Friday, August 20, 2010

Mike Shanahan: Headache sidelining Albert Haynesworth

ASHBURN, Va. -- So now Albert Haynesworth has a headache.

The story keeps changing, but one thing remains the same about the Washington Redskins defensive tackle: He still isn't practicing.
Haynesworth was idle again Thursday, standing to the side for the final workout of training camp. During the past three weeks, he made it through only five of 18 full practices.

When Haynesworth dropped out of practice Tuesday, coach Mike Shanahan said he thought it was because the two-time All-Pro was feeling sick. When Haynesworth didn't practice Wednesday, the coach chalked it up to dehydration.

On Thursday, the coach said Haynesworth had given him another explanation for this week's inactivity.

"He felt that his head was bothering him more than it was dehydration, so he wasn't feeling good, basically," Shanahan said. "Just didn't feel very good. More of a headache than anything else."

Shanahan added that he was "not really sure" what was wrong with Haynesworth, echoing what has been a camp of uncertainty for the player with the $100 million contract. Haynesworth missed the first nine days of practice because he failed a conditioning test and then had a sore knee.

Haynesworth isn't talking to reporters about his latest setback, but his teammates have had some fun with his newsworthy training camp. Haynesworth was the target of one of the nighttime skits in which players poke fun at coaches and each other.

"Albert, he laughed more than anybody when they were doing it," Shanahan said. "But you've got to be able to laugh at yourself."

Shanahan has also had to deal with three players who have been cited for various traffic violations. Tight end Fred Davis missed part of Wednesday's practice to plead guilty to driving with a suspended or revoked license and falsely identifying himself to law enforcement, just two of several citations he has received since he was drafted in 2008.

Receiver Malcolm Kelly was found guilty in abstentia Wednesday for making an improper or erratic lane change and driving without an license. Kelly was absent from Thursday's practice for what Shanahan called "personal" reasons.

Rookie left tackle Trent Williams has an upcoming court date for a reckless driving charge, having been clocked at 90 mph in a 55 mph zone.

"You handle it a certain way," Shanahan said. "You sit down with players and talk about being responsible, that they represent this organization, and you expect them to handle themselves in a professional way. You sit down with them, especially young guys that make mistakes, and sometimes older guys that make mistakes, but that's part of the process.

"Once you represent this organization, you want them to represent it in the right way."


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press



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