Apparently still on good terms with his sources from his days with the Washington Post, Jason La Canfora is reporting that Albert Haynesworth is going to be relegated to backup duties this Sunday night when the Washington Redskins play the Dallas Cowboys.
The team is going to use Haynesworth in their nickel package when they go to a more traditional 4-3 look and use him as an inside pass-rusher. To say Haynesworth has fallen out of favor with Mike Shanahan and the rest of the Redskins organization — teammates most likely included — would be a huge understatement, but I never actually thought the ‘Skins would bench him.
I love everything about the move, but it surprises me that Danny Snyder would allow all of that money to be sitting on the bench and doing absolutely nothing. If the signs weren’t there before that Shanahan truly runs this ship, putting Haynesworth on the bench is the last bit of evidence anyone should need.
This could actually be a business move in disguise I suppose, since the ‘Skins might not want the other 31 teams — and possible trade partners — to see Haynesworth going half-speed. Most teams have already been completely turned off to the idea, but seeing that in a meaningful game might mean the ‘Skins are just stuck with him.
My guess is that the ‘Skins hold onto Haynesworth as long as they possibly can while trying to get the best possible deal for him, but come Week 6 they’ll be forced to take the best offer: no higher than a conditional fifth-round pick.
Time to chalk this one up as a loss and move on.