Will He Start or Will He Go?

Listening to the differing reports coming out of the Redskins, you wonder if their coaches were watching the same Albert Haynesworth play. Early news out of team coaches lambasted Haynesworth for his performance in Thursday’s preseason game against Arizona and even raised doubt over whether or not he would play in Sunday’s season opener. However, head coach Mike Shanahan stemmed the tide of criticism by complimenting his play and, while he didn’t guarantee that Haynesworth would start on Sunday, he also didn’t discount it. Either Shanahan and his coaches attended different games on Thursday or there is a reason for Shanahan’s backtracking on criticism of Haynesworth.

One possible reason could be due to the trade talk that is currently surrounding Haynesworth. Reportedly, the Redskins and the Titans are in trade talks and the Redskins are apparently asking for two draft picks in exchange for Haynesworth. If true, Shanahan would certainly not want to lower Haynesworth’s trade value by publicly bashing him. As the Vice President of Football Operations in addition to being the head coach, Shanahan wouldn’t want to hurt his chances of obtaining a good return for Haynesworth if he does mean to trade him.

The other possible option is that Shanahan is trying to mend ties with Haynesworth, who has garnered a lot of negative publicity for weeks now. Shanahan knows how bad media reports can swirl around a locker room and impede a team’s progress. In his first season as Redskins coach and in his first game back after a disappointing end to his tenure with the Broncos, Shanahan will surely want to get the season off to a good start, so burying the hatchet may be his method of doing so.

Ultimately, the true test of what Shanahan and his coaches think of Haynesworth will come this Sunday, assuming he’s still with the team at all. If Haynesworth starts, then it indicates that the team is willing to give him a chance to help them succeed. If he doesn’t start, then it’s going to be a long season of drama unless Haynesworth is ultimately traded.