan was just riding their coattails and continues to do so.
A guy gets a 21 million dollar signing bonus this spring and you actually want him to work for it?! Be reasonable! Be in shape?! Ridiculous!
Florio is a troll who runs a website.
Trust me.
This isn't like the other prisoners rallying around Cool Hand Luke.
While D Nabb and the receivers are putting in EXTRA time on their own to work on timing and patterns, Fatworth is complaining about how he's going to be used and weather or not he's going to get his and just doesn't show up after cashing a MEGA check.
ANY player that feels sorry for him is a dolt.
For the amount of bank he's taking home you would think he would be setting an example, now he's being made an example of, and he deserves it.
I don't feel sorry for him for a second.
He might lose the locker room? So what? If they don't win he's going to kick em all to the curb anyway.
Seems like the redskins need this as they have been pampered so much over the years that nobody actually takes them seriously as a contender
Classic Shanahan, remember his Denver defenses were at best average, and he managed to irritate or rid himself of every decent DL Denver ever got.
Say what?
300 yds is less than once around the field, actually closer to just 1/2.
An 880 run is twice around the field.
This guy is being paid to play football in shape. To be able to run once around the field should be peanuts.
In fact a mile should be peanuts.
This is an embarrassment.
I like sports, it's a great escape from reality, but I sure get tired of having to be subjected to a bunch of overpaid athletes and their ridiculous attitudes. Too bad that only a very few of them actually have a work ethic. If one of us pack mules out here in the real world acted like the majority of them at our jobs..., we would be "sidelined" immediately. In the real world, where it really matters, that equates to being fired.
The author of this post is seriously a mental midget.
Shanahan wants them to turn on him....
yeah shanahan....and elway....where to begin??? how bout where shanahan and elway team up to undermine dan reaves, costing reaves a great job. shanahan and elway wouldnt have won anything meaningfull had they not come accross a running back that they ran into the ground. they were nothing but a couple of wanna be's
Shanahan wants them to turn on him...?????
If I was Al's teammate I'd kick his rear, Al's rear that is.
At my school 7th grader's are required to do a 440 run everyday before PE starts.
Shan should make them do a 440 everyday before practice maybe two.
Dude's if you can't run two 300 runs with a break in between. You are drastically out of shape. No excuses.
I did not know that Shannihan was singleing him out.
Looks like we got another white man without a clue. Carlesimo him!!!! Get it over with.
If Big Al was in any kind of shape at all[except round] he would have easily passed the test by now.Why do you try and stir controversy Florio??The locker room will back the coach because fatass was not here to get ready for the season.Any player who thinks he is above "team"and does not spend time with them to prepare is as worthless as tits on a boar hog.