Handling Haynesworth

Despite all the demands for trades, despite all the outcry against him, despite all the desperate attempts to unload him, Albert Haynesworth remains a member of the Washington Redskins and is set to report the training camp with the team this week. In a very positive offseason for the team, Haynesworth has been the one negative story that has hung over the Redskins. After all the different chapters to this story, both sides find themselves stuck with one another and Mike Shanahan has to figure out how to dissolve the situation.

Just to briefly sum up the situation, Haynesworth was given a seven year $100 million dollar contract and has failed to live up to expectations in his first season with the team. After the 2009 season, the team reportedly shopped around to see what they could possibly get in a trade, angering Haynesworth. Haynesworth was also upset at the hiring of Jim Haslett as the team's defensive coordinator because he was going to use a 3-4 defensive scheme with Haynesworth at nose tackle, a position he adamantly does not want to play. So despite his enormous contract and receiving checks from the team, Haynesworth refused to show up to offseason workouts, including a mandatory mini camp, and has been widely criticized by teammates, coaches, and the media. He demanded a trade, but his price tag has been just too high and the team was unable to unload him.

The situations seems awkward and volatile, but it is actually pretty easily fixeable for head coach Mike Shanahan. Haynesworth has realized that a trade is not forthcoming and has said that he is coming to training camp so now the ball is in Shanahan's court. He has to realize that for the time being, Haynesworth is not going anywhere. This may not be such a bad thing if he can difuse the situation. Despite all the offseason nonsense, Haynesworth has apparently been training very hard and has lost about 30 lbs. Ok, so 2009 was not a great year. Instead of being the defensive monster we had hoped for, he seemed more like a big baby that ran to the sideline for a blanket and a juice box after taking one or two snaps. If he's in better shape now, then he'll be able to last longer out on the field. The simple truth is that our defensive line is better with Haynesworth than it is without him. It looks like he's resigned himself to playing another year in Washington so why not use him?

Using a big man that will pout all season and is unliked by all of his teammates does not help, so simply acting like nothing has happened is not an option. When Haynesworth reports, Shanahan should bring him into his office and explain the situation. He chose to come to Washington and he's getting a lot of money to play football. If he wants to be traded, it is in his best interest to prove he can still play and who knows? If he plays the season like a monster and regains the respect of his teammates and fans, then he may find out he actually likes it in DC and he can build on that next season. But if he is going to play, it will be as a nose tackle in the 3-4 and there is nothing he can do about it. Shanahan also needs to tell him to speak to the media once and tell them he's ready to play football this season and then not talk to them again for the rest of the season. Haynesworth got into a lot of trouble mouthing off about former coodrinator Greg Blache's scheme last season. Once the Redskins get a loss under their belt this season, Haynesworth may find the urge to vent to the media and say "I told you so" and "This just doesn't work" and whatever else he may think about the 3-4.

After talking to Haynesworth, Shanahan then needs to get the players together and give Haynesworth the chance to explain himself to his teammates in a players only meeting. Let all the players air out their grievances and get it all out before hand. Team is such an important part of football and you cannot have this kind of thing hanging over everyone's head the whole season. At some point, it will explode and it will be a lot uglier than talking about it before you even get into the swing of things. Once this is done, Haynesworth and the team can tell the media it's resolved and we're moving on, and everyone can put it all behind them and start thinking about the season.

Haynesworth might not want to get a talking to from his coach or be paraded in front of the team, but it needs to happen. It is better for everyone involved to solve this issue now, early on. If he wants a trade, no one will take him if he continues to pout, play at less than 100%, and complain about his team. The defense will be better with Hayneworth leading rather than dividing and with a brand new coaching staff it is better to solve these problems quickly and quietly rather than allow them to plague the team in their first season in charge. This would be an easy way to nip it in the bud and the team would find themselves with a formidable defensive line to go with the much improved (hopefully) team.