Inner Workings

It’s hot outside, damn hot. I’ve run, hit, and covered many individuals in this heat. That’s part of training camp. It’s not so much the physical aspect of  it that makes it hard, the mental phase of it is what is key. For me being in shape was never a problem, I stayed in shape year round. Learning from veterans like Aaron Glenn and Shannon Sharpe, that is what it took to last in the NFL. This Albert Haynesworth debacle is very confusing to me. So instead of looking at the surface of it, I tried to look a little deeper. Going back to Albert’s Titan days , you have a young man with tons of ability and athleticism. When motivated he is unstoppable. Yet he has been injury prone, mentally unstable, and seems to at times live in his own world. He hasn’t played 16 games since 2002. What is his deal ? Is he himself a  puzzle or just a puzzled human being ?

I’m sure if you ask any coach in the NFL there would be no question that Haynesworth is the most gifted D-Lineman in the game today. They would also say he is thus far the most disappointing one too. Throughout his career he only showed flashes of what he could do. but come contract time we all saw what he is capable of doing and the dominance associated with it. No one had a chance containing Haynesworth throughout this run. Even when he had to play a second season and attain many incentives requested by the Titans, he did that easily as well. Motivation ? Money of course. Did he help the Titans overall by actually showing up and doing his job ? Yes. Was he truly interested in the team ? No. That has come to light shiny and bright now. It’s selfish, it’s arrogant, and it’s disgusting to watch.

Ok, has Coach Shanahan gone a bit too far with this conditioning test thing ? Probably. And that is only because he has blasted Albert in the media everyday. But to Mike’s defense, did Albert not do the same thing to the Redskin organization ? He pretty much spit in the coaches face, Snyder’s face, and his teammates face. Almost seems like he doesn’t care. What he isn’t understanding is that everyone is moving on without him. Although the team would like to have him, it’s clear by some of his teammates responses they are working and preparing as if he is not going to be there. Seriously,  Albert can pass the test if he wants to. I’ve seen guys with less ability do it year after year. No excuse. This isn’t about the test, it’s about Albert and yet another example of entitlement, and him thinking the world owes him something.

Think about it, he plays his way to a huge contract. He is being sued, he had an affair, the woman is pregnant or whatever, he complains about the defense changing and that the Redskins lied to him. Word ? Clearly he has not taken notice that the NFL is full of lies. Of course they will tell you what you want  to hear in order to sign you. Catch is, once you’re under contract that organization owns you. Especially for that amount of money. The other side of that is the black ball effect. He has been defiant of the change the organization is making. What happen to showing everyone you have changed Albert ? That it’s not about the money ? That was all a lie, and part of your politically correct  scandal to get paid. You’re not interested in winning a championship, if that were true he’d still be in Tennessee.

Coming off of the 2003 year, I had 7 INT’s which was the best year of my career. Dom Capers wanted to move me to safety to have more athleticism on the field. Now, I could have thrown a fit and made a spectacle out of it, but I didn’t. Because it’s not about me. It was about the team, and doing my part to help us get better. Nothing more.So I made the move. Does it mean I liked it or felt indifferent about the situation ?  No, it doesn’t. I was only one small part of the over all goal. Individual pride has a small place in team sports. Very small. Doesn’t matter how much money you make, or how talented you are, when it comes down to it, the team comes first.

This is a much deeper issue that only Albert can figure out. Something inside of him that gives him the idea or justifies that he can act this way. All players want to achieve  individual success, that is what makes some greater than others. Not to the point where it comes before  teammates. He has to take an introspective point of view. He really needs to decide if this is what he wants to do. Right now he seems a little confused at life. So me personally I’m not gonna pass judgment on him, It’s not my place. He does need to nip this in the bud quickly and save face for himself. The team will move on, the organization will move on and he will be forgotten. He will only be brought up in conversations of those that got paid and quit. So Albert, is that what you want your legacy to be ? A failure, a quitter.