***OFFICIAL*** Washington Redskins 2011 Off-Season Thread (3 Viewers)

[fatness]

Haynesworth is being penalized for not taking part if voluntary team activities.

Haynesworth is the only player on the team that had to take the test, according to both Wright and Coach Mike Shanahan. Wright said it was not a Haynesworth-specific test, but that he was the only player who did not meet a 50-percent attendance mark during the offseason.

"The guys that were under 50-percent [attendance] were notified, 'You got to get over 50 percent or there's going to be a test,'" Wright said. "Andre Carter was close, Rocky McIntosh was close, so we let them know. They're over 50 percent [attendance]. Our team was so high, we're 90.4 as a team, so no one was in danger of having to do a test."

link

 

[thayman]

Haynesworth is being penalized for not taking part if voluntary team activities.

Haynesworth is the only player on the team that had to take the test, according to both Wright and Coach Mike Shanahan. Wright said it was not a Haynesworth-specific test, but that he was the only player who did not meet a 50-percent attendance mark during the offseason.

"The guys that were under 50-percent [attendance] were notified, 'You got to get over 50 percent or there's going to be a test,'" Wright said. "Andre Carter was close, Rocky McIntosh was close, so we let them know. They're over 50 percent [attendance]. Our team was so high, we're 90.4 as a team, so no one was in danger of having to do a test."

link

It doesn't sound like it's anything that any other team doesn't do. Fisher's comments from this article: That's the test we do - the 300-yard shuttle with a recovery time and then another one," Titans Coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. "What we do is ... if you've made a minimum number of offseason workouts, then the test is modified.

"Those that have been here for at least eight offseason workouts, it's a 300-yard shuttle, [but] they will run 50-yard increments instead of 25-yard shuttles, so it's a little bit easier. The 25-yard, 300-yard shuttle is an appropriate test for what kind of shape you're in."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsi...conditioni.html

 

[fatness]

Training camp photos, Day 3.

There are some good ones there. I'll see if I can find days 1 and 2.

edit: Day 2 photos

Day 1 photos (including Lake McDole)

 

[fatness]

Haynesworth was at practice with the other d-linemen all yesterday, watching, taking notes, and talking to coaches and players, but not participating. He's taking another day off to rest his knee and will try to pass the test Monday. I'm glad all that's happening.

edited to add:

shanahan says Haynesworth knee is still "sore & irritated, no change from yesterday.

Chris Russell

Haynesworth comes off the field after 30 mins of work. Is asked when his next test will be. "Whenever Mike says."

Link

 

[fatness]

"[i'm] having fun. Football is having fun," Portis said. "Coach [Mike] Shanahan says he's the one under pressure. Go out and play and do the things he asks you to do and have fun. Having everything at a professional level makes it easier. All the pressure's gone. We can just come in and go play."

Portis

 

[fatness]

John Keim reviews of Jamaal Brown, Trent Williams, and Casey Rabach so far. I've seen several good columns/blurbs about Rabach so far.

 

[fatness]

» There’s a good chance the Redskins won’t keep three quarterbacks. If that’s the case, then Colt Brennan is in big trouble. But Brennan has not looked sharp enough to think he’d even win the No. 3 ahead of Richard Bartel. Of course, let’s see them in games first. But Mike Shanahan has a history of keeping only two quarterbacks, which would mean they’d likely keep another on the practice squad.

» The Redskins haven’t done any one-on-one drills early in camp, which is unusual – at least for us. Every other coach I’ve covered would have them. However, Shanahan’s belief is that it leads to guys wearing down more and by not doing them, it allows for more time to run plays. Also, they did a lot of one-on-one work in the OTAs so it’s not as big a deal. If they open the season with more offensive precision, you’ll know why. They’re much, much further ahead in terms of knowing the playbook than they were two years ago under Jim Zorn.

John Keim

 

[fatness]

Chris russell on Twitter. He seems to post more updates during the training camp sessions than anyone else does.

Movement from the QBs and play action because of a legitimate run game is very evident & going to be huge for #Redskins

Also, very good updates from this guy.

 

[Chewbanks]

» There’s a good chance the Redskins won’t keep three quarterbacks. If that’s the case, then Colt Brennan is in big trouble. But Brennan has not looked sharp enough to think he’d even win the No. 3 ahead of Richard Bartel. Of course, let’s see them in games first. But Mike Shanahan has a history of keeping only two quarterbacks, which would mean they’d likely keep another on the practice squad.

» The Redskins haven’t done any one-on-one drills early in camp, which is unusual – at least for us. Every other coach I’ve covered would have them. However, Shanahan’s belief is that it leads to guys wearing down more and by not doing them, it allows for more time to run plays. Also, they did a lot of one-on-one work in the OTAs so it’s not as big a deal. If they open the season with more offensive precision, you’ll know why. They’re much, much further ahead in terms of knowing the playbook than they were two years ago under Jim Zorn.

John Keim

The Zorn era was a good education for me in the level of complexity and importance in the organization of an offensive system from a coaching standpoint. A playbook is much, much more than hundreds of pages of lines, arrows, X's and O's. Zorn was learning and building it as he went, and he never approached the total systemic mastery of his offense as was shown by truly great coaches, or even just decent ones like Norv who at least had his stuff together in that regard. We knew he was unqualified at the time and still tried to be optimistic, but Zorn was embarrassingly unqualified hire in retrospect. Amazing.

 

[Chewbanks]

StudsTE Fred Davis » His athleticism was on display again this morning. On one route, the linebacker and corner could not get to their depth quick enough before he got to the outside for an open catch. Another time, he made a nice catch at his knees and immediately bounced up and ran. Very fluid. Can’t imagine many tight ends could have made such a play.

People took this for USC homerism, but I was touting him when he came out. He was like this in college, just so fluid and sure-handed. He absolutely dominated, and while USC has had some good TE's over the years, Fred was head and shoulders above them. For example, he directly followed Dominque Byrd, who had that great one-handed catch in the Orange Bowl against OU, and he made Byrd look average by comparison. Anyway, it just kills me that it took this long for people to realize that he should be on the field, with or without Cooley in the lineup, and doubly so given the mediocrity of the WR's and also the protection/blocking problems of the o-line.

 

[fatness]

I agree with you about Fred Davis. He can consistently beat coverage, and all reports from last year and this year are that he keeps working on improving his blocking. The guy is better than all their WR's but 1 and needs to be on the field.

 

[fatness]

Though Albert Haynesworth will miss Sunday's practices because he again skipped the morning conditioning test, he's still expected to work privately with coaches following both practice sessions. Using trash bins to simulate an offensive line, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and Jacob Burney, the defensive line coach, have been instructing Haynesworth on technique, terminology and other nuances of the position that they eventually plan for him to play in Washington's new 3-4 scheme.

But here's the interesting part: In every side session with Haslett and Burney, Haynesworth has primarily worked at right defensive end - not nose tackle. And the potential to be Washington's starting right end, instead of regularly playing the nose, should provide enough motivation for Haynesworth to succeed at the test he must pass before Coach Mike Shanahan will permit him to participate in practice.

Jason Reid

 

[fatness]

"Nice catch he had, especially on that big go route," Shanahan said. "He's had a couple good days."

"He's got to compete everyday and he's got to win a position," Shanahan said of Thomas. "He's got to be better than the guys that are in front of him consistently. That's how you win a position.

"The last couple days, he's done just that. He went out there, he's made some plays. It's a combination of everything. Just not the passing game but the running game, too. Just going out there, everything."

Shanahan, about Devin Thomas

 

[fatness]

And, on the field, Cooley's talent will help the Redskins tweak a few norms. With the emergence of third-year player Fred Davis, the offense has two top-notch pass-catching tight ends. Surely they're competing against each other for playing time, right?

Uh, nope.

"We're kind of both competing together — against the receivers," Cooley said.

"So far in this offense I've played the Z, I've played the F, I've played the Y, I've played the E," he said. "I'm looking to play quarterback soon."

Article on Cooley

 

[fatness]

Some snippets from Studs & Duds 8/1/10

Studs

WR Devin Thomas » Has had a couple strong days catching the ball, but one stood out this morning. On a deep route down the middle, Thomas – surrounded by three defensive backs – made an over the shoulder catch on a perfect throw from Richard Bartel. Thomas is making a move.

WR Santana Moss » He’s been impressive and getting open all the time. He had DeAngelo Hall beaten on one route, where he starts from the right slot, goes in motion and sprints to the middle before cutting back out to the deep right. Hall was chasing. Moss bobbled the ball at the sidelines and it might not have been a good catch. However, it was a terrific route.

LT Trent Williams » Had a really good day, especially vs. OLB Brian Orakpo. I really, really like how strong his base is and how well he uses his arms. I remember when Chris Samuels first came to camp and you could just tell the kid would be good because his fundamentals and skills were just different. Williams is the same way. We don’t know how well he’ll prepare, but that’s the only question I have at this point. In terms of talent, he’s legit.

Duds

WR Joey Galloway » I’ve yet to see him do a whole lot deep, which is a little bothersome considering that’s a strength. Though he got open often underneath, he also dropped a couple balls.

QB Colt Brennan » Though he had one big play downfield, he continues to lag behind the other quarterbacks. His accuracy on some throws has been off and the zip on his passes isn’t there. I wonder what the impact of the hip surgeries has made on his ability to throw hard. Justin Tryon picked him off this morning.

WR Roydell Williams » Getting an opportunity, but would like to see him make a play. I don’t remember that happening yet. Others have stood out more.

 

[Warrior]

I still believe in you, Devin Thomas. You can do eet!

 

[Sidewinder16]

And the potential to be Washington's starting right end, instead of regularly playing the nose, should provide enough motivation for Haynesworth to succeed at the test he must pass before Coach Mike Shanahan will permit him to participate in practice.

Jason Reid

Well wouldn't that just make everything perfect.

If that's the case then Haynesworth is still trying to make himself more important/more of an authority on the team than Shanahan.

I hope Golic passes this test, or even comes close.

 

[fatness]

Apparently Haynesworth was there early with trainers, didn't take the test, but has his helmet and is on the field taking part in some of the drills.

 

[fatness]

Ravens trade QB John Beck to Redskins

Compensation unclear so far. Goodbye, Colt.

edit: CB Doug Dutch, who was on the practice squad last year, was traded for Beck.

 

[fatness]

John Keim

Shanahan on if portis can still break long runs; "I sure hope so;if not he won't be our RB."

Short and sweet.

 

[fatness]

Ryan O'Halloran

1. Shanahan on 92: "He ran three 25-yard back and forth and his knee was irrirated so he obviously stopped."

2. Shanahan for the first time opened the door to 92 not having to pass the test in order to start practicing. Think that's a long-shot.

 

[scoobygang]

And the potential to be Washington's starting right end, instead of regularly playing the nose, should provide enough motivation for Haynesworth to succeed at the test he must pass before Coach Mike Shanahan will permit him to participate in practice.

Jason Reid

Well wouldn't that just make everything perfect.

If that's the case then Haynesworth is still trying to make himself more important/more of an authority on the team than Shanahan.

I hope Golic passes this test, or even comes close.

Or, you know, Haslett wants to play Haynesworth at DE, particularly since it appears that Keomatu will be healthy.

 

[Marvelous]

Ravens trade QB John Beck to Redskins

Compensation unclear so far. Goodbye, Colt.

edit: CB Doug Dutch, who was on the practice squad last year, was traded for Beck.

The Redskins traded away a guy who probably wasn't going to make the team anyhow. Not sure how good Beck is (the Ravens gave him away for nothing), but this can't be good sign for Colt.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Steinberg has Mark Schlereth's quotes on Mike & Mike this morning re: Haynesworth.

ESPN Radio's Mike Golic apparently plans to take the Haynesworth conditioning test this week -- everyone else is doing it, after all -- and the Mikes asked Mark Schlereth whether Golic would pass.

"Yeah, because he's got this little thing in his chest that beats, it's called a heart," Schlereth said. "And that's what you have to have to pass the conditioning test. Listen, you look at Terrence Cody, he fails it the first day, sleeps overnight, and passes it the second day. That's not because you got in shape overnight while you were sleeping. It's because you have a little heart and you dig down and you get it down.

"Albert Haynesworth has not been able to get it done, because Albert Haynesworth doesn't have what it takes to dig down and get it done. That's the bottom line to me. And you can talk about his sore knee and you can talk about all those things. I don't have any doubt that Golic can pass that test. There's no question in my mind that he'll pass that test."

Then Schlereth was asked whether this is an embarrassment for Haynesworth.

"Absolutely it's an embarrassment,"he said. "Listen, even if you don't train, those things are more of a mental test than they are a physical test in my mind. Even if you spent the whole summer not training, you should be able to pass an NFL conditioning test. Now, first and foremost, I think they're stupid....If you happen to run 300 yards -- shoot, if you have to run 40 yards -- somebody scored a touchdown, because Albert's not catching them....

"But to me, conditioning tests are more about are you tough enough, have you mentally prepared for this, and can you suck it up for us. And obviously the answer on all those fronts for Albert Haynesworth is no."

Whether he can't get it done, or just chooses not to, this whole mess still solidifies for me that Haynesworth does not want to be on this team. In the long run that won't be good for the locker room.

 

[DCThunder]

Ravens trade QB John Beck to Redskins

Compensation unclear so far. Goodbye, Colt.

edit: CB Doug Dutch, who was on the practice squad last year, was traded for Beck.

Well, the Ravens need cornerbacks with Foxworth going down for the year over the weekend. So much for The Cult of Colt. Will he even make it to the first preseason game?

 

[Sidewinder16]

And the potential to be Washington's starting right end, instead of regularly playing the nose, should provide enough motivation for Haynesworth to succeed at the test he must pass before Coach Mike Shanahan will permit him to participate in practice.

Jason Reid

Well wouldn't that just make everything perfect.

If that's the case then Haynesworth is still trying to make himself more important/more of an authority on the team than Shanahan.

I hope Golic passes this test, or even comes close.

Or, you know, Haslett wants to play Haynesworth at DE, particularly since it appears that Keomatu will be healthy.

I was commenting on the notion Reid presents, that Haynesworth will now "magically" pass the test because it looks like he'll be played at DE. Personally, I don't think that's why Haynesworth hasn't completed it yet.

 

[Marvelous]

Steinberg has Mark Schlereth's quotes on Mike & Mike this morning re: Haynesworth.

ESPN Radio's Mike Golic apparently plans to take the Haynesworth conditioning test this week -- everyone else is doing it, after all -- and the Mikes asked Mark Schlereth whether Golic would pass.

"Yeah, because he's got this little thing in his chest that beats, it's called a heart," Schlereth said. "And that's what you have to have to pass the conditioning test. Listen, you look at Terrence Cody, he fails it the first day, sleeps overnight, and passes it the second day. That's not because you got in shape overnight while you were sleeping. It's because you have a little heart and you dig down and you get it down.

"Albert Haynesworth has not been able to get it done, because Albert Haynesworth doesn't have what it takes to dig down and get it done. That's the bottom line to me. And you can talk about his sore knee and you can talk about all those things. I don't have any doubt that Golic can pass that test. There's no question in my mind that he'll pass that test."

Then Schlereth was asked whether this is an embarrassment for Haynesworth.

"Absolutely it's an embarrassment,"he said. "Listen, even if you don't train, those things are more of a mental test than they are a physical test in my mind. Even if you spent the whole summer not training, you should be able to pass an NFL conditioning test. Now, first and foremost, I think they're stupid....If you happen to run 300 yards -- shoot, if you have to run 40 yards -- somebody scored a touchdown, because Albert's not catching them....

"But to me, conditioning tests are more about are you tough enough, have you mentally prepared for this, and can you suck it up for us. And obviously the answer on all those fronts for Albert Haynesworth is no."

Whether he can't get it done, or just chooses not to, this whole mess still solidifies for me that Haynesworth does not want to be on this team. In the long run that won't be good for the locker room.

I was thinking about this test. I don't think it is that hard.My 11 year old daughter can run 20 yards (from home plate to 1st base in softball) well under 5 seconds and can run the 100 m in around 19 seconds. That's a lot of time for stopping and starting, but I am pretty sure she could get it done.

 

[Sidewinder16]

I was thinking about this test. I don't think it is that hard.

My 11 year old daughter can run 20 yards (from home plate to 1st base in softball) well under 5 seconds and can run the 100 m in around 19 seconds. That's a lot of time for stopping and starting, but I am pretty sure she could get it done.

http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/08/02/6...ynesworth-wont/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/08/02/a...rt-haynesworth/

Mike Golic is supposed to run the test today. There are apparently lots of other average joes in the "blogoshpere" who are saying they have completed the test.

Either Haynesworth is in woeful running condition, or he's choosing not to complete the test as asked. Either way, it's not good.

 

[buster c]

The only way this Haynesworth drama could be any better is if it wasn’t a drama at all: he cashed his check and reported for the mandatory camp.

Otherwise, I fail to see any long-term damage like so many of you are predicting. Sure, it’s a possibility that the locker room will divide or the distraction will prove to be detrimental, but I don’t anticipate it.

So when the media is 24/7 on his case, when guys like Schelereth are saying he has no heart, when radio chumps like Golic are running the test, I actually see this motivating #92 for when it counts: stopping Marion Barber on 3rd & goal in the opener. Hard as it is to believe, #92 has pride and ego. All athletes at this level do.

So now, as he is being assailed by fans & media - and “broken” by the coaching staff - I am sure that all he wants is to prove everyone wrong and the only way to do so is on the field when it counts. This is what I expect will happen.

 

[Don Quixote]

Ravens trade QB John Beck to Redskins

Compensation unclear so far. Goodbye, Colt.

edit: CB Doug Dutch, who was on the practice squad last year, was traded for Beck.

Well, the Ravens need cornerbacks with Foxworth going down for the year over the weekend. So much for The Cult of Colt. Will he even make it to the first preseason game?

Saw a Twitter update that was cut, so I guess the answer is no.

 

[VaTerp]

Looks like Haynesworth attempted the test this morning but could not complete it due to "knee irritation."

Also looks like Shanny may eventually bend a little which IMO would be a good thing.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsi...ml?hpid=artslot

 

[southeastjerome]

Steinberg has Mark Schlereth's quotes on Mike & Mike this morning re: Haynesworth.

ESPN Radio's Mike Golic apparently plans to take the Haynesworth conditioning test this week -- everyone else is doing it, after all -- and the Mikes asked Mark Schlereth whether Golic would pass.

"Yeah, because he's got this little thing in his chest that beats, it's called a heart," Schlereth said. "And that's what you have to have to pass the conditioning test. Listen, you look at Terrence Cody, he fails it the first day, sleeps overnight, and passes it the second day. That's not because you got in shape overnight while you were sleeping. It's because you have a little heart and you dig down and you get it down.

"Albert Haynesworth has not been able to get it done, because Albert Haynesworth doesn't have what it takes to dig down and get it done. That's the bottom line to me. And you can talk about his sore knee and you can talk about all those things. I don't have any doubt that Golic can pass that test. There's no question in my mind that he'll pass that test."

Then Schlereth was asked whether this is an embarrassment for Haynesworth.

"Absolutely it's an embarrassment,"he said. "Listen, even if you don't train, those things are more of a mental test than they are a physical test in my mind. Even if you spent the whole summer not training, you should be able to pass an NFL conditioning test. Now, first and foremost, I think they're stupid....If you happen to run 300 yards -- shoot, if you have to run 40 yards -- somebody scored a touchdown, because Albert's not catching them....

"But to me, conditioning tests are more about are you tough enough, have you mentally prepared for this, and can you suck it up for us. And obviously the answer on all those fronts for Albert Haynesworth is no."

Whether he can't get it done, or just chooses not to, this whole mess still solidifies for me that Haynesworth does not want to be on this team. In the long run that won't be good for the locker room.

I was thinking about this test. I don't think it is that hard.My 11 year old daughter can run 20 yards (from home plate to 1st base in softball) well under 5 seconds and can run the 100 m in around 19 seconds. That's a lot of time for stopping and starting, but I am pretty sure she could get it done.

If she can run 100 m in 19 seconds, she's not running 300 meters in 57 seconds.

 

[southeastjerome]

Looks like Haynesworth attempted the test this morning but could not complete it due to "knee irritation."

Also looks like Shanny may eventually bend a little which IMO would be a good thing.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsi...ml?hpid=artslot

The Hard Knocks crew have to be wishing they were filming all of this. It would make for good TV.

 

[Marvelous]

Steinberg has Mark Schlereth's quotes on Mike & Mike this morning re: Haynesworth.

ESPN Radio's Mike Golic apparently plans to take the Haynesworth conditioning test this week -- everyone else is doing it, after all -- and the Mikes asked Mark Schlereth whether Golic would pass.

"Yeah, because he's got this little thing in his chest that beats, it's called a heart," Schlereth said. "And that's what you have to have to pass the conditioning test. Listen, you look at Terrence Cody, he fails it the first day, sleeps overnight, and passes it the second day. That's not because you got in shape overnight while you were sleeping. It's because you have a little heart and you dig down and you get it down.

"Albert Haynesworth has not been able to get it done, because Albert Haynesworth doesn't have what it takes to dig down and get it done. That's the bottom line to me. And you can talk about his sore knee and you can talk about all those things. I don't have any doubt that Golic can pass that test. There's no question in my mind that he'll pass that test."

Then Schlereth was asked whether this is an embarrassment for Haynesworth.

"Absolutely it's an embarrassment,"he said. "Listen, even if you don't train, those things are more of a mental test than they are a physical test in my mind. Even if you spent the whole summer not training, you should be able to pass an NFL conditioning test. Now, first and foremost, I think they're stupid....If you happen to run 300 yards -- shoot, if you have to run 40 yards -- somebody scored a touchdown, because Albert's not catching them....

"But to me, conditioning tests are more about are you tough enough, have you mentally prepared for this, and can you suck it up for us. And obviously the answer on all those fronts for Albert Haynesworth is no."

Whether he can't get it done, or just chooses not to, this whole mess still solidifies for me that Haynesworth does not want to be on this team. In the long run that won't be good for the locker room.

I was thinking about this test. I don't think it is that hard.My 11 year old daughter can run 20 yards (from home plate to 1st base in softball) well under 5 seconds and can run the 100 m in around 19 seconds. That's a lot of time for stopping and starting, but I am pretty sure she could get it done.

If she can run 100 m in 19 seconds, she's not running 300 meters in 57 seconds.

If I understand the test correctly:Run 6 25 yard shuttles in 70 seconds

Max 3.5 minutes rest

Run 6 25 yard shuttles in 73 seconds.

You have 11.5 and then 12 seconds for each leg. So it's a pure endurance test. I would assume that even I, who is woefully out of shape, can sprint the first 3 legs.

 

[fatness]

Whether he can't get it done, or just chooses not to, this whole mess still solidifies for me that Haynesworth does not want to be on this team.

There's nothing coming out of the front office or players that sounds remotely like "he just chooses not to". His knee's hurt.

*DL Albert Haynesworth’s ailing knee was, in fact, why he did not complete the conditioning test this morning, coach Mike Shanahan confirmed.

Though it appeared that Haynesworth did not start the test of two timed sets of six 25-yard shuttle runs, Shanahan said he actually did. With defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, strength coach Ray Wright and head trainer Larry Hess looking on, Haynesworth stopped after jogging up-and-back three times.

“You’ve got to be in certain shape to go through a practice, and that knee, after three sprints back and forth couldn’t go any further,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully with treatment it gets better and he gets in football shape and he’s out there ready to play with their teammates.” Shanahan was asked whether the knee injury–the conditioning test notwithstanding–is serious enough to keep Haynesworth out of practice. “If you can’t keep on running after three sprints, I think you guys know the answer to that,” he said.

Shanahan did, however, open the possibility that this eventually gets to the point where Haynesworth is allowed to practice without having passed the test. I believe that’s a long, long way off, but it’s out there.

link

 

[fatness]

Colt Brennan released and lots of other news. It's full of information.

*WR Devin Thomas seems to relish blocking down field. Considering he’s 218 pounds of muscle, I’m sure he likes knocking the smaller cornerbacks around. All kidding aside, though, Thomas needs to contribute in all areas to make his mark, so that’s a good sign.

*CB DeAngelo Hall has impressed me through five days. He’s breaking on underneath routes very well, and I don’t recall him getting beaten deep. The more aggressive pass rush should help him out this season. He should have more chances for interceptions, and it could limit how much he is exposed in man-to-man.

*Andre Carter continues to push Lorenzo Alexander for the first-team LOLB spot.

 

[fatness]

Lavar Arrington is joining the Washington Post staff.

edit: added Link

 

[fatness]

David Elfin, who used to cover the Skins for the Washington Times before they canned their sports department, got a job writing for Fanhouse. Good to see him land somewhere. David Elfin

 

[Sidewinder16]

There's nothing coming out of the front office or players that sounds remotely like "he just chooses not to". His knee's hurt.

So you believe he wasn't spending his time away from the team getting in to shape? Awfully convenient for Haynesworth to be working so hard all off season to be in shape come training camp (wasn't he going to prove all the doubters wrong?) just to suddenly have a knee "swell up" when he has to complete a team mandated test. If he was actually working out and staying in/getting back in shape all off season, this test should be a breeze, and some sprinting shouldn't cause a knee to swell up. If he was having knee problems in the off season it would have been nice for the team to know something about it. But I guess since he's the best defensive player on the team, he can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants and the team can just wait until he's good and ready to disclose whether he's in shape and/or injured. Just how Vinny likes it.

“You’ve got to be in certain shape to go through a practice, and that knee, after three sprints back and forth couldn’t go any further,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully with treatment it gets better and he gets in football shape and he’s out there ready to play with their teammates.” Shanahan was asked whether the knee injury–the conditioning test notwithstanding–is serious enough to keep Haynesworth out of practice. “If you can’t keep on running after three sprints, I think you guys know the answer to that,” he said.

And, the bolded part above absolutely says Haynesworth either didn't spend the off season getting "in football shape" or he choose not to complete the test as mandated. If he's not "in football shape" today, he isn't going to magically be "in football shape" tomorrow. Just like Terrence Cody didn't magically get "in football shape" overnight.

 

[fatness]

There are a lot of linemen on that team who are in football shape who would not pass the test right now. It's a test you have to train for, according to Philip Daniels.

Not passing that test doesn't mean someone is or is not in football shape.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Otherwise, I fail to see any long-term damage like so many of you are predicting. Sure, it’s a possibility that the locker room will divide or the distraction will prove to be detrimental, but I don’t anticipate it.

This really makes no sense to me. You will mercilessly berate a player who had locker room issues with other teams, but came to the 'Skins, played well, and wanted to be with the team, and has not caused one locker room issue with the team. But you support a player currently on the 'Skins, who has said he doesn't want to be with the team, has tried to get traded off the team, who stayed away from the team as much as possible and has taken opportunities to undermine the head coach? That's the guy you don't mind staying around?

 

[fatness]

Snippets from Studs & Duds of practice 8/2/2010

Studs

DE Adam Carriker » The Redskins are excited about what he can do in a 3-4. There’s no doubt they consider him a good fit. Today, he showed a lot of strength and was constantly in the backfield. He’s very consistent with his leverage and if an OL is not, he’ll get deep.

FS Kareem Moore » He picked off two McNabb passes today and did so with good coverage – it wasn’t a case of catching up to an underthrown pass. Moore is comfortable deep, more so than the others battling at free safety. He just has to prove he’s durable.

Duds

QB Donovan McNabb » He threw wobbly passes and was generally off-target. We’ve seen him have games like that in the past and he seems to have these sort of days every so often. He threw a couple picks.

QB Colt Brennan » Badly underthrew Brandon Banks on a deep ball, allowing CB Doug Dutch to catch up and defend the pass. This play was bad for both players; Dutch was badly beaten and later traded to Baltimore for QB John Beck – a bad sign for Brennan.

RG Artis Hicks » Struggled vs. Carriker today. He’s standing too upright; at guard, you have to bend lower than you do at tackle. Carriker would get under his pads routinely and forced his way deep into the backfield. Hicks has been up and down thus far.

Willie Parker made both lists (stud for rushing, dud for pass protection). Unflattering mention of Lendy Holmes today.

 

[Sidewinder16]

There are a lot of linemen on that team who are in football shape who would not pass the test right now. It's a test you have to train for, according to Philip Daniels.

Not passing that test doesn't mean someone is or is not in football shape.

Since you want to change the subject, according to Phillip Daniels, Haynesworth should have been with the team this off season.

"From what I'm told, he can play the end spot," Daniels said. "I've called him and told him that. The thing is, we have 100 percent participation if he is here. It's now 99. He's got to be here."

...

"It says this is voluntary, but for us, what we went through last season after a 4-12 season, it's mandatory," Daniels said. "He should definitely be here. And it's a shame he's not."

So when is it ok to listen to Daniels, and when is it not?

 

[fatness]

Ryan O'Halloran

Haynesworth, who sat out the weekend with a knee injury, started the test – two 300-yard shuttle runs in 70 and 73 seconds, respectively – but shut himself down halfway through the first set.

“He was going to try and pass the test,” coach Mike Shanahan said after the morning practice. “He was doing well. He was running really well and had to stop.”

Haynesworth watched the entire practice (two-and-a-half hours) before his usual work with the defensive coaches. “He’ll go through our walk-throughs and be out there for practice, and he’ll get his conditioning and treatment in between,” Shanahan said.

Running back Clinton Portis continues to work with the first-team offense, and Shanahan has been “very impressed” with Portis’ training camp. “He was in excellent shape coming to this camp,” he said. “He’s picked things up very quickly, he’s football smart and he’s physical.”

Rookie left tackle Trent Williams picked up the check for some offensive linemen at the nearby Bonefish Grill. Right guard Artis Hicks said the tab was around $130. “Of course he whined and complained all day long, and we told him this is part of [being a rookie] and trust me, $130 is nothing compared to what he’s going to get,” Hicks said.

 

[fatness]

NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports that Albert Haynesworth's knee problems "are legitimate."

La Canfora notes that early-camp knee issues are "par for the course" for Haynesworth, whose injury isn't serious but is enough to prevent him from passing a running-based conditioning test. Coach Mike Shanahan did hint Monday that Albert could practice at some point without passing the test.

link

 

[Chewbanks]

There are a lot of linemen on that team who are in football shape who would not pass the test right now. It's a test you have to train for, according to Philip Daniels.

Not passing that test doesn't mean someone is or is not in football shape.

Since you want to change the subject, according to Phillip Daniels, Haynesworth should have been with the team this off season.

"From what I'm told, he can play the end spot," Daniels said. "I've called him and told him that. The thing is, we have 100 percent participation if he is here. It's now 99. He's got to be here."

...

"It says this is voluntary, but for us, what we went through last season after a 4-12 season, it's mandatory," Daniels said. "He should definitely be here. And it's a shame he's not."

So when is it ok to listen to Daniels, and when is it not?

Both times? Who around here is cherry-picking Daniels quotes?

 

[thayman]

So are we planning on a year 2 of Braves On The War Path Fantasy League this year?

 

[fatness]

So are we planning on a year 2 of Braves On The War Path Fantasy League this year?

That would be fun. It was fun last year.

 

[fatness]

The joint has became a concern, and Shanahan said that even if Haynesworth had passed the test a week ago, the knee problem would have prevented him from practicing the past few days. "It's like somebody spraining an ankle," Shanahan said. "You sprain an ankle and you can't run, you can't run and you can't practice. Just like if you're knee's bothering you and you can't go out there and run, you can't practice."

Shanahan

 

[nittanylion]

When you can't pass that test primarily because you're winded, and then you can't pass or re-attempt the test because you're experiencing joint swelling in the knee, it's a fairly strong indictment that you are neither 'in shape' nor 'in football shape'...

...I just finished an FFPC Footballguys High-Stakes Draft, and my brain is fried, so that's all I've got right now, but I'll return to this later to provide support to my assertion.