It took him a few days, but Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth finally has figured it out.
If he can’t practice until he passes a conditioning test, he should just pass on taking the conditioning test.
Sure, the issue was tied up with pride and ego for the first few days. But given that coach Mike Shanahan seems intent on rubbing a cleat into Haynesworth’s forehead, Haynesworth should just say “screw it” and quit trying to show that he’s capable of repeatedly doing something that no defensive linemen ever has to do in game, unless the ball lands in his tape-covered hands -- run 25 yards in a straight line.
For the third straight day, Haynesworth skipped the test due to his knee, which he supposedly injured while trying in vain to pass the test on Friday.
So in the end, Haynesworth gets his way, at least for now. He doesn’t want to play in a 3-4 defense, and he won’t have to.
It’ll stay that way unless and until Shanahan blinks or Haynesworth somehow manages to haul his oversized caboose through a pair of 300-yard shuttle runs.
In other words, it’ll stay that way for a while.
UPDATE: It turns out Haynesworth started the test, then stopped because of knee irritation.
