Albert Haynesworth on Sirius NFL

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by stu_nna

is there any way to hear this?

Run out real quick and buy Sirius Radio.

[Chico23231]

I just cant wait to see AH put Romo on his ass. Hopefully put Romo out for the year with his sissy pinky injury. Regardless of the money we pay him, if he can lead the Skins D into reoccurring playoff appearances I will be over the top thrilled. Now if we can just get him to play right tackle too hmmm......

[NYCskinfan82]

He probably could play RT hahaha, enjoying my summer but can't wait for the season to start.

[stu_nna]

Great to hear AH is happy to be in Washington.

[Hamoskinz]

Great interview. Glad to see AH is staying humble and bonding with the team, coaches and FO. Now, thats out of the way, time to show us the pocket-disruptiveness we signed him for.

[Rajmahal33]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Jim Miller: A lot is being made about some players relationship with the coach in Washington, how is your relationship with Jim Zorn?

Albert Haynesworth: Jim Zorn is just a cool guy. I’ve talked to him more times since I came here than I talked to coach Fisher the whole 7 years I was in Tennessee. It’s just a different situation here in Washington. I mean I never talked to Bud Adams (owner) either, but I’ve talked to Mr. Snyder a number of times already. He’s really cool.

Adam Schein: Talk about that relationship with the Tennessee front office:

I don’t know, it’s just different. In Tennessee I never talked to the GM, but I’ve already had a few conversations with Vinny. It’s not even about football all the time, we talk about life in general.

Jim Miller: You know that Honeymoon can wear off quick?


Albert Haynesworth: I know. At first I thought everything was all-good because I was the new guy, but then you talk to the players that have been around Washington for a while and they’re all like “Nah, this is how it is around here.” Everything is just dofferent. I mean from the classroom to the weight room, things are just different. When I was with the Titans I thought that environment was the best in the league based on conversations you have with other players around the league, but this atmosphere is great!

Adam Schein: Albert great stuff. Best of Luck in 2009! We look forward to seeing you at training camp.

This little excerpt is pretty bothersome to me because i think this is why our front office seems incapable of making objective decisions. As heartless as Belicheck is, he runs a tight ship over there and has shown that he can make tough decisions even at the cost of his closest players. I'm not saying we have to do that here but the proof of that approach is in their on-field product. We can give any excuse(s) we want to but the Redskins have simply not gotten it done on the field in the Vinny Cerrato years (and i'm not blaming only him). Maybe a good reason for our failures is this "different" easy going culture we have in Ashburn.

Hate to be pessimistic here but I don't want the skins to be known as having a "great" lockerroom atmosphere if it means putting out a soft team on the field. I think the stigma in some player's minds is that its a free lunch on a redskins roster. You can't tell me that, for example, Jason Taylor really had the fire and passion that he had in Miami when he came here. It just raises some flags for me...

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

This little excerpt is pretty bothersome to me because i think this is why our front office seems incapable of making objective decisions. As heartless as Belicheck is, he runs a tight ship over there and has shown that he can make tough decisions even at the cost of his closest players. I'm not saying we have to do that here but the proof of that approach is in their on-field product. We can give any excuse(s) we want to but the Redskins have simply not gotten it done on the field in the Vinny Cerrato years (and i'm not blaming only him). Maybe a good reason for our failures is this "different" easy going culture we have in Ashburn.

Hate to be pessimistic here but I don't want the skins to be known as having a "great" lockerroom atmosphere if it means putting out a soft team on the field. I think the stigma in some player's minds is that its a free lunch on a redskins roster. You can't tell me that, for example, Jason Taylor really had the fire and passion that he had in Miami when he came here. It just raises some flags for me...

Are you saying the team can't make objective decisions because the atmosphere is too cordial?

[stu_nna]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

This little excerpt is pretty bothersome to me because i think this is why our front office seems incapable of making objective decisions. As heartless as Belicheck is, he runs a tight ship over there and has shown that he can make tough decisions even at the cost of his closest players. I'm not saying we have to do that here but the proof of that approach is in their on-field product. We can give any excuse(s) we want to but the Redskins have simply not gotten it done on the field in the Vinny Cerrato years (and i'm not blaming only him). Maybe a good reason for our failures is this "different" easy going culture we have in Ashburn.

Hate to be pessimistic here but I don't want the skins to be known as having a "great" lockerroom atmosphere if it means putting out a soft team on the field. I think the stigma in some player's minds is that its a free lunch on a redskins roster. You can't tell me that, for example, Jason Taylor really had the fire and passion that he had in Miami when he came here. It just raises some flags for me...

Our defense has never been "soft". This is not the NFC West we are playing in. Yes we've had our offensive woes, but that does not translate into a soft team. We are not even close.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

This little excerpt is pretty bothersome to me because i think this is why our front office seems incapable of making objective decisions. As heartless as Belicheck is, he runs a tight ship over there and has shown that he can make tough decisions even at the cost of his closest players. I'm not saying we have to do that here but the proof of that approach is in their on-field product. We can give any excuse(s) we want to but the Redskins have simply not gotten it done on the field in the Vinny Cerrato years (and i'm not blaming only him). Maybe a good reason for our failures is this "different" easy going culture we have in Ashburn.

Hate to be pessimistic here but I don't want the skins to be known as having a "great" lockerroom atmosphere if it means putting out a soft team on the field. I think the stigma in some player's minds is that its a free lunch on a redskins roster. You can't tell me that, for example, Jason Taylor really had the fire and passion that he had in Miami when he came here. It just raises some flags for me...

I'm sorry but I beg to differ with your Belichick example. Yes, Belichick has made "tough decisions even at the cost of his closest players." But that does not mean that Belichick is distant from them. Plenty of former New England players have had nothing but nice things to say about him as a person. They say that in the locker room Belichick is much friendlier than his cold press conference persona might indicate. So, even though he makes "objective" personnel decisions, he is still friendly. Therefore, if New England is the desired standard, having a friendly and open atmosphere is not a problem.

Compare Mangini, who by all accounts is distant and perhaps sometimes rude to his players. Notice that he has a new job because he did not turn the Jets into strong contenders. Mangini would be an example of a "cold" locker room becoming dysfunctional.

As for Jason Taylor, by his own account he was hurt, didn't jell with the defensive scheme, didn't jell with Blache, and missed his family in Miami. These might be factors in what you perceive as his loss of competitiveness.

As for the Redskins making tough personnel decisions, there are many examples, including a recent one: Jon Jansen.

[MTK]

People really can make something outta nothing.

[53Fan]

All this time I thought we didn't have enough talent or we were changing coaches too often or maybe making some bad personell decisions. It never occured to me we haven't been to the Super Bowl since Snyder took over because the coach, GM, and owner were too approachable to the players. Interesting.

[GMScud]

I hear what Rajmahal is saying. Players being buddy-buddy with the coaches and front office is a double-edged sword, IMO. It can improve the locker room and help with chemistry, and also add a sense of accountability in that the players may feel like mistakes are letting down not only teammates and coaches, but friends as well. On the flip side, there will always be guys who see an inch and take a mile, trying to slack off, screw around, or get away with whatever.

I have no idea if either of the above are happening, but as friendly and approachable as our staff and FO may be, I certainly hope they can stick a foot up someone's ass when necessary.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I'm sorry but I beg to differ with your Belichick example. Yes, Belichick has made "tough decisions even at the cost of his closest players." But that does not mean that Belichick is distant from them. Plenty of former New England players have had nothing but nice things to say about him as a person. They say that in the locker room Belichick is much friendlier than his cold press conference persona might indicate. So, even though he makes "objective" personnel decisions, he is still friendly. Therefore, if New England is the desired standard, having a friendly and open atmosphere is not a problem.

Compare Mangini, who by all accounts is distant and perhaps sometimes rude to his players. Notice that he has a new job because he did not turn the Jets into strong contenders. Mangini would be an example of a "cold" locker room becoming dysfunctional.

As for Jason Taylor, by his own account he was hurt, didn't jell with the defensive scheme, didn't jell with Blache, and missed his family in Miami. These might be factors in what you perceive as his loss of competitiveness.

As for the Redskins making tough personnel decisions, there are many examples, including a recent one: Jon Jansen.

I couldn't agree more.

[53Fan]

As far as Belichick goes, I think his players like him and he has used the "us against the world" stategy very well. In a recent article on Tony Dungy, Tony recalled how Chuck Noll talked to his players about life as much as football. Seemed to work out pretty well for the Steelers. Dan may have made a mistake with his relationship with Arrington and Portis, but hey, he let Williams decide how to use Lavar and I think Zorn will be allowed to use Portis as he sees fit. When it comes down to it, the team means more to the coaches and management than individual players. Anyone who doesn't think so should ask Marcus, Daniels, or any of the guys who were released and only offered vet min. to return, or not offered anything at all.

[Hamoskinz]

How about this one from ESPN's AFC South Blog. This guy Kuharsky sounds bitter as if he was the Titans GM.

Interpreting Haynesworth talk on Titans

June 25, 2009 3:39 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Albert Haynesworth is a great interview because he's fearless. He doesn't worry what bosses or fans or friends or old friends will think. He gives an honest unfiltered answer.

But as with virtually anyone, his perspective is affected by who his friends are, where he is and who's showering him with money and affection.

In a Wednesday interview on "The Sirius Blitz" on SIRIUS NFL Radio Haynesworth talked about his former team.

Here is some of it from a transcript provided by Sirius, with my interpretations from more of a Titans perspective weaved in.

Host, Adam Schein: "Was it a situation where everything just ran its course for you in Tennessee? Was it time for you to leave Tennessee?"

Haynesworth: "Yeah, it was. It was. I'm kind of glad [we] didn't work out something there because it was really time for me to go and try to start this deal elsewhere and go out there and show how good I can play this game."

Kuharsky's interpretation: When you get the money and affection he got, of course you're happy and saying good things about the new team and not so good things about the old team.

Host, Jim Miller: "Can [the Titans] move on? Can you weigh in on whether Kyle Vanden Bosch can be a Pro Bowler again without your presence?"

Haynesworth: "Honestly, I don't know. I don't know how it's going to affect them or whatever. I took a lot of his double teams and things like that, allowed him to get single blocked so it's going to be different watching them and how they adapt to that."

Kuharsky's interpretation: He'd like to be missed and for the Titans to regret not trying harder to retain him, of course. If he plays well in Washington and they miss him in Tennessee, he smells like roses.

Miller: "Can Vince Young resurrect his career? What was your perception as his teammate?"

Haynesworth: "Vince is a really good friend of mine and everything, but I just don't see it happening in Tennessee. I think he has to go elsewhere and start elsewhere because I've been in that organization long enough and I know how kind of when you fall out of the good graces with certain people that you're not going to get back in it. I don't think they'll trade him because his cap number is too high, but he'll probably have to do his legacy elsewhere, which I definitely think he can because I think he's an awesome quarterback. He has amazing talent.

"He's a very passionate guy. He just loves to win and play the game. When things ain't going his way he's sitting on the sidelines trying to figure out himself. Now, all reports saying he refused to go back in the game and then he goes and gets hurt. I mean, that's not the case. They kind of blew it out [of proportion]...They can make or there or they can break you there. That's why I think it's time for him to go and start his career elsewhere and become that Hall of Fame quarterback that I know he can be."

Kuharsky's interpretation: Players often seem to think that falling out of good graces is something personal. No one wanted/wants Young to pan out more than the Titans -- who invested a high pick and millions in him and look bad because he's on their bench. But it's his approach, growth pace and ineffectiveness that put him in whatever bad position he is with Tennessee brass.

Young undeniably asked out of the season opener in 2008 before he was injured. It's a fact. We mean media can make you and can break you, and we helped make Haynesworth the richest defender in football, but he forgot about that while answering this question.

Regarding his relationship with Titans head coach Jeff Fisher:

Haynesworth: "I think it was OK. It was all right. You can say some good things; you can say some bad things. But I think it was OK. I don't hate the man."

Kuharsky's interpretation: He's a bit bitter because Fisher and the Titans ultimately didn't want him at market value. He shouldn't hate the man, who showed great patience when he was slow to understand what it meant to be in shape in the NFL, who kicked a teammate in practice and who stomped Andre Gurode in the face. In each instance Fisher allowed Haynesworth to earn his way back into good graces. Also, Fisher is the guy who hired Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn, and Washburn played a bigger role in Haynesworth becoming a dominant force than anyone.

On his relationship with Redskins head coach Jim Zorn:

Haynesworth: "Coach Zorn is a very cool individual. You can go up and talk to him anytime, at any point. You can call him. I've probably talked to Coach Zorn on the cell phone more than I talked to Coach Fisher in seven years. And same thing with Mr. [Daniel] Snyder too. I know I've never talked to Mr. [Bud] Adams on the phone and I've talked to Mr. Snyder several times on the phone and he's called me and things like that. I mean, it's just a totally different situation there in Washington. It's not really like a division between the players and the front office. Here in Washington it's more that everybody gets along, everybody hangs out. You have Vinny [Cerrato] that comes down and works out around the same time we do and always coming through the training room and stuff. It's just really different. I've never been to any other team and I thought every team was pretty much like [the Titans]."

Kuharsky's interpretation: Fisher maintains a cool distance, but is hardly inaccessible. Position coaches are closest to players, and you'll notice Haynesworth didn't compare his new line coach to Washburn. Careful what you wish for in terms of a phone chat with Adams, who can meander around in such a conversation.

Mike Reinfeldt and Cerrato are probably polar opposites in personality. Fair to say Reinfeldt's not the kind of guy looking to workout beside players. I'd tend to be far more wary of an executive who's in the weight room than one who's not, but maybe that's just me. Snyder was courting Haynesworth and likes to be a player's pal as much as he likes to be an owner.

That Titans' distance sure doesn't translate in the win column like Washington's closeness does: The Titans are 35-29 in the last four years, the Redskins 32-32.

Revisiting my Haynesworth stance: If the Titans were $1 million away from re-signing him a year ago as he's said, they really blew it. I think his name means a lot to him after the Gurode stuff, and that he won't turn into a dog with the big contract because he doesn't want to see that name soiled again. Even if he's not as good in Washington, that doesn't mean he wouldn't have been good in Nashville.