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ASHBURN, Va. – Early Friday morning, the cones were lined up 25 yards apart on the field for Albert Haynesworth's conditioning test. He needed to complete the first part in 70 seconds or less to have a chance to pass.

He clocked 71.

Another failed effort. Once again, the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle was not allowed to participate in practice at Washington Redskins training camp.

And so the Haynesworth saga drags on. By now, some coaches or organizations would have worked out some sort of a behind-the-scenes compromise in the name of team harmony and good publicity, especially with one measly second hanging in the balance. Not Mike Shanahan. The rules are the rules are the rules for the Redskins new coach, no matter who the player is.

"Either you play by the rules, you're gone or you'll get fined, one of the two," fullback Mike Sellers said. "He's a no-nonsense guy. A lot of the vets around here who are pretty much old-school guys appreciate it."

Perhaps Haynesworth didn't see it coming, especially after spending last season under laid-back, player-friendly coach Jim Zorn. Or perhaps he thought by now he'd be playing for another team. Or perhaps he'd heard stories about the "star treatment" given to Redskins players such as Michael Westbrook, Bruce Smith and Clinton Portis over the years.

Either way, Haynesworth has learned the hard way that going toe-to-toe with Shanahan is not a good idea: Shanahan is going to win.

"He wants to come in and put a lot of discipline in this thing," defensive end Phillip Daniels said. "Discipline is the key."

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Originally posted by Harpy Bane:
25 yards in 71 seconds? What is he, a snail? Or just hugely obese?
I'm no gridiron football expert, but it seems to me one of the key duties for a defensive tackle is to tackle the ball carrier. How can he do that if he can barely move?

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I didn't click on his link because his news links are so worthless...

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ASHBURN, Va. – After passing the Washington Redskins' conditioning test, Albert Haynesworth was in no shape to practice.

Haynesworth finally conquered the 300-yard shuttle runs Saturday morning and was allowed to put on the pads for the first time at training camp, ending a will-he-or-won't-he spectacle that lasted a week and a half, made him the butt of jokes nationwide and overshadowed everything else at Redskins Park.

Coach Mike Shanahan had said Haynesworth could not practice until passing the test, and the showdown was seen as a statement of a new coach's uncompromising authority that wouldn't bend even for a two-time All-Pro with a $100 million contract.

"He probably doesn't like me very much right now," Shanahan said, "but I'm not here to be liked. I'm here to get him to play, and hopefully he'll play at a very high level."

Merely passing the test took enough of a toll to keep Haynesworth from getting through a full practice. After doing some defense drills — blocking sleds, recovering fumbles, etc. — he had a huge wrap put on his persistently sore left knee midway through the session and became a spectator again during the offense-vs.-defense team drills.

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WASHINGTON – Albert Haynesworth vs. Mike Shanahan. This one's going into overtime.

The conflict between two strong wills — the unyielding coach and the player with the $100 million contract — escalated this weekend when Haynesworth expressed defiant frustration at being repeatedly singled out by the coach. Shanahan responded by saying things aren't going to change.

Haynesworth fired first, breaking a week of silence after Saturday night's 23-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The two-time All-Pro defensive lineman essentially accused Shanahan of mischaracterizing the reason Haynesworth couldn't practice last week. Haynesworth suggested Shanahan did it to make the Redskins organization "look good" and to make him "look bad" because he didn't participate in the offseason conditioning program.

Shanahan last week gave a variety of reasons why Haynesworth didn't practice for 2 1/2 days, eventually chalking it up to "more of a headache than anything else." Haynesworth said Shanahan "left out a whole lot of stuff" but didn't say what. Multiple reports said Sunday that Haynesworth was suffering from rhabdomyolysis, a muscular condition whose symptoms included weakened, stiff or aching muscles.

The Redskins had previously said Shanahan would not discuss the matter until Monday. He was not made available to local reporters Sunday, but he talked about Haynesworth in an interview with AOL Fanhouse.

Asked about the reports that Haynesworth has rhabdomyolysis, Shanahan said: "Not aware of that."

Shanahan went on to reiterate a point he has made before: Haynesworth has to practice if he wants to play.

"Albert has gotten away in the past with playing without practicing," Shanahan said. "That will not happen under this regime. If he's going to play, he's going to practice, and that is the same with every player here. The days of him playing without practicing are over."