We are so used to Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth barely contributing to the Patriots that it’s almost not a story anymore.
Ocho was targeted five times against the Giants. He didn’t have a catch.
Haynesworth, meanwhile, didn’t get into the box score. He was benched after blowing an assignment on a touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs halfway through the third quarter.
“We had a lot of defensive linemen active, so they played in different rotations,” coach Bill Belichick said Monday when asked about Haynesworth’s disappearance via Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald.
Pressed on the issue, Belichick stuck to the script: “It was rotation-related.”
Haynesworth went to the sideline after Jacobs’ score and talked about his mistake to Belichick, according to Rapoport. Defensive line coach Pepper Johnson and Haynesworth were seen jawing at each other.
Perhaps Haynesworth was just benched for his mediocre play. He’s consistently seen fewer snaps than guys like Kyle Love. Maybe the Patriots were trying to send Haynesworth a message.
No matter what the reason, Haynesworth is giving Ochocinco a run for his money as the biggest acquisition bust on the team.