Advice for Fat Albert

Image by Tennessee Journalist via Flickr

About 20 minutes ago I was the next caller in line on the Mason & Ireland Show on 710 ESPN talk radio. They were discussing the Albert Haynesworth saga. Unfortunately, they changed topics, but here are my thoughts on the subject.

(Quick saga summary:  plus-sized football player was asked by his new head coach to run two, 300-yard sprints with limited rest time in between; plus-sized football player completes the sprints, but took too long of a break in between them; coach asked him to retake it, but now plus-sized player couldn't pass even if his life depended on it.)

People seem to be split pretty evenly on this story. Who exactly is right or wrong? Is coach Mike Shanahan out of line? After all, he did not force any other player to take the conditioning test. Furthermore, it's a pretty damn hard test; Marcellus Wiley on 710 ESPN claims that 70-80% of current NFL players could not pass this test; on the contrary, if you google search "Albert Haynesworth test," you will find everyone and their mothers attempting and passing the test.  Or perhaps Haynesworth is wrong. Maybe he is just acting like another prima donna athlete. He should just listen to his coach and get in shape.

Well, I personally don't think either person is flat out right or wrong. I don't think this is a black and white issue, because things like this depend on circumstances. In this situation, there's a lot of extra baggage involved--Haynesworth's surliness towards switching to a 3-4 defense, the fact that Haynesworth came into camp 30 pounds lighter, and the fact that these are voluntary workouts, to name a few.

But here's a thought! Why doesn't Haynesworth step up to the plate and shut his critics up?! Everyone from former athletes to talk show hosts to casual fans are doubting you, and questioning you, and ripping on you.  Why not end all the discussion and end this over-hyped ordeal by passing the conditioning test with flying colors? Hell, do THREE, 300-yard sprints. Do one of the sprints while giving Coach Shanahan a piggy-back ride!

Albert Haynesworth is, supposedly, a franchise defensive tackle. He plays like one. He gets paid like one. He acts like one. Well, sometimes. Would a true franchise player ever back down from a challenge like this? When is the last time you saw Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, or Troy Polamalu shrivel up in the face of adversity like Haynesworth is doing? Or how about other guys his size, like Justin Tuck or Jared Allen? The great players of the game rise to the occasion. The saddest part is it sounds like a rival player has called him out before a big game, but NO! This isn't even a game! This is a stupid conditioning drill. I don't know who is right in this, but I know who can make things right, and that's Haynesworth. Don't wait to be saved by anyone. If you want to be treated like a star player, then start acting like one.