Shanahan is being careful. His position was if you participate in the offseason workouts, you don’t need to do the conditioning drills. Haynesworth was the only one who didn’t participate in the offseason…thus…he’s the only one who needs to run those drills.
Shanahan acknowledged that Haynesworth, who the Redskins say dropped about 35 pounds in the offseason, is the only player who faced the test. “That’s exactly right,” Shanahan said. “And that’s part of being in the offseason program. You don’t have to take the test. But there’s a certain percentage of workouts that you had to be here. And if you’re in that percent, you didn’t have to go through the conditioning test because we knew you’re in good shape.”
Cubit
1602
Ah, thanks for the info, eightball. Shanahan does have to be really careful with stuff like this, but I think the guy has earned the benefit of doubt.
Thing is, the off-season workouts are voluntary. Tom Brady didn’t participate in the Patriots workouts, for example. I don’t think Belichick is making Brady run 300 yard shuttle sprints.
And yeah, Haynesworth was being a bit of a jerk about the 3-4 defense, but is this really going to fix things?
Haynesworth missed a mandatory minicamp as well.
After accepting his 21 million dollar bonus, too. Apparently, he was given the option of taking the bonus or being traded. He took the bonus and still didn’t show up for OTAs. Silly.
Sarkus
1606
Shanahan and various fans have every reason to be annoyed at how Haynesworth has handled things, but in the end what it comes down to is that Haynesworth has shown up for training camp and the NFLPA isn’t going to sit around watching one of their players made a fool of. I’ve no doubt talk is already happening behind the scenes. It will be public soon, perhaps with a grievance being filed, if Shanahan doesn’t end this soon.
In better news, though, Washington got Trent Williams signed and he’ll be in camp, having only missed one day. That’s fantastic.
It really is silly. I have no sympathy for Haynesworth, though I still wonder if what Shanahan is doing is making the situation better or worse.
Thing about Haynesworth is that he signed his last big contract. There isn’t another one waiting for him down the line. So, at least from a monetary standpoint, it doesn’t make much difference if his sacks and tackles will go down from playing in a 3-4. I don’t really understand why it upsets him as much unless it’s a pride thing.
He wants to be thought of as one of the best to play the game. He really does. I’m not saying he’s willing to put in the work to become that. He thinks his natural ability will do most of it. I don’t mean that he’s completely lazy. He just doesn’t maximize his potential. Either way, though, he wants the stats that indicate he’s the best, and working as a NT won’t allow him those stats.
The Male Sheep sign Sam Bradford to the richest rookie contract in history, with $50m guaranteed. With the new CBA set to address rookie salaries, it may be a while before we see that topped.
So yeah, kvetch about the amount of money for a guy who’s never played a down of NFL football. Go ahead, it’s a natural thing here.
But here’s what I’m hearing from a media-type on the national level who happens to have an “in” with some of Steve Spagnuolo’s staff: they really, really thought Sam Bradford was a once-in-a-generation talent when they scouted him for the draft. They thought he was the best QB prospect to come into the league maybe since Manning. Having had him at rookie camp and a minicamp, they’ve changed their thinking: they think he’s even better than their initial evaluations of him were.
I guess we’ll see, but I’m sure kind of excited to see what otherwise looks like a 3-13 team play, just to watch Sam The Ram play.
Verrrrry curious to see where Suh clocks in after that.
Sarkus
1612
The good news is that with Bradford signed, along with a fair number of other first rounders, the rest should slot right in be in camp so as to not miss much time.
I would also note that the willingness of the Rams to basically go nuts on Bradford’s contract means that they’ve heard that Stan Kroenke’s ownership bid is likely to be accepted in a league meeting vote on 8/25. Earlier this summer he sold the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and The Pepsi Center to his wife (the two file income taxes separately and maintain separate business entities…but still kind of a nod and wink to the NFL ownership rules).
Now the big question for the Rams will be if Bradford starts or sits. If the Rams feel good about their o-line, I think they should play him. He’ll learn more playing than sitting.
Ummm…why should the Rams feel good about their OL?
Cubit
1616
Percy Harvin was carted off the field this morning at Vikings practice. Hopefully it isn’t a big deal like Dez Bryant’s injury is…
Cubit
1617
And apparently DeSean Jackson was carted off the field today too? Jesus, these receivers are dropping like crazy.
Mort:
They’re saying a leg injury. DeSean stumbled after a catch, and then carted in. No specific word yet
Because a shellshocked guy with a slow release and no mobility or receivers to throw to last season and without Jason Brown was only sacked twice per game?
The Rams having a bad O-line is a myth. They protected lousy quarterbacks with no receivers getting open incredibly well last year. Every defense in the league knew the only weapon the Rams possessed was SJ39, and he still ran wild. Some of that is Steven Jackson being a stud, but some of that is also a very underrated offensive line that got better with Roger Saffold being the team’s #2.
The best part about the Rams 1-15 season last year was that for a few years people had thought Marc Bulger’s struggles and terrible offense were due to a leaky line. Last year the Rams discovered that a big part of the problem was just that Bulger had regressed and become a lousy quarterback.
Cubit
1619
Do you have any idea why Bulger regressed over the years, Trigger? Age? Coaching? Motivation on his part?
When he was very good he still had a decent line, either Faulk or Jackson in the backfield, and a younger Torry Holt and Ike Bruce to throw to.
One thing about Mike Martz’s Greatest Show offense: it requires receivers to run long patterns downfield; even a merely “good” offensive line might not be good enough to run that modified Coryell offense. So…even in Bulger’s last season or two with Martz he was getting hit a lot…and Rams fans noticed Bulger seemed to be losing his touch on the deep ball. He just kept under throwing open receivers. Then the line really went south and Bulger got pounded for three years in a row–just a frightening number of hits. He had concussions, shoulder injuries, you name it. His accuracy has plummeted, and there’s reason to think that there are some basic throws that he can no longer make.
So: I think he was as good as he was when he had talented folks around him in abundance…and the combination of losing those key pieces and getting bludgeoned half to death both took a toll on him.
