After an offseason of turmoil, Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth got on the field for 16 plays Sunday against the Cowboys. So how did he do?
“I played okay,” Haynesworth said. “I made a few tackles and did what I was supposed to do.”
Haynesworth’s assessment of his play is more charitable than my assessment of Haynesworth’s play.
I was critical of the anonymous sources within the Redskins’ organization who were telling the Washington Post that Haynesworth looked awful in the preseason finale, and I still think question the motivations of those sources who ripped Haynesworth anonymously. But I’ll also say that from my own observations of Haynesworth Sunday night, he really was awful. When he wasn’t getting blown off the line of scrimmage, he was out of position to make the play. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the only time Haynesworth stayed on the field for a full drive was the drive on which the Cowboys scored their only touchdown.
Even if he thinks he played okay, Haynesworth seems to understand that he’s just a role player on the Redskins’ defense now.
“That’s just the situation that we’re in right now,” Haynesworth said. “But I’m just happy that we beat Dallas.”
They beat Dallas without a lot of help from their highest-paid player.