Per ESPN: Skins lose Albert Haynesworth excuse

[ucfSKINS]

Sad, but true.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=5898387

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Skins lose Albert Haynesworth excuse

By Patrick Hruby

Special to ESPN.com

Sixteen total tackles. Two-and-a-half sacks. Four missed games. Three failed conditioning tests.

Oh, and at least one instance of literally lying down on the job.

In football terms, suspended Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth hasn't been a mere bust. He's been a TARP-shaming toxic asset, a multimillion-dollar mistake, a veritable man-mountain -- or is it man-molehill? -- of locker room drama and on-field mediocrity.

In fandom terms, however, he's been worth every penny.

Really.

Let me explain.

The Redskins are lousy. Overwhelmingly so. They're long in the tooth, thanks to oldest roster in the NFL. They're low on talent, with just one top-20 player in passing, rushing and receiving. They're offensively toothless (No. 28 in scoring), defensively challenged (No. 32 in yards allowed) and waist-deep in yet another regime change, laboring under their fifth coach in 10 years. This time things will be different!

In short, Washington is bad. And boring. Despite owner Daniel Snyder's willingness to spend money -- perhaps because of it -- the once-proud franchise of Joe Gibbs and Darrell Green has been all but unwatchable for nearly a decade. And that's enough to make fans morose.

Or even worse, comatose.

Disconnected.

Downright apathetic.

Apathetic fans don't buy jerseys. They don't spring for season tickets. They don't track training camp depth chart Tweets like SETI researchers. Come fall, they find something better to do with their Sunday afternoons. Like taking up woodworking. They definitely don't go all-in on bad football, because bad football is ugly and tedious and hardly worth a financial and emotional investment that trumps following "American Idol" and collecting every single Pearl Jam live album -- ever -- combined.

Unless, of course, those same fans are given a reason to care.

Which usually means someone to blame.

Here's the thing about sports success: It's great fun. Vicariously thrilling. Pretty much the best. It's also rare and fleeting. Athletes get old. Teams fall apart. Management makes awful decisions. Most seasons end with a loss; if you're lucky, that loss takes place in the playoffs. In sports as in life, falling short is the natural order, par for the course. (In fact, golf is probably the perfect metaphor.)

As such, fandom isn't really about winning. It's about believing your team can win -- and then enjoying the cathartic release of assigning fault when things go south, one Internet message board blast and talk radio call-in rant at a time.

Enter Haynesworth.

As a pure scapegoat, Haynesworth is better than Wade Phillips. Superior to Brad Childress. A cut above Bartman. Indeed, the disgruntled defensive tackle -- Scapegoat Rule No. 45: They're all disgruntled -- could very well be the Ali of fall guys. The Michael Jordan of the blame game. The greatest of all time.

Let's break it down:

Gooey guy who physically embodies a lack of maximum effort, whose nickname is Fat Albert?

Check.

Gargantuan paycheck at a time in which the economy is tanking, yet stadium beer prices remain unspeakably high?

Check.

Seeming sense of entitlement and unwillingness to defer to authority, coupled with oblivious, unapologetic, self-important and self-pitying public utterances?

Check, check and check.

Haynesworth is more than an inconsistent football player clashing with a fed-up coach and irritated teammates; he's a living, breathing compendium of everything sports fans hate. Make that love to hate. And that's the important part, the thing that gives him value. As a beat-up Donovan McNabb fumbles and the rest of his worn-down teammates stumble, Haynesworth gives fans a reason to care. To feel something beyond the numbness of another forgettable Redskins season that came in like a lion -- New coach! New quarterback! Here comes 12-4! -- and went out like Steve Spurrier, post-Osaka.

Ask yourself this: If Terrence Cody fails a Baltimore Ravens conditioning test, does it make a sound?

Does it become a long national nightmare?

Does Mike Golic take the same test ... and pass?

(Note: rhetorical questions.)

Anyone can be a scapegoat. Not everyone can excel at it. It takes a rare degree of unwitting and unintentional selflessness, something Haynesworth possesses in spades. On the field, Haynesworth at his best draws double- and triple-team blocks, freeing his teammates to excel; off the field, Haynesworth at his worst draws an extraordinary amount of slings and arrows, freeing everyone else from having to focus on their part in the problem.

Most recent case in point: Following a 31-7 Washington loss to the New York Giants for which Haynesworth was deactivated -- and therefore not in the game -- the defensive tackle was still the story, drawing anonymous fire from teammates, as if he were the reason the Giants amassed 197 rushing yards, dumping the Redskins from playoff contention in the process.

Never mind the defensive players who couldn't tackle.

Or the offense that couldn't score.

Or the coaching and management that built and shaped the roster.

Or the owner who has presided over a more than a decade of dysfunction and disappointment.

Or the fans who keep believing and anteing up, year after year, making all of the above possible.

No, never mind all that. Haynesworth is the obvious problem. Only now he's gone, suspended without pay for the last four games of the season. He likely won't be back. Thing is, I think he'll be missed. At least until the rest of us find someone else to blame.

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

It's great to see so many kick us while we're already down

The moral standards are high.

[Old Bay]

I don't think Haynesworth is being utilized as a scapegoat, though. I don't really see anyone blaming him for the rest of the teams problems. I know I don't.

[ucfSKINS]

Indeed, ESPN loves for the Redskins to suck. Never mind their golden child, the pukes have a worse record than we do. Never mind that they picked the Pukes to go far in the playoffs, possibly playing the Super Bowl in their own stadium.

No, instead, when we are enduring yet another new regime and another rebuilding process, they like to rub it in our faces, as if we are the bad dog that pooped in the house.

Unfortunately, there are some valid points in the article. God I hope we get this turned around soon.

[Henry]

This article is completely, utterly and in all other ways correct.

What Haynesworth should represent is what is embarrassingly wrong with this franchise. Instead, we waste all our energy getting mad at him. We need to stop getting mad at the symptoms and start focussing on the disease.

[Hitman21ST]

Ask yourself this: If Terrence Cody fails a Baltimore Ravens conditioning test, does it make a sound?

Does it become a long national nightmare?

Does Mike Golic take the same test ... and pass?

(Note: rhetorical questions.)

Funny how ESPN makes it a national headline then calls us out for it going national. And Terrence Cody came into the league out of shape, Haynesworth was touted as one of the best DTs in the game, and the highest played defensive player. He should be in shape when the season starts.

Anyone can be a scapegoat. Not everyone can excel at it. It takes a rare degree of unwitting and unintentional selflessness, something Haynesworth possesses in spades. On the field, Haynesworth at his best draws double- and triple-team blocks, freeing his teammates to excel; off the field, Haynesworth at his worst draws an extraordinary amount of slings and arrows, freeing everyone else from having to focus on their part in the problem.

The thing is, he's rarely at his best with us. On the field, if he's not happy, he doesn't even draw a single blocker. He lies down on the ground.

Most recent case in point: Following a 31-7 Washington loss to the New York Giants for which Haynesworth was deactivated -- and therefore not in the game -- the defensive tackle was still the story, drawing anonymous fire from teammates, as if he were the reason the Giants amassed 197 rushing yards, dumping the Redskins from playoff contention in the process.

If he doesn't ***** and moan during practice, he plays in the game. And yet it's wrong to call him out for half-assing it?

Or the coaching and management that built and shaped the roster.

Because any team with 4 draft picks can completely reshape a roster, to include bringing in young linemen, receivers, and running backs in one year.

Or the owner who has presided over a more than a decade of dysfunction and disappointment.

Who fired the source of the dysfunction and disappointment (and Haynesworth): Vinny Ceratto

No, never mind all that. Haynesworth is the obvious problem. Only now he's gone, suspended without pay for the last four games of the season. He likely won't be back. Thing is, I think he'll be missed. At least until the rest of us find someone else to blame.

Considering all the hype he gives himself, to cop that kind of attitude, yeah, he is the problem. Good players find a way to excel no matter the system. Look at Fletcher, his first year in a 3-4 and he's still making plays like he did as a 4-3 MLB.

[authentic]

The problem with articles like this is that they don't take into account that the FA spending mistakes of the past (thru 2009) has NOTHING to do with the current FO. Sure, Danny is still the owner, but any reasonable observer of the team knows that he's no longer making decisions on personel. I haven't agreed with all of the decisions Shanny has made, but it would be nice to put things in its proper context when evaluating the current situation. And truth be told, Fat Al was an inherited problem....INHERITED! uggh!!! :doh:

[Boss_Hogg]

I love ESPN, no really I do :doh: Where else you can find insightful non-biased information.

Our roster is getting younger, getting rid of Galloway really helped.

[SkinsCrushCowboys]

Wow, that was some hard hitting journalism.....tabloid trash ESPN, you can do better. Well, maybe you can't.

[War Paint]

It's amazing how things change so fast. A month ago we were having articles warning teams about getting injured that play the "Rugged Redskins". Now there's articles that we are the worst team in the league. Sadly, our downturn seemed to occur around the benching of McNabb.

[The Tris]

Despite being from the DC area, Patrick Hruby is clearly not a Redskins fan. He don't quite have the self-defeating personality disorder required.

[authentic]

This article is completely, utterly and in all other ways correct.

What Haynesworth should represent is what is embarrassingly wrong with this franchise. Instead, we waste all our energy getting mad at him. We need to stop getting mad at the symptoms and start focussing on the disease.

For the team he was a distraction. The same way R. Moss was a distraction for the Patriots. The same way T.O. was a distraction for the Eagles...Yet, when those guys are dealt with, the Eagles and Patiots are being prudent and removing a cancer from those respective lockerrooms. However when we do it, we're an embarrassment, the coaches and the players are focusing on it too much and not on the game...Give me a break!

[TD_washingtonredskins]

This article is completely, utterly and in all other ways correct.

What Haynesworth should represent is what is embarrassingly wrong with this franchise. Instead, we waste all our energy getting mad at him. We need to stop getting mad at the symptoms and start focussing on the disease.

I think we did...this symptom just happened to be here a year after the disease was addressed.

[Boss_Hogg]

ESPN's precious Cowturds are 4-8

That's all I have to say

[Travdaskin]

It's amazing how things change so fast. A month ago we were having articles warning teams about getting injured that play the "Rugged Redskins". Now there's articles that we are the worst team in the league. Sadly, our downturn seemed to occur around the benching of McNabb.

The Lion game changed our season, win that game and I truly think this season is different...

[AzSkinsFan63]

For the team he was a distraction. The same way R. Moss was a distraction for the Patriots. The same way T.O. was a distraction for the Eagles...Yet, when those guys are dealt with, the Eagles and Patiots are being prudent and removing a cancer from those respective lockerrooms. However when we do it, we're an embarrassment, the coaches and the players are focusing on it too much and not on the game...Give me a break!

Bingo!

[bird_1972]

What Haynesworth should represent is what is embarrassingly wrong with this franchise. Instead, we waste all our energy getting mad at him. We need to stop getting mad at the symptoms and start focusing on the disease.

I thought that by bringing in a respected head coach and a real GM we were addressing the disease. What else would you suggest?

[Skinzfever2010]

i thought that by bringing in a respected head coach and a real gm we were addressing the disease. What else would you suggest?

rebuilding with young players

[NavyDave]

The guy is telling the truth.

And we as fans do enable the FO to continue with bad moves year after year.

Imagine Danny with the Redskins in Florida. No FAN-UP Commercial will get those sport observers down there to attend a game

My side hurt from laughing at 106.7the fans blame Albert Hayneworth call ins.

[Henry]

For the team he was a distraction. The same way R. Moss was a distraction for the Patriots. The same way T.O. was a distraction for the Eagles...Yet, when those guys are dealt with, the Eagles and Patiots are being prudent and removing a cancer from those respective lockerrooms. However when we do it, we're an embarrassment, the coaches and the players are focusing on it too much and not on the game...Give me a break!

Both Moss and TO were dealt with fairly quickly. A couple weeks, maybe a month. AH was allowed to remain festering on the roster since spring, when he took money and then almost immediately asked to be traded. It's now December. What should have been nipped in the bud half a year ago has only now come to a head. Why is that?

And even if you don't note those differences, you can't ignore the biggest difference between us and the Patriots and the Eagles.

They freaking win games. We suck.

There's one really good, tried and true, method to get the media to stop focussing on the fact that you suck. And that's to stop sucking.

I guarantee you when the Redskins do that ESPN will say nice things about us.

[USS Redskins]

He is dead wrong on Redskins fandom - the team is still among the highest revenues earners in the league. The skins suck but the fans still show up and spend cash.

They (we) are hungry for a winner, yes but unlike cowboys fans and other franchises who have bad times, the fans still support the team, even though they suck.

[Henry]

I thought that by bringing in a respected head coach and a real GM we were addressing the disease. What else would you suggest?

We'll see.

I would suggest not holding a public pissing contest with one of our players for an entire offseason and three quarters of the regular season. That would be a good start.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Both Moss and TO were dealt with fairly quickly. A couple weeks, maybe a month.

Owens wasn't suspended until November if I'm remembering correctly. He was causing problems all season long (starting in the off-season by throwing McNabb under the bus for the Super Bowl failure) so I'm not sure that you can say the Eagles addressed it all that much quicker than we addressed Haynesworth.

[Chicken Fried]

What a crap article. ESPN is continuing right where it left off. He's not anywhere close to a scapegoat. I haven't heard of one person put the Redskins problems on Haynesworth. He's just one more player we have on this team. He just gets the most attention, but he is not scapegoated in any way.

It appears that one Patrick Hruby is desperate to put out an article. The way things go, he'll probably get a pay raise for trashing the Skins.

[LD0506]

Henry, you DO make reading this board a lot of fun! :applause:

I am still willing to suspend judgement until more facts are in. So far, starting from, oh, something akin to Hiroshima on Aug.7, we've had a Vinnectomy, TheDan stepped back and hired Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan, cut some deadweight, worked out vet alternatives not from "da U", upgraded the QB position, gave some youth a chance to earn their way onto the field, added a premier LT, signed another tackle with good prospects, and worked on shuttling Baconbutt on down the road, just to hit the highlights. All this done during an uncapped year that prevented most of the decent FA prospects from being available and with a very few draft picks. There has been progress made and there are some encouraging signs. That to me is a good start, but I admit it is only a start. Snyder needs to help set the tone by remaining out of the limelight and letting good people do their jobs, those good people need to exert themselves to make the most out of what they do have to work with and the players need to buy into the mindset that whatever E!SPN wants to blather about, that is all old news.

That's a lot to ask or expect, and it depends on essentially every one of those things happening. Tough, these people are getting some really nice paychecks, let 'em sweat for 'em. This coming offseason will tell us a lot about whether change is really here or it is just another failed attempt at patching a leaky boat. The last thing anyone should be concerned with is whether or not we are getting enough good press or selling enough merchandise.

Until then, I am 100% unconcerned with what this or any other crap articles have to say.