The Redskins-Haynesworth soap opera continues, only two days before the first game of the regular season.
Rosenthal pointed out earlier today that Redskins coach Mike Shanahan had a discussion with tight end Chris Cooley regarding Cooley’s decision to share with a radio station information regarding defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth’s snaps with the scout team.
“It’s unusual for Chris to tell people who’s working with the scout team,” Shanahan said in response to whether it’s unusual for a players like Haynesworth to take scout-team reps. “I’ve already talked to Chris.”
As we understand it, Shanahan was “fuming” about Cooley’s comments. (And if that’s the case, Shanahan also likely wasn’t happy when quarterback Donovan McNabb said earlier this week that the Redskins can’t win without Haynesworth.)
Despite Shanahan’s effort to downplay Haynesworth’s work with the scout team, there would have been no reason for Cooley to mention it if it was a normal, everyday occurrence. Obviously, Shanahan wants the Cowboys to think Haynesworth will play a key role on Sunday night, even if he won’t.
Meanwhile, we’re hearing that the Redskins “definitely” are willing to trade Haynesworth, but that Shanahan refuses to take the best offer available. Instead, he won’t budge off his demand, and we continue to think that Shanahan is hoping that a Week One injury will create a demand elsewhere for Haynesworth’s services -- and thus increase the price another team is willing to pay.
As we’ve said before (and probably will say again), the Redskins need to make a decision about Haynesworth and implement it now. The situation serves only to disrupt the team and to undermine Shanahan’s effort to start his stint as the team’s head coach on the right note.