The Redskins and Santana Moss have agreed to terms on a deal that will keep the veteran wide receiver in Washington, according to a league source.
Moss' deal is for three years and is worth $15 million ($6 million guaranteed), with a $5 million signing bonus.
Moss, who just completed his 10th NFL season, finished with a career-high 93 catches for 1,115 yards and six touchdowns in 2010.
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.
FAIRFAX, Va. -- The Washington Redskins have added a new element this week in the quest to make their player-run practices look and feel like the real thing.
On Wednesday, a friend hired by quarterback John Beck stood atop a 10-foot metal platform with a camera, videotaping the plays.
"It's tough when you don't have tape to go back and critique," Beck said. "That's really the story of the lockout -- just doing what we can. It would be ideal if we could be at our facility with our coaches, talking with them, watching their tape, but we can't. Even though it's very basic, we can still learn a lot from this."
Beck bemoaned that he couldn't review his footwork and coverage reads after the first two player-run minicamps in April and May. When the players reconvened Tuesday for the first day of a three-day camp, he had his friend standing on the top row of the bleachers. Tight end Chris Cooley suggested using the platform instead to provide a better angle.
The players are reviewing the tape in the evenings at Cooley's house.
"After having two weeks of not watching it and watching it for the first time yesterday, it's nice to be able to go back, spend an hour and see how you're running, see what your routes look like," Cooley said. "I felt like here were adjustments that I was able to make today after just watching some subtle things instead of just coming out and running."
Early during Wednesday's practice, Beck launched a tight spiral but overthrew tight end Logan Paulsen. That's one play certainly worth reviewing.
"We can sit down and look at Logan's route," Beck said. "Did he come out of it well? If he did, now I can take a hair off the ball. He might say, 'I didn't come out of it well. Your ball was on the money.' You can say was it A, B or C, and now can we (fix) that."
Wednesday's workout was attended by 32 players, including former Redskins cornerback Justin Tryon, now with the Indianapolis Colts.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
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.
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
Chris Cooley normally talks about firing off the line to throw a block or catch a pass. But with the NFL lockout nearing one month, he's talking about another type of fire: his passion for pottery.
Yes, the Washington Redskins' two-time Pro Bowl tight end is spending his offseason making kiln-fired vases, bowls and mugs. He even has a shop, The Cooley Gallery, in Leesburg, Va., and planned to hold his first showing Friday night.
La Canfora: It's an odd offseason
Jason La Canfora writes that labor uncertainty has allowed some players"I love pottery," Cooley told The Washington Post. "I've always loved pottery."
Cooley estimates that he has made 700 pieces since Dec. 3, shortly after he and his wife, Christy, saw an open space in downtown Leesburg and jumped on the opportunity.
"Within a day -- which is pretty normal for how spontaneous I am -- we were like, 'We’re going to have an art gallery,' " Cooley said.
But pottery isn't a passing fancy for Cooley, who was an art major at Utah State. He has a pottery room at his home, too, with a $25,000 wooden kiln outside. He also uses the same pottery wheel his father did while in high school.
So Cooley will concern himself with his pottery pursuits while the league and the players try to settle their differences. He said 30 Redskins players plan to meet at a Northern Virginia high school Wednesday and Thursday for workouts, but otherwise, he'll go on 5-mile runs with Christy and run his shop.
"I don't care; it just doesn't affect me right now," Cooley said of the lockout. "When I'll be pissed off is when the third paycheck doesn't come. I'll give up one and then have to deal with missing two maybe. But after that, I'll be like, 'This is costing me a (expletive)-load of money.' Hey, if they want to tell us, 'You have to miss half of training camp,' great. I'll be ready."
Washington Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers hopes his nagging sore calf won't sideline him against the New York Giants in the season finale, according to The Washington Post.
Rogers left Sunday's 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half due to the calf injury and did not return.
"It's alright, right now," Rogers told The Post after the game. "It's kind of straining a little bit. I know from the previous one I had last training camp, if I kept going, I was going to pop. And I didn't want to do that."
Rogers intercepted Jaguars quarterback David Garrard on Jacksonville's initial possession to set up the Redskins' first touchdown. It was Rogers' second interception of the season, to go along with 54 total tackles.
The sixth-year veteran leads a banged-up Redskins' defense that played against the Jaguars minus several starters, including linebacker Brian Orakpo and safeties Reed Doughty and Kareem Moore.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Washington Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels will be placed on injured reserved after aggravating an abdomen injury during Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, coach Mike Shanahan said via The Washington Post on Monday.
Daniels, a 14-year veteran who was making his first start of the season, initially sustained the injury a week earlier against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shanahan said he didn't know if Daniels, 37, would need surgery.
In addition to Daniels, the Redskins defense could be missing several other key members for Sunday's game at Jacksonville.
Linebacker Brian Orakpo has a groin/hamstring injury that has his status in doubt. Saftey Reed Doughty (concussion) and linebacker Rocky McIntosh (hamstring) also left the Dallas game due. Defensive end Kedric Golston (groin/elbow) did not play against the Cowboys.
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
LANDOVER, Md. -- All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson injured his right ankle during the first half of the Minnesota Vikings' 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday and didn't return.
Peterson said his ankle "got rolled up" when he was tackled on a 1-yard carry late in the second quarter. Neither Peterson nor Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier would speculate on the running back's prospects for next week's game against the Buffalo Bills.
"We'll know a little more about Adrian tomorrow," Frazier said, "after they do whatever examinations they have to."
The Vikings initially said Peterson was probable to return to the game, then downgraded him to questionable. He had his ankle taped, then stood on the sideline testing it, stepping gingerly at times and attempting short sprints.
"It started to throb a little bit," Peterson said. "I was trying to keep it loose, jogging, but it really didn't help out."
Peterson went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season for the fourth time in his four-year NFL career before he was hurt. He finished the game with six carries for 36 yards, including a 5-run touchdown run on Minnesota's opening drive.
With Peterson out, rookie Toby Gerhart carried the load for the Vikings, rushing for 76 yards on 22 carries. The second-round draft pick had just 86 yards for the season entering the game.
Milestone TrackerVikings QB Brett Favre reached another personal milestone Sunday. Find out what it was, and keep up with the rest of the players around the NFL who are on the verge of breaking records and reaching milestones. More.
"Toby Gerhart, man, take my hat off to him and our offensive line, just understanding our situation," Frazier said. "We came in at halftime, we had an idea that Adrian might not be able to go in the second half, and we wanted to emphasize that it wouldn't change our game plan. We were going to trust our offensive line to do what we talked about all week long, and they didn't flinch."
Vikings defensive lineman Ray Edwards left the game in the first half with a left leg injury. He also will be evaluated Monday.
Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers injured his left hamstring during the second half. An injury to Rogers' right hamstring kept him out of the previous week's overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
LANDOVER, Md. -- Brett Favre's voice was a raspy whisper and he rattled a lozenge around in his mouth as he spoke about the 10-yard scramble his creaky legs managed to carve out Sunday, helping seal his Minnesota Vikings' 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins.
"Did I expect to run for a first down? I haven't expected to run for a first down in quite a while," Favre said, smiling. "It was 10 yards? Really? It felt like 50. But we needed that win."
With Adrian Peterson sidelined since the second quarter with a right ankle injury, and Favre's receivers well-covered as he moved to his right on a bootleg on third-and-8, the 41-year-old QB ambled his way to the key first down right before the two-minute warning. Favre hadn't gained more than 4 yards on a run since 2008.
"He looked younger," Peterson observed. "He looked like he was 38 on that run."
And Favre looked about 28 afterward, popping up from the turf with one of his shoulder pads flapping around, then leaping on teammates for celebratory hugs -- no signs there of any problems with the foot, ankle and shoulder injuries he's had, nor the head and chest illness bothering him.
Moments later, after taking a knee to run out the clock, Favre went over to new coach Leslie Frazier and handed him the football.
The Vikings (4-7) ended a nine-game road losing streak less than a week after firing coach Brad Childress and promoting defensive coordinator Frazier, perhaps hoping for the sort of immediate bump the Dallas Cowboys got when they went from Wade Phillips to replacement Jason Garrett.
Frazier called Sunday's victory "hopefully the start of great things to come" and said he presented a game ball to team ownership -- and wanted to give one to every player.
"He's well-respected. It felt like when he talks, guys' ears are pinned up; they listen to everything that's coming out of his mouth," Peterson said about Frazier. "It's just a feeling that I really can't explain, a feeling of just being sure about the words that are coming out of his mouth and trusting them."
It was a rare enjoyable afternoon for Favre amidst a season filled with angst, injuries and interceptions. Aside from his NFL-worst 17 picks and all the losses, Favre is awaiting a ruling from the NFL about inappropriate messages he allegedly sent a woman working for the New York Jets when he played for that team.
Against the Redskins (5-6), Favre went 3 for 3 on Minnesota's opening possession, which ended with Peterson's 5-yard touchdown run. Favre then was 5 for 5 on the first drive of the second half, capped by a 5-yard TD from rookie Toby Gerhart, who took over after Peterson left.
Favre finished 15 for 23 for 172 yards -- and for only the second game this season, he did not throw an interception. Gerhart, a second-round pick in April's draft, carried 22 times for a career-high 76 yards and a score; his NFL total was 86 yards rushing coming into this game.
"Is Toby an explosive player like Adrian? I don't think anyone is," Favre said. "But he's pretty darn good."
The Redskins, meanwhile, ran for only 29 yards. Clinton Portis went on season-ending injured reserve during the week, and his top replacement, Ryan Torain, was inactive with a hurt hamstring, leaving running duties to Keiland Williams and James Davis.
After a successful start -- Donovan McNabb was 8 for 8 on an 83-yard drive that ended with his 10-yard TD toss to Fred Davis -- Washington's next seven possessions went like this: punt, punt, punt, end of half, punt, punt, interception.
McNabb finished 21 for 35 for 211 yards, with his career-worst-tying 13th interception of the season. It came on a throw that bounced off receiver Santana Moss and was corralled by linebacker E.J. Henderson, giving Minnesota the ball at Washington's 9. That set up Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal, putting the Vikings ahead 17-7.
"It hit me in the face," Moss said.
Earlier, Frazier pulled Henderson aside for a talking-to. Otherwise, Frazier generally was stoic, standing with his arms folded across the chest of his bright purple Vikings jacket with yellow piping.
His defense totaled four sacks of McNabb, who said: "A lot of times we were expecting blitzes, they didn't come."
A 65-yard kickoff return by Brandon Banks put Washington at Minnesota's 28, and Graham Gano's 40-yard field goal made it 17-10. Gano's 42-yard kick on Washington's next drive got it within 17-13. But Banks later had an apparent 77-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out because of a blocking penalty on Perry Riley.
"It's disappointing when that happens, especially when you don't think it had anything to do with the play," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "But a block in the back is a block in the back."
Milestone TrackerVikings QB Brett Favre reached another personal milestone Sunday. Find out what it was, and keep up with the rest of the players around the NFL who are on the verge of breaking records and reaching milestones. More.
Late in the first quarter, Peterson topped 1,000 yards for the season, something he's done in each of his four years in the NFL. But about five minutes into the second quarter, he was helped off, hobbling, with his helmet in hand, after getting crunched by tacklers on a 1-yard gain.
Peterson never returned. Instead it was Favre who gained the important yards at the end.
Notes: Vikings DL Ray Edwards left in the first half with a left leg injury. ... Redskins CB Carlos Rogers injured his left hamstring in the second half.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
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
CHICAGO -- DeAngelo Hall tied an NFL single-game record with four interceptions, running one back 92 yards for a touchdown, in the Washington Redskins' 17-14 victory over the Bears on Sunday.
The Redskins sacked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler four times while forcing five turnovers.
Hall tied a record held by 18 others and became the first player to pick off four passes since Deltha O'Neal with the Denver Broncos in 2001. Hall's one-handed interception and TD return late in the third quarter were made for the highlight reel and put Washington ahead for good, sending Chicago (4-3) to its third loss in four games.
The Redskins (4-3), meanwhile, equaled their win total from last season and joined a growing line of teams that has pounded Cutler. He has been sacked 19 times in his last three games, and when he wasn't on his back, he seemed to be playing catch with Hall.
Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley appears set to play in Sunday's game at Chicago after recovering from a mild concussion and attending practice.
"He didn't have any signs of anything that was wrong, so ready to go," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday, according to The Washington Post. "Unless there's something that happens tomorrow, but today, (I) talked to him after practice, he felt good. Hopefully, there's no setbacks there."
Cooley was injured during the second quarter of Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but he continued to play into the second half, believing only that the hit was a "little bit of a bell-ringer" but not forceful enough to knock him out, he said Monday during his regular weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan.
"If I had known it was a concussion, I wouldn't have played," Cooley said Thursday. "Sometimes you take a hit and it rings your bell a little bit and you can bounce right back. I came back for the second half and passed all the tests, and it got a little bit worse in the third quarter, so I called it."
Cooley practiced in a helmet and pads after going two days without showing any post-concussion symptoms.
"It was a pretty mild concussion," Cooley said. "I'm not surprised about it. I think this is what I was planning on."
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Cooley has 28 catches for 340 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Linebacker Rocky McIntosh, who missed Sunday's game with a concussion, practiced for the second consecutive day and also appears ready to play against the Bears.
Defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, who missed two games following his half brother's death in an Oct. 7 motorcycle accident, also is expected to play Sunday.
"Yeah, he'll be active," Shanahan said of Haynesworth. "He had a good workout Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, good conditioning. Worked extra. Then obviously he's had a good couple days here. I believe he'll be in good shape."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
LANDOVER, Md. -- For the fourth time in five weeks, the nerves mounted along the Washington Redskins sideline as the game once again came down the final snap. They're finding all sorts of ways to win -- except, that is, by taking a knee.
This time the shouts of exultation had to wait until Graham Gano's 33-yard field goal sailed through the uprights 6:54 into overtime. It gave the Redskins a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers and an unexpected 3-2 record for a team that won only four games last season.
It's almost too much to take.
"You wish you could do something different, man," receiver Santana Moss said, shaking his head. "But I'll take 'em. As long as they're Ws out there, I'll take 'em."
Washington has had two games go to overtime and two that ended on passes thrown into the end zone by the opposing team at the end of regulation. This one came after the Redskins were thoroughly dominated for much of the afternoon, the defense allowing 427 yards and the offense allowing Donovan McNabb to get sacked five times. They also overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
But the Redskins have come out on top more often than not, a switch universally attributed in the locker room to new coach Mike Shanahan.
"These are the games," fullback Mike Sellers said, "we didn't win in the past."
And these are the games the Packers (3-2) aren't supposed to lose, not if they're going to keep their Super Bowl aspirations intact. They were coming off a two-point win over Detroit that had no one in the locker room celebrating, and that followed a three-point loss to Chicago in which they had a team-record 18 penalties.
Already banged up coming into the game, Green Bay also had Donald Lee (shoulder), Jermichael Finley (knee), Ryan Pickett (ankle), Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Derrick Martin (knee) leave with injuries. After the game, the Packers revealed Rodgers suffered a concussion.
"It's just one of those seasons, and we've still got to focus in, and we've got to keep clicking. I still think we can be the team that we want to be. It's the 'Year of the Takeover' still," said Finley, using the nickname he has given this season. "It ain't changed just 'cause of one loss."
The Packers moved the ball well early, but couldn't convert their yards into points, leaving them with a tenuous 13-3 lead entering the fourth quarter. A 48-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to a leaping Anthony Armstrong got Washington within three, and Gano tied the game with a 45-yard field goal with 1:07 remaining.
The Packers had time to drive for a winning score in regulation, but Mason Crosby hit the left upright from 53 yards with 1 second left.
In overtime, Rodgers' downfield pass was picked off by a diving and rolling LaRon Landry at the Packers 39-yard line. Two short passes, a holding call on linebacker Brady Poppinga and a pass interference penalty on Charles Woodson moved the ball to the 22, helping Gano get in easy range.
How much did the tide turn? The Redskins punted on seven of their first eight possessions, while the Packers' last seven possessions ended with four punts, two missed field goals and an interception. Green Bay was also hurt by nine penalties for 63 yards.
"We just keep hearing the whispers: 'We can't beat this team.' 'We can't beat that team.' 'We're not playing great.' 'We're not doing this,'" Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "We're just going out there, taking care of business."
McNabb finished 26 for 49 for 357 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Moss caught seven passes for 118 yards. Ryan Torain ran for 40 yards on 16 carries starting for Clinton Portis (out with a groin injury). Landry had a hand in two turnovers, forcing a fumble on Green Bay's first drive before his interception on the Packers' last drive.
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Rodgers completed 27 of 46 passes for 293 yards, surpassing 10,000 yards for his career, and a 5-yard pass to Donald Lee in the first quarter accounted for Green Bay's only touchdown. Brandon Jackson ran for a career-high 115 yards on 10 carries, including a 71-yard first-quarter run that set up the touchdown.
The Packers had one first-half drive end when Lee was stripped from behind after making a catch. Another made it to Washington's 1-yard line early in the second quarter, but three attempts couldn't move the ball that final yard. Rodgers' pass to rookie tight end Andrew Quarless was broken up in the end zone on fourth down.
"I think we all know yards don't mean anything," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's about points."
Notes: Redskins DL Albert Haynesworth was not with the team. He was in Nashville mourning the death of his half brother, who died in a motorcycle accident on Thursday. ... Washington hadn't beaten Green Bay at home since a 38-21 victory at RFK Stadium in 1979.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
Clinton Portis will be out at least one month with a groin injury, putting the two-time Pro Bowl running back's future in doubt once again.
His injury leaves the Washington Redskins with a very inexperienced backfield, too.
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday that Portis has a third degree separation of the left groin, with the muscle separated off the bone. Portis will not require surgery, and Shanahan estimated a recovery time of four to six weeks.
"That's disappointing," Shanahan said, "that working so hard, playing so well, that he's got that setback."
Portis said Sunday that he felt a "pop" in his groin before leaving a 17-12 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, when he already was starting to share more of the rushing load with Ryan Torain. Now the only two healthy tailbacks on the Redskins' roster are Torain and Chad Simpson, who have combined for 70 carries in their NFL careers entering this weekend's game against the Green Bay Packers.
"When you lose some players during the season, other guys have to step up," Shanahan said. "Ryan has got a little playing time, and we'll see what he can do."
Portis has run for just 195 yards on 49 carries this season.
Portis is 109 yards shy of 10,000 for his career and 680 away from breaking John Riggins' franchise rushing record. Both milestones seemed inevitable a year ago, but Portis missed the last eight games of last season after a suffering a severe concussion during a helmet-to-helmet hit.
The Redskins signed two rookie running backs Wednesday to provide depth: Keiland Williams, whom the team released Saturday to make room for wide receiver Brandon Banks, and Javarris James, released Tuesday from the New England Patriots' practice squad. James is the cousin of former NFL running back Edgerrin James.
Simpson, a third-year pro, signed with the Redskins on Sept. 22.
The Redskins brought in veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to challenge Portis this season, but both were cut after he held them off for the starting job. Portis said he renewed his focus and dedication, something necessary for a well-worn 29-year-old back who would be expected to be in his declining years. But he's also in the final year of his contract and wouldn't appear to fit into the future of a team being remolded by Shanahan.
Shanahan now will do what he so often did when he was coach of the Denver Broncos: turn to a new face in the backfield to replace an established name. Backs were almost interchangeable for Shanahan's teams in Denver, from Terrell Davis to Reuben Droughns to Tatum Bell to Mike Anderson to Portis, because of a perennially solid offensive line.
Torain was drafted by Shanahan's Broncos in the fifth round in 2008, but the running back broke his left elbow in training camp, and he played in just two games before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Torain had another knee injury in training camp in 2009 and was released, saddled with the injury-prone label.
"Definitely got labeled that," Torain said. "I definitely felt like I had to get that bug off my shoulder and stay healthy. ... Luck wasn't on my side my rookie year."
Torain didn't make the Redskins' roster at the start of this season and was placed on the practice squad. He was promoted two weeks ago and has rushed for 116 yards on 25 carries in two games, including a 12-yard touchdown against the Eagles in which he bowled over safety Quintin Mikell on the way to the end zone. The play has become a league highlight this week.
"I watch it anytime I get an opportunity," Torain said.
Torain will start against the Packers, and Shanahan said the Redskins almost certainly will add a third running back to their roster before Sunday.
"Ryan has the ability to be a top back," Shanahan said, "and we'll find out in time if he can do that and stay healthy."
Notes: The Redskins are changing punters. Josh Bidwell is still bothered by a hip injury, so Hunter Smith will be signed Thursday. Smith punted in 13 games for Washington last season. ... Rookie LT Trent Williams is confident he can return after missing two games with knee and toe injuries. He was limited in practice Wednesday. ... The Redskins signed released LB Mike Balogun from the practice squad.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb made enough plays to help the Washington Redskins beat the Eagles 17-12 Sunday in the quarterback's return to Philadelphia.
McNabb was traded to the Redskins in April after 11 seasons with the Eagles, a team he took to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. He was greeted by a standing ovation from the fans when introduced before the game, then threw for one touchdown in lifting Washington (2-2) into a tie with Philadelphia atop the NFC East.
Kevin Kolb, originally scheduled to be McNabb's successor, played most of the game after Michael Vick hurt his ribs and chest. Vick took Kolb's job after Kolb sustained a concussion in the season opener.
Chris Cooley caught a 31-yard TD pass from McNabb, and Ryan Torain had a 12-yard TD run. Brent Celek had a 5-yard TD reception for Philadelphia with 4:10 remaining.
"As if suffering their fifth defeat in seven games wasn't painful enough, the Washington Redskins lost the most reliable component of an unreliable offense in Monday night's 27-17 loss to Philadelphia. Tight end Chris Cooley, a two-time Pro Bowler, broke a bone in his right ankle. Sources said he is likely to miss the remainder of the season.
"When it rains, it pours," center Casey Rabach said. "We lost a really good football player tonight, probably one of the best on our offense."
With a new play-caller running the show against the Eagles, Cooley figured to play a major role in the Redskins' offensive production Monday night. In fact, the team's first two offensive plays targeted Cooley -- first an 18-yard reception from quarterback Jason Campbell, followed immediately by a three-yard reception.
But with the offense still searching for its rhythm, Cooley was hurt on the Redskins' first play of the second quarter, a play in which Campbell was stripped of the ball and the Redskins lost possession. "
