My Take on Haynesworth's Return

While listening to the Mike Wise & Holden Kushner show today on WJFK, they were discussing the off-season workout program of Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth. Their discussion was generated by this article by Rich Campbell of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. According to the article, Haynesworth has been working out with a personal trainer since April and hopes to be in great shape when he reports to training camp at the end of July.

Haynesworth's trainer, Tripp Smith, was quoted as saying, "I told him, 'If you show up and are playing like an animal, they're going to forget about the fact that you didn't go to a two-day minicamp or whatever happened aside from football,'" Smith said. "We need to make sure we do what we need to do to basically blow people's heads off with what we've accomplished this summer. I think we're well on our way to it."

The discussion on the radio today dealt with how Redskins fans would react when Hayneworth returns - and how they SHOULD react. I don't get a chance to call into these shows, so here's my take:

It's pretty simple, as far as I'm concerned. If he shows up in shape and is cooperative - read: he plays where the coaches want him to play - then the fans should forgive him. At that point, there's not much to forgive. If that happens, what we've been talking about since the OTA's is just drama. Forget about it. What he does on the field is what matters the most.

One thing mentioned on the radio was that if the Redskins are winning, all should be forgotten. I don't agree with that completely. If Haynesworth is working hard every down, doing his best for the team, even if the Redskins aren't winning, he should be forgiven.

In fact, when training camp rolls around and the fans can start coming to practice, we should all encourage him to work hard. As true Redskins fans, we should cheer him on and push him to work hard. Don't come out and boo him. You don't know what he's done in the off-season. Let his play speak for him.

THEN - if he fails - pummel him. Let him hear about it. Just be fair and give him a couple weeks. I hate it when our fans jump on guys at the first sign of weakness.

Let's give Albert the benefit of the doubt and let him show us what he's done in the offseason.