San Jose Bills Fan Posted August 6, 2010 Posted August 6, 2010 strange, MRI shows that his knee is fine... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5442131 Yep. I was thinking yesterday when I saw this that it'd have been hilarious (to me anyways) if the punitive conditioning test ended up damaging Haynesworth's knee to the point where he wouldn't be able to play this year and as a result, the Redskins would have to pay his $3.6 million base salary for doing nothing. It would have been an ironic ending (and some would say, a just dessert) for Shanahan who, while favored in the court of public opinion over Haynesworth, has nevertheless made himself look like a bit of an a-hole throughout this whole drama.
C.Biscuit97 Posted August 6, 2010 Posted August 6, 2010 Yep. I was thinking yesterday when I saw this that it'd have been hilarious (to me anyways) if the punitive conditioning test ended up damaging Haynesworth's knee to the point where he wouldn't be able to play this year and as a result, the Redskins would have to pay him all this money for doing nothing. It would have been an ironic ending (and some would say, a just dessert) for Shanahan who, while favored in the court of public opinion over Haynesworth, has nevertheless made himself look like a bit of an a-hole throughout this whole drama. How has Shanahan made himself look like an ahole? For expecting the highest paid defensive player tobe in shape enough to pass a test that 47 year old Mike Golic could pass on his first time? Question: if Shanahan lets Fat Albert practice, what if he has a Korey Stringer situation because he is so out of shape?
San Jose Bills Fan Posted August 6, 2010 Posted August 6, 2010 How has Shanahan made himself look like an ahole? For expecting the highest paid defensive player tobe in shape enough to pass a test that 47 year old Mike Golic could pass on his first time? Question: if Shanahan lets Fat Albert practice, what if he has a Korey Stringer situation because he is so out of shape? Let me just mention that I've seen and heard about old Ratface and his varied emasculatory coaching tactics many times before. And I did not want him anywhere near my favorite football team when we went shopping this off season. It's not about fat Albert being in shape or not. It's about Shanahan feeding his ego in victory and making an example of Haynesworth. It's running up the score. Rubbing your opponents face in it. Shanahan is demanding unconditional, public humiliation of Haynesworth. Lots of people are enjoying that because... As I said, Shanahan is winning in the court of public opinion, but he's hardly making himself look like the better man.
Mr. WEO Posted August 6, 2010 Posted August 6, 2010 strange, MRI shows that his knee is fine... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5442131 Hmmm.....he must have that Ocho Cinco injury. The one that doesn't show on MRI, but allows a player to take cover from an embarrassing performance.
C.Biscuit97 Posted August 6, 2010 Posted August 6, 2010 Let me just mention that I've seen and heard about old Ratface and his varied emasculatory coaching tactics many times before. And I did not want him anywhere near my favorite football team when we went shopping this off season. It's not about fat Albert being in shape or not. It's about Shanahan feeding his ego in victory and making an example of Haynesworth. It's running up the score. Rubbing your opponents face in it. As I said, Shanahan is winning in the court of public opinion, but he's hardly making himself look like the better man. I'm sure this is a little ego on Shanahan's part but what is wrong with making a guy who skipped OTAs & minicamps do extra work? I'm 29 but I see this all the time. It's the softening of our society. I bet back in the 70s, this type of leadership would be very common. You wanna skip every team activity, fine. But your fat ass has got to pass a pretty simple running test. Either way, I'm happy because I despise Fat Albert and Dan Synder.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted August 6, 2010 Posted August 6, 2010 I'm sure this is a little ego on Shanahan's part but what is wrong with making a guy who skipped OTAs & minicamps do extra work? I'm 29 but I see this all the time. It's the softening of our society. I bet back in the 70s, this type of leadership would be very common. You wanna skip every team activity, fine. But your fat ass has got to pass a pretty simple running test. Either way, I'm happy because I despise Fat Albert and Dan Synder. If I thought it was simply a "tough love" thing going on, I'd agree with you. IMO, the conditioning test is a spectacle for dubious purposes and nothing else. To your earlier point about Korey Stringer, Haynesworth could just as easily die trying to pass the test as from practicing. I'm about 20 years older than you and I DESPISE Albert Haynesworth too. But as I said, Shanahan is getting a free pass for being petty, because so many observers are getting so much enjoyment from watching Haynesworth being publicly humiliated. I think Shanahan's "behavior" ought to be noted, too.
Corp000085 Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 finally graduates Funny that he passes 12 hours after an MRI shows his knee was fine (i.e. caught faking injury). The Boz has a seat ready for Fat Albert at the "bust table" when it's all said and done.
The Dean Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 Funny that he passes 12 hours after an MRI shows his knee was fine (i.e. caught faking injury). Are you suggesting a player can't be hurt and still pass an MRI? There is no chance he felt real pain and was concerned about doing further damage until the MRI was negative? Accusing a player of faking an injury is a huge deal, IMO. I don't know how people do this with the very few facts they have on hand.
JohnC Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 I'm sure this is a little ego on Shanahan's part but what is wrong with making a guy who skipped OTAs & minicamps do extra work? I'm 29 but I see this all the time. It's the softening of our society. I bet back in the 70s, this type of leadership would be very common. You wanna skip every team activity, fine. But your fat ass has got to pass a pretty simple running test. Either way, I'm happy because I despise Fat Albert and Dan Synder. I'm certainly not a Hanyneswoth fan. The organization was foolish to acquire him at the outrageos price they did. They acquired a person who is behaving as he always has. When hasn't he been a self-centered person and player? As far as skipping OTAs that is not necessarily true. He was not obligated to attend the OTAs. If you want to force his attendance then put that in his contract or change the labor agreement to make it mandatory. This so called timed test is a manufactured test which is not relevant to his position. No other player had to pass such a timed test. This test is a vehicle for Shanahan to show Haynesworth that he is the boss. This obnoxious exhibition of ego by both parties is not going to help the team and won't get the player better prepared for the season. The inflexible HC wanted to send a message to a stubborn player and to the rest of the team that he is in total control. Now this situation has spun out of control. Time and attention is wasted on a foolish test of wills. This ridiculous spectable of two bull headed people challenging one another was unnecessary. A little flexibility and common sense would have gotten everyone back to the business of preparing for the season. Does anyone really believe that Bruce Smith was treated like every other player? Of course not. He had his own training regimin. Does anyone believe that Jim Kelly had some say on how he was handled? If Thurman Thomas ever said that his legs were tired do you expect him to do extra running in training camp? All teams have challenging personalities which have to be smartly handled. Shanahan is certainly not being very wise in how he is handling his situation with AH. The irony here is that Haynesworth was back with the team and ready to comply with what was asked of him and to play the position they wanted him to play. He was ready to get back to the business of football. This stupid drama is over an idiotic non-relevant test instead of about the team and its preparation.
gobillsinytown Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 I never had a problem with Albert's position...........until the minute he took the bonus check from the Redskins in April. Up until then, he had a legitimate issue. Albert is a classic 4-3 tackle. His job is to disrupt the line of scrimmage. When he's on his game, he's one of the best in the league. In the 3-4, he's going to be called upon to do things that he's never had to do before. At the NFL level, it's really hard to make the transition. Albert could have asked for a trade, or just not shown up at all and forced the issue. But, the minute he took the money, he gave tacit agreement to what the Redskins organization wanted to do. He knew they were going to the 3-4. He took the money anyway.
mpl6876 Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 Why does this suprise anyone? I called 'injury' after he failed the first one. Look here it is again....he isn't an NT and doesn't want to play NT and Idon't blame him. He is one of the best DT's to play the game in years and that is what he is. He is a gap penetrating, disruptive DT that they want to sit in the middle and just hold up the Center. Bull ****. It would be like asking a 6'4 225lb WR with 4.4 speed to come to a new team, then a year later tell him he has to gain 20lbs and play TE when this guy has been a several time WR and one of the best currently in the game. sorry NO! He was paid 100 mill to play DT, not NT, DT and there is a HUGE difference between the two positions. Washington apperantly had plans to make the switch to a 3-4 before signing him and I guess just thought he would go along with it. Now some say 'well he is getting paid 100mill play where the coach wants you to play' I again say bull ****. He is a DT, has always been one and that is what you signed him to do. Now if you decide to make a change then ship the guy outta there and get you an NT. the only thing he did wrong imho is take the 21 mill bonus in April. He should have said no and then flat told them he isn't reporting ever again and he would have been traded by now. As for as this bull **** conditioning test is concerned, he is going to intentionally fail it EVERY time. Why? Two reasons. First is a !@#$ you to Shanahan, second is he doesn't have to practice and still gets paid as long as he cant pass it. Now you have him saying he is having knee issues. Wanna bet he says the conditioning test is what caused it? Look washington isn't going to win this. All he has to do is drag ass for the rest of this season and they can't get back that 21 million bonus they paid him and he can then retire to force their hand in a trade when they eat the escilated portion of that 100 mill contract. Moral of the story? Dont EVER pay that much money to any player. I have to say that I don't share the same viewpoint. I think Haynesworth's attitude epitomizes what is wrong with todays modern day athletes. Only 21 million? I am not so fast to dismiss that as a minimal act. Secondly, he is under contract for the Washington Redskins for 100 mil. They can play him at LT if they deem it necessary. He is still getting paid. The players of today are very spoiled, have a feeling of entitlement, have little sense of loyalty to teams or fans, and are money hungry/driven. I think Haynesworth meets all of the above. What happened to the athletes that wanted to win and played anywhere to help his team win? Jim Thrope is one of my all time favorites. Hanyesworth is a piece of crap! He isn't entitled to anything and I hope Shannan buries his ass.
ajzepp Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 I'm surprised that this issue is so polarizing. For me, it's pretty cut and dried: The team has offseason activities. If you fail to attend a certain percentage of these activities, you have to pass a conditioning test during training camp. Albert Haynesworth is one of the top paid players in league history. The very LEAST that the team should be able to expect from him is that he's going to be physically prepared to play the game of football. If he's too heavy to complete a conditioning test as a professional athlete, one that non-athletes are completing with much success, then he needs to lose weight. If he were holding out during a contract dispute or something, I maybe could understand it. But the guy has already been paid, and been paid tremendously well. The team has every right to want to make sure their investment is able to carry out his job. I'm not a Shanahan fan either, but I don't see how this is about his ego. Haynesworth needs to shape up and do his fuggin job.
Nanker Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 I don't know why he didn't take the Schobel approach and simply not report and say he was not sure he wanted to play anymore. The BarPeanuts would have released him, no doubt. No doubt.
....lybob Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 I don't get it, do they want him in shape or do they want him to be a nose tackle - is this part of Dan Snyder's continuing quest for the perfect Sumo-wrestler/jockey hybrid.
Corp000085 Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 Are you suggesting a player can't be hurt and still pass an MRI? There is no chance he felt real pain and was concerned about doing further damage until the MRI was negative? Accusing a player of faking an injury is a huge deal, IMO. I don't know how people do this with the very few facts they have on hand. I was not flat out accusing him of faking an injury. I gave that as an example. Yes, I implied that he may have been faking, but the facts are the facts. Dude fails the test and feigns injury for almost 2 weeks, gets MRI, knee revealed to be fine, player passes test 12 hours later. Sometimes 1+1 doesn't need to be expressly stated as equalling 2 even though we know the answer to be two.
The Dean Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 I was not flat out accusing him of faking an injury... ...Dude fails the test and feigns injury So, that's not an accusation, either, right?
San Jose Bills Fan Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 Another interesting aspect of this story (and there are many) is this quote from the source for the Washington Post article: "Asked whether Haynesworth, who has been recovering from knee soreness after initially failing the test when camp opened July 29 (and again July 30), would pass it, the source said, "He will." So the source is predicting that Haynesworth will pass the test, even though he failed it twice before and has been unable to work out. What are the implications of this? I'll tell you. The implication is not that Haynesworth passed the test. The implication is that the Redskins passed Haynesworth. If this theory is true, it proves what a complete charade this whole thing was and that those who saw this issue as cut and dried, those who took it at face value, were a bit naive.
Corp000085 Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 So, that's not an accusation, either, right? Right.
The Dean Posted August 7, 2010 Posted August 7, 2010 Another interesting aspect of this story (and there are many) is this quote from the source for the Washington Post article: "Asked whether Haynesworth, who has been recovering from knee soreness after initially failing the test when camp opened July 29 (and again July 30), would pass it, the source said, "He will." So the source is predicting that Haynesworth will pass the test, even though he failed it twice before and has been unable to work out. What are the implications of this? I'll tell you. The implication is not that Haynesworth passed the test. The implication is that the Redskins passed Haynesworth. If this theory is true, it proves what a complete charade this whole thing was and that those who saw this issue as cut and dried, those who took it at face value, were a bit naive. I'm pretty much in total agreement. This was a stunt, and not much more. Re: Haynesworth knee soreness, is it that hard to imagine how an enormous man who never has to run 300 yards might strain (or something similar) his knee after doing it 4 times in two days? I'd be more surprised if he had no ill effects from that.
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