Redskins suspend Haynesworth four games without pay
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 said 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 said 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.
Shanahan also said 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.
Furthermore, according to Shanahan: "When Albert was at Redskin Park (on Monday), he told our General Manager Bruce Allen that he would no longer speak with me. Although suspending any player is not a decision that a head coach enters into lightly, I believe the situation has reached the point where the club clearly has no alternative."
NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports that Haynesworth will appeal his suspension, according to a league source. Also, LaCanfora reports that the Redskins will likely use the suspension as an attempt to recoup some of the $20 million bonus he received in April. However, under the current collective bargaining agreement, their ability to actually do so, based on precedent, appears scant.
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 Haynesworth 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."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
