Mike Shanahan: "Albert Haynesworth will be with the team on Sunday"
Nose tackle / defensive end Albert Haynesworth is a Washington Redskin and he’s going to stay one, says head coach Mike Shanahan.
Meeting with reporters after practice today, of course the subject of the recent trade rumors arose and it was immediately easy to see that he was tired of the subject. He was, however, kind enough to address it – however briefly – with the the media.
The various exchanges with different media personnel were quick and entertaining. It would be difficult to describe it in anyway other than just lay it out the way it happened. Suffice it to say that while Shanahan kept his temper through out the press conference, there were times when he got a bit exasperated.
Here’s how it went:
Media: There were reports that Albert was on the trading block. Can you tell us if the team is engaged in any…?
Shanahan: (interrupts) We’ve heard all these rumors and speculations. If you want to talk about Dallas, I’ll talk about Dallas. Albert had a great practice today, he’ll be ready to go this weekend and I think we’ll leave it at that.
Media: Do you expect him to play Sunday for the Washington Redskins?
Shanahan: Like I told you before, I’m not going to tell you this… who’s our wide receiver, who’s going to dress. It’s a competitive advantage
Media: Do you think Albert’s going to be with your team on Sunday, whether he plays…
Shanahan jumps in again –
Shanahan: Albert will be with our team on Sunday.
Media: Coach, how hard is it for Albert to focus with all of rumors going on? At some point do you get concerned, ‘how can this guy be focused on Dallas’?
Shanahan: No. No. See, I get a chance to talk to players. I get a chance to control what goes on in our locker room. So as long as I’m fine with him and he’s fine with me… You might not think we [Haynesworth and I] ever communicate but we do sometimes. Your ‘sources’ have not talked about us communicating so…
Media: Mike, you just stated definitively that Albert will be with the team on Sunday.
Shanahan (sarcastically): I just thought I’d help you guys. I know you’ve got a job to do. We’ll just leave it at that.
Media: So if someone called you right now and had something they wanted to talk about you wouldn’t listen to that?
Shanahan (looks around): I guess he didn’t hear what I said, did he? I said what?
Media: That he would be with the team on Sunday.
Mike: O.K.
Media: So nothing can change that?
Shanahan: Man… you guys are tough.
Media: Just wanted to make it sure I had it right, Mike.
Shanahan: If he wasn’t here, I think you’d call me a liar wouldn’t you? And you’d have the right to do that.
Media: You know you’re on the record now.
Shanahan: I understand! I understand that! Be careful, the building’s going to fall on you. (laughter)
Media: Mike, I really want to understand, at the risk of having the building fall on me…
Shanahan: I was just joking… I don’t really want the building to fall on you. (laughter).
Coach continues: Actually, I wasn’t really kidding. (continued laughter)
Media: I’m a stranger here in a strange land… I understand….
Shanahan: (cuts person off, less patient) Let me say it again so you don’t have to ask. Albert will be here with us this week – for sure.
Media: Are we to understand then that any issues during the preseason, real or perceived, are behind you and Albert and that he’ll be a contributing member of this team for the whole season?
Shanahan (sighing, exasperated): I will talk about the Dallas Cowboys, okay? I’m not going to go through every situation. We’re beating a dead horse. Anybody else?
For what he was put through, Shanahan kept his temper very, very well. It was priceless. Guess we can look forward to Tony Romo getting chased all over the field on Sunday.