Haynesworth skips conditioning test, sits out practice has 0 comments

Jul 31st 2010, 18:12 | FFN-Score: 26 points

Albert Haynesworth is at practice for the Washington Redskins -- but strictly as an observer.

Haynesworth did not take a conditioning test Saturday that coach Mike Shanahan says the two-time All-Pro defensive lineman must pass before practicing. He failed the test Thursday and Friday. It is not clear why he didn't retake it Saturday.

While the team practiced in pads and helmets, Haynesworth stood to the side in his No. 92 jersey and a baseball cap. An assistant coach stood next to him, gesturing toward the players working out.

Haynesworth is the only Redskins player required to take the test because he missed the team's entire offseason conditioning program.

The test consists of 300 yards of sprints -- called a "shuttle" -- back and forth 25 yards at a time. It has to be run twice, with only a 3½-minute break in between. The short break demonstrates that the player can recover quickly. Linemen have to run the first shuttle in 70 seconds, the second one in 73 seconds.

Haynesworth clocked 70 seconds on the first shuttle when he tried to pass the test Thursday -- but he then violated the test's rules by taking an extended bathroom break.

"He had to use the restroom," Wright said. "You get 3½ minutes. He was gone close to 10."

So Haynesworth had to start all over again on Friday -- and failed.

During a press conference Friday , Shanahan called the drill a "very minimal test" that most of his players could do "in their sleep." He said he is confident Haynesworth eventually will pass.

"I don't want to put a guy out there before he's ready, before I know he's in shape," Shanahan said. "I know it's the best thing for him. He may not know that at this time, but I can guarantee you, the big linemen that I've been with, the guys that are in the trenches, they still need to be in shape."

But this is more about proving a point than proving someone's in shape. That was evident late Friday afternoon, when Haynesworth wasn't even permitted to take part in the team's one-hour walkthrough in which the players wore baseball caps.

Haynesworth instead worked on conditioning drills near the field. At one point, he stood with hands on hips watching his teammates, looking like an exile who can't join the party. Asked by a reporter if his teammates were giving him a hard time, Haynesworth used a profanity and essentially said he didn't care.

On Friday, Redskins strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright said Haynesworth was the only player required to take the test because he was the only player not to attend 50 percent of the team's offseason workouts. However, the players did run the same drill as part of those workouts in the spring.

Last year, Haynesworth would often take a knee at the ends of plays and have to leave the game. He hasn't played 16 games in a regular season since he was a rookie in 2002, but he has noticeably slimmed down this year.

Haynesworth, entering the second year of a seven-year, $100 million contract, stayed away from the Redskins' offseason program because he wanted to work with his own trainer and he is unhappy with the team's switch to a 3-4 defense. He was hoping the Redskins would trade him rather than make him report to camp.

On Friday, Shanahan was clearly growing tired of having the Haynesworth matter dominate the opening days of camp. The coach wants to move on to other things.

"The next time we talk about this," Shanahan told reporters, "is when he's practicing with us."

Another rule -- and one that no doubt will be followed.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press