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Showing posts with label Haynesworth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haynesworth. Show all posts

Monday, July 11, 2011

Report: Redskins not interested in releasing Haynesworth

The NFL lockout has slowed the Redskins from solving the curious case of Albert Haynesworth, but The Washington Post reported Thursday that coach Mike Shanahan isn't about to accept anything less than a second-round pick for the pricey defensive lineman. 

If the Redskins part ways with Haynesworth, they are determined to do so through a trade, according to the newspaper. Shanahan is not interested in cutting a player who's earned roughly $32 million from the Redskins over the past two seasons, only to see him sign with another team.

The Post reports that the Philadelphia Eagles have shown interest in Haynesworth, after they hired defensive line coach Jim Washburn, who coached Haynesworth during his stint with the Tennessee Titans.

Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett told 101 ESPN radio in St. Louis last month that Haynesworth "can do almost anything he wants. He doesn't want to do anything. To me that’s the issue.

"He’s one of those guys you walk in a meeting and you tell him, 'Put down the phone.' The next day you have to tell him to put down the phone. The next day, you tell him to put down the phone.

"You tell him, 'Don’t read the newspaper in meetings.' The next day you have to tell him the same thing. It doesn’t stick; it’s an everyday thing."

Haynesworth hasn't helped his case with the Redskins by fighting legal battles on multiple fronts this offseason.

In May, a judge dismissed a misdemeanor assault charge against Haynesworth after the player reached an agreement with the man who said he was the victim of a road-rage attack in February.

Haynesworth still faces a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge in the District of Columbia, where he is accused of groping a waitress at a hotel bar. He has pleaded not guilty.

A D.C. Superior Court agreed to delay the start of that trial to August 2, allowing defense witnesses to schedule appearances, The Washington Post reported Friday.

At one point last year Haynesworth was juggling as many as four court-related matters, including lawsuits from a bank, an exotic dancer, a man injured in an automobile accident and complaints from his ex-wife that he wasn't paying her health insurance or their children's bills.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Friday, June 17, 2011

Skins DE Holliday: Haslett's Haynesworth remarks on the money

Vonnie Holliday thinks defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has a point about his teammate, Albert Haynesworth.

Speaking on the "LaVar Arrington Show with Chad Dukes," on Washington's 106.7 the Fan Monday, Holliday said Haslett's depiction of Haynesworth's behavior was on the money. But Holliday, a defensive end who started two games for the Redskins last season, also said the team's coaches could have done more to discourage Haynesworth's antics at meetings.

The Washington Redskins have been looking for more from defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth since they signed him to a $100 million contract in 2009.The Washington Redskins have been looking for more from defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth since they signed him to a $100 million contract in 2009. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

In an interview with a St. Louis radio station last week, Haslett described Haynesworth as a lazy player who either has trouble listening to -- or just plain ignores -- his coaches .

"He can do almost anything he wants. He doesn’t want to do anything. To me that’s the issue," Haslett said. "He’s one of those guys you walk in a meeting and you tell him, ‘Put down the phone.’ The next day you have to tell him to put down the phone. The next day, you tell him to put down the phone.

"You tell him, 'Don’t read the newspaper in meetings.' The next day you have to tell him the same thing. It doesn’t stick; it’s an every-day thing."

Holliday said Haynesworth's behavior frustrated the Redskins' veterans.

"Short of getting into a fight with Big Al (Haynesworth), you can’t tell him what to do," Holliday said. "As frank as coach Haslett was on the radio station about what transpired throughout the course of last year with Albert I thought there was a missed opportunity there for coaches.

"Maybe this is something that was just instilled in me early in my career -- you just don’t take your phone to a meeting. If a phone rings in a meeting it is an issue. It is a problem. You are going to get cursed out, fussed out and fined. Any number of things are going to happen to you by your coach. I’m terrified.

"These younger guys it is not the same. It’s not looked at as the same. Unfortunately Albert ... some of the stuff that coach Haslett is talking about, having a phone in the meeting, it was just not addressed. Coming up, you’re telling a guy, 'Hey don’t bring your phone to a meeting. You can’t do that.' I mean, the way we get through to these guys is to fine them and that just never happened throughout the year."

Holliday said Haynesworth's ability to dominate on the field, which rarely has manifest itself in Washington since he set an NFL record with $41 million guaranteed as part of a seven-year, $100 contract in 2009, makes his actions even more frustrating.

"First of all, I’m not in it to be an Albert Haynesworth basher," Holliday said. "Yes, some of the on-the-field antics, some of the stuff in the meeting rooms have been disappointing ... (If ) You’ve been a dominating player that we all know that this guy could be. We have no issues.

Holliday said that was not the case with Haynesworth.

"I know that can be frustrating for a new defensive line coach coming in. A new defensive coordinator. Seeing what this guy is capable of doing and then it just not playing out on the field. It was certainly frustrating for me.

"To be honest, this is a guy that if he plays at the level that we know he can play at, will raise the level of play for everybody around him. It’s unfortunate that it has not played out. I don’t know what’s going to happen moving forward but after these comments made by coach (Haslett), you’ve got to think how this guy is going to go back into that locker room and listen to coach and do anything short of what happened last year."

Haynesworth fell out of favor with new coach Mike Shanahan in 2010 and repeatedly clashed over workout routines and playing time. The Redskins suspended Haynesworth for the final four games of the season for "conduct detrimental to the team."


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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Redskins D-coordinator talks frustration over Haynesworth

Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett didn't hold back when explaining his issues with Albert Haynesworth in an interview with 101 ESPN radio in St. Louis.

According to Profootballtalk.com, Haslett qualified his statements by saying he likes Haynesworth, and he believes the defensive lineman can still thrive if returned to a 4-3 scheme. But he also described Haynesworth as a lazy player who either has trouble listening to -- or plain ignores -- his coaches.

“He can do almost anything he wants. He doesn’t want to do anything. To me that’s the issue,” Haslett said. “He’s one of those guys you walk in a meeting and you tell him, ‘Put down the phone.’ The next day you have to tell him to put down the phone. The next day, you tell him to put down the phone.

“You tell him, ‘Don’t read the newspaper in meetings.’ The next day you have to tell him the same thing. It doesn’t stick; it’s an every-day thing.”

Haynesworth set an NFL record in 2009 with $41 million guaranteed as part of a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins. But Haynesworth fell out of favor with new coach Mike Shanahan in 2010 and repeatedly clashed over workout routines and playing time. The Redskins suspended Haynesworth for the final four games of the season for "conduct detrimental to the team."

Haynesworth exasperated Redskins coaches by essentially refusing to be part of the team's 3-4 defense last season.

“He just didn’t want to play in this scheme. He didn’t want to play in the 3-4,” Haslett said in the interview. “He didn’t want to do the things we wanted. Then we said, ‘OK, if you’re not going to do it, let’s not do it. Let’s play nickel, play the 3-technique.’

“Then, it got to the point where he said, ‘I don’t want to play first- and second-down nickel. I just want to play third-down nickel.’ Oh my God, you’re relegating yourself to 10-15 snaps a game. Then after that he didn’t want to do the blitzes, he just wanted to rush.”

Haynesworth's image as a poor team player is just the start of his problems. At one point last year, the 29-year-old was juggling as many four court-related matters, including lawsuits from a bank, an exotic dancer, a man injured in an automobile accident and complaints from his ex-wife that he wasn't paying her health insurance or their children's bills.

Last week, a Virginia judge dismissed a misdemeanor assault charge against Haynesworth after the player reached an agreement with the man who said he was the victim of a road-rage attack.

And last month, Haynesworth pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of sexual abuse for an incident in which he allegedly groped a waitress at a Washington hotel bar in February. That case goes to trial in July.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Friday, June 3, 2011

Haynesworth, alleged road-rage victim settle, charges dropped

FAIRFAX, Va. -- A judge on Tuesday dismissed a misdemeanor assault charge against Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth after the player reached an agreement with the man who said he was the victim of a road-rage attack.

Under Virginia law, a judge can dismiss misdemeanor assaults under a provision called "accord and satisfaction," in which a victim says he has been made whole, usually by a financial payment.

Neither Haynesworth nor the victim, identified as Arthur Velasquez, would comment on details of the settlement. Haynesworth, dressed in a white collared shirt with blue jeans and large diamond stud earrings, said nothing as he left the courthouse after the two-minute hearing in Fairfax County General District Court.

The incident in early February began when Velasquez gave the finger to Haynesworth on the Fairfax County Parkway in Reston because he believed Haynesworth was following too closely, according to Haynesworth's attorney, Steven Merril, and police accounts.

Both drivers exited the parkway, and at some point Haynesworth got out of his car. At that point, according to Merril, the two men's stories diverged. Velasquez said Haynesworth punched him in the face, giving him a bloody nose.

"There's blame for both of them" in the confrontation, Merril said after the hearing. "You know how northern Virginia can be with tight traffic, anger building up among drivers."

Merril said, "Haynesworth's mistake was he got out of the car. Judges don't like that."

It was not clear if Velasquez knew Haynesworth's identity at the outset of the confrontation.

Velasquez's lawyer, Stephen Sheehy, declined to discuss details of the case but said his client is satisfied with the outcome.

Haynesworth, meanwhile, still faces a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge in the District of Columbia, where he is accused of groping a waitress at a hotel bar. He has pleaded not guilty.

At one point last year Haynesworth was juggling as many four court-related matters, including lawsuits from a bank, an exotic dancer, a man injured in an automobile accident and complaints from his ex-wife that he wasn't paying her health insurance or their children's bills.

Haynesworth set an NFL record in 2009 with $41 million guaranteed as part of a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins. But Haynesworth fell out of favor with new coach Mike Shanahan in 2010 and repeatedly clashed over workout routines and playing time. The Redskins suspended Haynesworth for the final four games of the season for "conduct detrimental to the team."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press


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Friday, May 27, 2011

Road-rage assault trial for Redskins' Haynesworth postponed

FAIRFAX, Va. -- A judge on Thursday postponed Albert Haynesworth's road-rage assault trial to give the Washington Redskins' defensive lineman an opportunity to settle the matter with the alleged victim.

A Fairfax County prosecutor said at Thursday's hearing that Haynesworth is pursuing an "accord and satisfaction" agreement with the alleged victim. In misdemeanor cases, a judge can dismiss assault charges when the victim acknowledges that he has received satisfaction for any injuries, usually in the form of a financial settlement.

The judge rescheduled the case for Tuesday, the second time it has been postponed.

Haynesworth's lawyer, Steven Merril, declined comment after the hearing, which lasted less than two minutes. But Merril indicated to the judge that he didn't believe a trial would be necessary.

The judge also maintains discretion to reject any accord and satisfaction agreement under Virginia law.

Haynesworth didn't appear in court Thursday.

Police say the alleged victim accused Haynesworth of punching him in January during a traffic altercation in Reston. The man told investigators that he made a gesture at the driver of a pickup truck he believed was following too closely. The two vehicles stopped, and the truck's driver, later identified as Haynesworth, got out of his pickup and allegedly punched the other driver.

Haynesworth's agent has said his client is innocent.

Haynesworth also is scheduled to go on trial in July for misdemeanor sexual abuse after he was accused of fondling a waitress at a hotel bar in Washington. He has pleaded not guilty.

Haynesworth is two years into a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins, who signed him in 2009 to what was then an NFL record of $41 million in guaranteed money. But Haynesworth repeatedly has clashed with Mike Shanahan and frequently skipped workouts since the coach was hired after the '09 season. Shanahan suspended Haynesworth for the final four games of the 2010 season for conduct detrimental to the team.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press


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Saturday, December 11, 2010

Redskins put focus back on football with Haynesworth gone

ASHBURN, Va. -- Mike Shanahan smiled, joked, looked positively giddy at times. He even allowed reporters to watch an entire Washington Redskins regular-season practice for the first time, daring them to brave the 21-degree wind chill. It was hard to tell he has a team that's 5-7 and out of the playoffs.

That's what happens when the weight of eight months of Albert Haynesworth drama is lifted from a coach's shoulders.

Shanahan on Wednesday discussed his decision to suspend the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle without pay for the rest of the season, a move that brought a sense of relief to Redskins Park that a long-running soap opera of a distraction is finally over.

"I was going to share the conversation Albert and I had, but since he wouldn't talk to me, I couldn't share that conversation with you guys," said Shanahan, opening his post-practice remarks with a bit of dry humor. "So that was a little tough."

Inside, Haynesworth's locker was cluttered as usual, with a towel, cleats and clothes. A shirt was draped over the front, obscuring the nameplate so all that was visible was "ORTH 92." The team's weekly schedule sat on the stool, a useless piece of paper for a player who won't be around.

For at least one more day, however, the player who wore No. 92 was the talk of the team, as he has been for countless days since the team began offseason workouts in March. The battle of wills between Shanahan and Haynesworth got to the point where it was probably for the best that the two not share the same building, something that's now assured for the final four games.

"Albert probably don't care," cornerback Carlos Rogers said, pointing out the Redskins paid Haynesworth $41 million. "I don't think he'll miss $800,000."

Haynesworth might indeed get to enjoy a relaxing December, having played just 20 games for a team that signed him last year to a seven-year, $100 million contract with $41 million in guaranteed money. He is appealing the suspension, which would cost him $847,000 in salary if upheld, but he no longer has to concern himself with fitting into a defense in which he was "a square peg into a round hole," to use defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's words from earlier in the season.

Shanahan gave a more detailed play-by-play Wednesday, and it came to a stark conclusion: Haynesworth was impossible to please.

"He didn't like the 4-3 defense a year ago," Shanahan said. "He didn't like the base defense. He didn't like the nickel defense. He didn't want to play nose tackle, didn't want to play defensive end (in the 3-4 defense). We got him playing the nickel package, first and second and third down. He didn't like first- and second-down nickel, wanted to play third-down nickel in passing situations. Hey, it was just time. It was just time to go in another direction."

The suspension, officially for "conduct detrimental to the club," is the most emphatic statement yet that Shanahan is indisputably in charge in his first season with the Redskins. Gone are the competing agendas of years past, when owner Dan Snyder and departed front-office head Vinny Cerrato would share or diminish a coach's authority or question his decisions.

"I haven't even discussed this situation with Dan," said Shanahan, a stunning statement, given Snyder's history of hands-on ownership.

That's the kind of control a coach can get when his history includes two Super Bowl titles with the Denver Broncos.

"You've got to do it his way or you won't be here," special teams captain Lorenzo Alexander said. "He just suspended a guy that's making $100 million and is probably the best at what he does, so what it's to stop him from doing this to anybody else on the team?"

Rogers was asked how Shanahan's I'm-the-boss style has affected the Redskins' locker room.

"Some people are scared," said Rogers, who then laughed. "Not in a negative way, but he says it all the time: The teams that he's been on, Super Bowl teams and the experience that he's had in this league coaching, it's always everybody's together on one page. And if you're not, you're going to be out of here. That's his evaluation, especially for these last four games."

The Redskins have conceded that they're out of the playoff race, having lost four of their last five games. They agree Haynesworth was a distraction they could have done without and that the defense would have benefited had he committed himself to being an every-down player in the scheme.

"It was a lingering distraction. We had to talk about it constantly," Alexander said. "I wouldn't say it's good that he's gone, it's more that the situation is over with. We wanted him to play. He's a beast."

Shanahan said Haynesworth wouldn't follow coaches' instructions at practices and games. For quarterback Donovan McNabb, the conflict had a familiar ring: He was with the Philadelphia Eagles when coach Andy Reid suspended outspoken wide receiver Terrell Owens in 2005.

Asked if Haynesworth will do push-ups for television cameras in his driveway -- the way Owens did -- McNabb laughed and said: "No, I don't think so."

"The relief of the whole deal is the fact that it could possibly be over," McNabb said, "and we can focus on what we have to do, instead of answering questions all the time."

Shanahan wouldn't comment when asked if there was any way Haynesworth could be on Washington's roster next season, although that seems highly unlikely. The coach said he waited this long to suspend Haynesworth in hopes things could be worked out.

"I really had a pretty good relationship with him," Shanahan said. "It was never argumentative. Pretty good for the most part. Lot of drama, obviously, with all the press coverage. But when someone dictates when they go in, when they won't go in, that just was a little bit too much for me."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press


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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Redskins DT Haynesworth likes playing in nickel, not 3-4 defense

ASHBURN, Va. -- It's unusual to hear a professional athlete say he's not good enough. That's how far Albert Haynesworth has sunk to keep from playing nose tackle in the Washington Redskins' 3-4 defense.

"I'm not good enough to play the 3-4," Haynesworth said Thursday.

The player whose stated goal is to become the greatest defensive lineman in NFL history held his first midweek question-and-answer session this season, and it was hardly a coincidence that it took place after his best game since he signed with the Redskins last year. He had his first sack since 2009 and made a key goal-line stop in Sunday's 17-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.

"Now that we've changed some of the things that I do, it's helped a lot," Haynesworth said. "I don't have to think as much on the field -- I can just go out and play."

Nearing the halfway point of the season, Haynesworth has settled into a role as a part-time player, happy not to be a regular part of the team's "Okie" run packages. He's not the starting nose tackle -- as was envisioned when the Redskins switched to the 3-4 scheme this season -- and instead is playing mostly in nickel packages as a "three-technique" tackle, the role he had during much of his seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

"We just kept working at the Okie, and I wasn't coming along to be able to be the starter in that stuff," Haynesworth said. "And I was like, 'Hey, let's focus on the stuff that I know, and you'll see a lot more production out of me."'

It was Haynesworth's aversion to the 3-4 that led to months of offseason drama. The Redskins offered to released him if he didn't take his $21 million contract bonus on April 1, but he accepted the money. He later asked to be traded, skipped offseason practices, needed 10 days to pass a training-camp conditioning test, traded verbal volleys with new coach Mike Shanahan and was well behind in learning the new scheme.

In fact, Haynesworth never caught up. And it doesn't sound as if he wants to.

"We've got a guy in front of me who can play the 3-4 better than I can, so whatever helps the team," Haynesworth said. "I do get to play the nickel, and I play well in that, so that's when you see me in there."

Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said there came a point when the defense had to punt.

"Trying to get him to do the 3-4 stuff was trying to get a square peg into a round hole," Haslett said. "We tried to force the issue, and it hasn't worked out the way that we would like. I still think he can do it because he's a good athlete and he is athletic and smart and tough enough to do it."

Haslett estimated he has called the Okie formation 35 percent of the time this season, but that's because the Redskins have played such pass-happy teams as the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts.

"He can do anything he wants to do -- he's just got to want to do it," Haslett said. "It's more of a mindset than anything."

Doesn't he want to be a starter?

"I would like to start and start playing like I used to ... but right now I'm fine with it," he said.

Haynesworth has missed three of seven games this season, including back-to-back games after the death of his half brother. Teammates point out the huge impact he can make if he's playing regularly -- even if it's mostly in the nickel.

"So much has happened the first part of the season," defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. "He's gone through an emotional roller-coaster, the tragedy with his family, coming into a bad situation through training camp and so many things. So many distractions, but it seems like now his focus is there, he's had some time to grow in this defense and learn the technique.

"He's just going to continue to grow in this scheme. Who knows? Maybe one day he will like it."

So what does Haynesworth have as his goal for the rest of the season?

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"Keep playing and help the teammates, and make plays and I guess get noticed more," he said, "so people will say I'm not a bust or whatever."

Does he think he'll be with the Redskins next season?

"I don't know. I have no clue," he said. "Right now, if I just keep playing, I'm going to be somewhere."

Once the session was done, Haynesworth was asked if he'll speak again next week.

"What is this? Week 8?" he said as he walked away from the podium. "I'll see you at Week 16."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press


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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Haynesworth shows flashes of former dominance vs. Bears

ASHBURN, Va. -- Albert Haynesworth bullrushed offensive lineman Chris Williams into quarterback Jay Cutler, knocking the two Chicago Bears players down like dominoes. Now that's an awesome way to get a sack.

Haynesworth also jumped over an offensive lineman to grab Cutler at the 1-yard line, maintaining a strong grip as the quarterback reached to get the ball over the goal line for what appeared to be a touchdown. Redskins linebacker London Fletcher knocked the ball loose and recovered what was ruled a fumble -- and Bears coach Lovie Smith didn't challenge the ruling -- creating a huge turnaround play in a game decided by three points.

Haynesworth has mostly been a distraction and a disappointment since signing with the Washington Redskins last season. Imagine the possibilities if he keeps playing the way he did in Sunday's 17-14 victory over the Bears.

"It would be like Christmas Day, so to speak, getting the gift that you've always wanted," Fletcher said Monday. "That's the reason they brought Albert in here, because of how dominant he can be."

It has been all too easy to pick on Haynesworth and fellow well-paid teammate DeAngelo Hall lately, but, at least for a day, they looked like players worthy of big investments. Haynesworth was disruptive down low, and Hall tied an NFL single-game record with four interceptions as the defense rescued a sputtering offense and moved the Redskins (4-3) back above .500.

"Albert played exceptionally well," said Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, uttering four words that have been hard to come by this season. "It's the best that he's played, obviously, this season. But looking at film from last year, I think it's the best game he's played since he's been here."

The story is a familiar one. Haynesworth didn't want to play for the Redskins this season because they were switching to a 3-4 defense. He skipped a mandatory minicamp, asked for a trade, needed 10 days to pass a training-camp conditioning test and swapped frosty verbal volleys with Shanahan throughout the preseason.

Off the field, the two-time All-Pro has dealt with at least three lawsuits and other legal issues. He recently missed a game after his half brother died in a motorcycle accident, then wasn't allowed to play in the following game -- last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts -- because Shanahan didn't deem him physically and mentally ready to play again.

"2010 has been the worst year of my life," Haynesworth said after Sunday's game, "so I just want to kind of get it over with and keep playing, hopefully."

From an emotional standpoint, Haynesworth spoke of how he was inspired by the memory of his half brother. From a strategic standpoint, he said the Redskins made his job simpler by taking him out of run-defense packages. Less thinking equals more production -- at least by Haynesworth's reckoning.

"When you have a lot to think about in football, a player's going to play slow," Haynesworth said. "Now that they took me out of the (run-defense) stuff and I can just play the nickel stuff and the stuff that I'm used to, I have a lot less to think about and go -- and just play the game."

Even so, Haynesworth couldn't resist another latent jab at Shanahan, saying the coach should have played him against the Colts.

"I would have loved to play. I played the Colts for seven years, twice a year, so I probably knew the Colts better than anybody on the team," said Haynesworth, referencing his tenure with the AFC South's Tennessee Titans. "But it was his decision."

Shanahan said Haynesworth won't be used solely as a pass-rush specialist with a seven-year, $100 million contract. The coach said Haynesworth played 33 snaps against the Bears -- about half of the defensive plays -- and fared well against both the run and pass.

"He played hard," Shanahan said. "We expect that type of effort out of him."

As for Hall, the four interceptions were a landmark day in a season in which he has allowed too many completions and been slowed by a sore back. It's hardly a coincidence that the Redskins matched their win total (four) from last season on the same day they matched their takeaway total (17) from 2009.

Still, after Sunday's game, Cutler wasn't backing down on Hall, saying: "I still think if we had to play him tomorrow, I'd go after him every time."

Hall responded by appearing on ESPN on Monday and saying that Cutler doesn't "really understand ... the game of football."

"For him to feel like he can come at me right now, it might be a quarterback being a quarterback," Hall said. "But obviously it didn't work out."

Notes: Redskins FB Mike Sellers was wearing a walking boot after the game. Shanahan said Sellers had an injury on the "bottom of the foot" and would be evaluated Wednesday. ... The Redskins planned to have Stephon Heyer alternate series with Jammal Brown at right tackle, but Heyer sprained his ankle early in the game. Shanahan said Brown still doesn't have full range of motion from last season's hip injury. ... S Kareem Moore is receiving limited playing time because of a sore right knee. He sprained the knee earlier this season. ... Shanahan said there's a chance RB Clinton Portis could return in two weeks after the bye, but it's not certain if he would reclaim the starting job from Ryan Torain. ... RB Chad Simpson, who tweaked a hamstring in practice last week, might return to practice Wednesday.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press


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