On Wednesday, June 23rd, Albert Haynesworth released a statement concerning his current situation with the Washington Redskins. In this statement he said:
"Despite my current differences with the Redskins, I have always planned to attend training camp and honor my contract. As I have previously said, I am continuing to prepare for the season individually and will report on time, in shape and ready to play football. Any issues I have with the club I will discuss privately and therefore do not plan to make any further public comments about this matter."
Ok so first of all, it's hard to believe that this guy even looked at this statement. My first reaction is that his agent wrote this thing up, told Haynesworth he was going to put it out there and that was that. I don't give Haynesworth any credit at all becuase he couldn't even come out and say this in person. He could have at least made some sort of appearance to show that what he's saying is sincere. Although I'm sure that Big Al's agent had the best of intentions, I feel as if the situation may have just gotten worse after the release of the statement.
Who cares if you're going to show up to training camp? You just got paid $21 million, why wouldn't you show up at training camp!?!?!?! What you should have been doing is showing up to all of the voluntary OTA's and minicamps that have been going on for the past 3 months. What you should have been doing is sweating it out and hitting the weight room with your team mates building chemistry after a dismal 4-12 season. What you SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IS WHAT YOUR COACHES TOLD YOU TO AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN PAID $32 MILLION FOR A SINGLE SEASON IN WHICH YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT EMBARRASS YOURSELF EVERY GAME! Nobody has any sympathy for you becuase you don't want to play Nose Tackle in the 3-4. You have been publicly scrutinized by present and future Hall of Fame players for your disgusting behavior and your disservice to this city that welcomed you with open arms and hope in their hearts.
Now that you say you're going to show up at training camp, how do you think you're going to be received? Almost the entire team has expressed their disappointment in you as a team mate and as a person. I can only imagine the tension that is going to resonate in that locker room when you walk in there on the first day of camp. I can only imagine what its going to be like when London Fletcher has the defense huddled up and these guys are looking at you and thinking "Does this guy really have our back?" I hope that you don't even have the guts to look them in the eyes becuase quite honestly, you don't deserve to even be on the same field as players like London Fletcher and Philip Daniels. They may not have $100 million contracts, but they don't need them to know that they are better team mates and better leaders that you could ever DREAM TO BE.
I know many passionate Redskins fans feel the same way that I do about this entire situation. The sad thing, however, is that if Haynesworth does come back in good shape and ends up on the final roster and starts making plays, the whole situation will be forgotten quicker than Haynesworth was able to cash his $21 million roster bonus on April 1st. Even I have to admit, the anger that I have towards Haynesworth would probably subside if he helps the Redskins win some games next season. There is no denying that the Redskins couldn't use an immense talent like him on their side come September. But that's not the point. The point is that Haynesworth should have been here. After a 4-12 season and a total revamping of the coaching staff, he should have been here. The Redskins did not need a distraction like this during this offseason. Not this year. Unfortunately, its too late for that. The only thing that we can all hope now is that Albert does show up for training camp (in shape) and does some serious bridge mending with his fellow team mates becuase right now it looks as if that is the best case scenario.
"Despite my current differences with the Redskins, I have always planned to attend training camp and honor my contract. As I have previously said, I am continuing to prepare for the season individually and will report on time, in shape and ready to play football. Any issues I have with the club I will discuss privately and therefore do not plan to make any further public comments about this matter."
Ok so first of all, it's hard to believe that this guy even looked at this statement. My first reaction is that his agent wrote this thing up, told Haynesworth he was going to put it out there and that was that. I don't give Haynesworth any credit at all becuase he couldn't even come out and say this in person. He could have at least made some sort of appearance to show that what he's saying is sincere. Although I'm sure that Big Al's agent had the best of intentions, I feel as if the situation may have just gotten worse after the release of the statement.
Who cares if you're going to show up to training camp? You just got paid $21 million, why wouldn't you show up at training camp!?!?!?! What you should have been doing is showing up to all of the voluntary OTA's and minicamps that have been going on for the past 3 months. What you should have been doing is sweating it out and hitting the weight room with your team mates building chemistry after a dismal 4-12 season. What you SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IS WHAT YOUR COACHES TOLD YOU TO AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN PAID $32 MILLION FOR A SINGLE SEASON IN WHICH YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT EMBARRASS YOURSELF EVERY GAME! Nobody has any sympathy for you becuase you don't want to play Nose Tackle in the 3-4. You have been publicly scrutinized by present and future Hall of Fame players for your disgusting behavior and your disservice to this city that welcomed you with open arms and hope in their hearts.
Now that you say you're going to show up at training camp, how do you think you're going to be received? Almost the entire team has expressed their disappointment in you as a team mate and as a person. I can only imagine the tension that is going to resonate in that locker room when you walk in there on the first day of camp. I can only imagine what its going to be like when London Fletcher has the defense huddled up and these guys are looking at you and thinking "Does this guy really have our back?" I hope that you don't even have the guts to look them in the eyes becuase quite honestly, you don't deserve to even be on the same field as players like London Fletcher and Philip Daniels. They may not have $100 million contracts, but they don't need them to know that they are better team mates and better leaders that you could ever DREAM TO BE.
I know many passionate Redskins fans feel the same way that I do about this entire situation. The sad thing, however, is that if Haynesworth does come back in good shape and ends up on the final roster and starts making plays, the whole situation will be forgotten quicker than Haynesworth was able to cash his $21 million roster bonus on April 1st. Even I have to admit, the anger that I have towards Haynesworth would probably subside if he helps the Redskins win some games next season. There is no denying that the Redskins couldn't use an immense talent like him on their side come September. But that's not the point. The point is that Haynesworth should have been here. After a 4-12 season and a total revamping of the coaching staff, he should have been here. The Redskins did not need a distraction like this during this offseason. Not this year. Unfortunately, its too late for that. The only thing that we can all hope now is that Albert does show up for training camp (in shape) and does some serious bridge mending with his fellow team mates becuase right now it looks as if that is the best case scenario.
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