The AH Drama is over: How do you think it was handled?

[stevenaa]

There were many varying opinions on how it was being handled. Now that it's over, what is your opinion of how Shanahan handled it.



I think he handled it just right. I view it like being a parent. When you set an expectation with consequences for failure to follow through, you have to be consistent and demand the result. Anything less and you lose a bit of control and credibility. That assumes, of course, that the expectation and consequece are reasonble. It would appear that the expectation was reasonable, seeing that he was able to pass it. I suppose the only real point of conjecture is if the consequence was reasonable? I think so.

 

[Boone]

Depends.

If the goal was to a) determine just how awful a shape AH was reporting to camp in, and b) sending him the message that he'd play by the team's rules just like everyone else if he wanted to be a significant part of the team, I support the way this was handled.

If the intent was simply to humiliate him, rub his face in the dirt, with a plan to marginalize the guy, with no plan for him to be a real key part of the team, then it was just wasted energy.

Anyone with a brain would have to believe it was the former, not the latter that was Shanahan's strategy - simply because, horrible and outrageously expensive pickup that AH was, you can't take that kind of investment and flush it down the toilet. Not if you are a responsible employer.

I will say though, at times through this debacle, it did feel as if they were simply ****ing with Fat Albert. He had it coming - bigtime. But hopefully, today marks the end of the nonsense, and he can start earning some of that ludicrous money he's been paid.

 

[servumtuum]

Mike Shanahan is smart. Football smart. An NFL head coach whose handled "problem children" on his team before smart. Tactically sound clever use of psychological maneuvering smart.

He let Al maneuver himself right where Shanahan wanted him-ready to practice and apparently more "enthused" about his role in the defensive scheme than before. He found what was the most optimal likely outcome of a difficult situation and made it happen.

You don't play Shanahan, or even try to-if you do you get played.

Well done, IMO.

 

[Burgundy Burner]

It was handled the right way and the humility that Albert learned will serve him well in future years as a member of the Redskins. He can no longer be a drama queen, a diva, or a prima donna and he learned that lesson too - albeit, the hard way. This is football and not some social gathering. Like I said in another thread, we no longer have Julie McCoy the Cruise Director as a head coach. We have bonafide football coach who has quickly established the kind of leadership that has been lacking since early 1992. No disrespect to Coach Gibbs, but we know that Part 2 was certainly diiferent than Part 1.

This saga will be forgotten in the days to come and we now have a football team that will be run like a football team. The owner is now settled in as a true owner. The business side looks solid. The front office is in capable hands with a respected General Manager who will shape the team according to the wishes of the coach and this includes players, coaches, scouts, assistants, interns, etc. We have a football coach who is a proven winner and has assembled a staff that will bring success to the organization.

If I had to hand out grades and how this situation was handled, it would be as follows:

Coach Shanahan - A+
Coach Haslett (and defensive assistants) - A+
Players - A+
Owner - A+

and...

Albert Haynesworth...
The off-season - F
Training Camp to the present - C-
Training Camp and Preseason - To be determined, but he knows what it takes - a possible B+ is certainly doable.
Regular Season and beyond - Guarded optimism, but he seems to really like the new scheme and has fully bought into it (just as other players said it would happen) - a possible A to A+.

Yes, I am willing to give Mr. Haynesworth an honest chance. Humility can be a great motivating factor and Big Al has had a significant share of it lately.

On to bigger and better things.

 

[Chris]

Shanahan handled the situation exactly the way a leader of men should. Set a performance standard and demand compliance.

 

[Boone]

Well, the other point I'd make (BB tiptoed up to it) is that Shanahan set up a perfect situation for Haslett, who can now swoop in and play good cop to Shanahan's bad to an extent. 'Okay Al - you know how valuable you are to me - lets put all of this bad stuff behind us. It's about you and me and how you're going to help us be a top five defense this year, get you back to the Pro Bowl, blah, blah, blah...'

Haynesworth is getting mind-****ed and he's got no idea it's even happening.

 

[Neophyte]

I think it started earlier than anyone even thought too. I intentionally bated Shanahan bated Al from Day 1 with the announcement that the team was switching to the 3-4 and then let the media finish the setup when everyone jumped to the conclusion that Haynesworth would have be the NT as no one else on the team could play it.

I think the plan all along was to play Al at RDE the majority of the time. It only made sense but everyone assumed otherwise and Shanahan feed that assumption. I think he did it intentionally to make an example out of Al.

Had Al complied with the off season program (which is contractually optional, let us not forget), everything is good although I think Mike would have gone looking for someone else to dog. As it was, Al played right into Shanahan's hands by freaking out over the move to NT just as everyone thought he would even though that move never made good football sense.

I can't help but wonder if the team might not be better off if Shanahan/Haslett had just told Al from day 1 that they wanted to play him at RDE, just like a 3 technique DT, and that they were looking for a honest to god, real, full time NT to start next to him?

We won't know till later in the year if this played out well not though. If Al performs great and has an awesome year then Mike is a genius. If Al doesn't, Mike blew it with how he handled him and the change in scheme. The proof will be in the results for me.

 

[Boone]

I think the fans for the most part handled it horribly. It always seems to me like no matter what is going on Skins fans can find a way to complain about it. No matter what the situation some people just want to hate, talk trash on and run them out of town. And it doesn't seem to matter who it is..nobody is safe.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

Can't agree with you on this part Mike. This isn't some routine situation where the negative nancy's are just bitching to bitch. We're talking about a guy the team spent enormous money to bring in, money that could've been spent in a thousand other ways to help win - who's done nothing but communicate that he doesn't care - almost from the day we brought him on board. The very least fans should have to expect from the guy is to show up, work hard, and do his best. He hasn't even been able to do that. Yeah. I know. He didn't have to.

But he should have.

He hasn't done what he should have, and fans have given it to him loud and clear. I can't see how you can blame them. I agree with you on the whole fan negativity thing - I always have. But sometimes, the fans just have a point.

 

[Boone]

I hear you - I don't really disagree with any of that. Hopefully, this is the last of the drama. We don't need it, it produces nothing of value, and there are 1000 things this team should be focused on that don't involve Albert Haynesworth.

I will say though, that no amount of on the field talent, is worth an ongoing distraction that rises to the level of, say, a Terrell Owens. If I thought for a moment that AH had the potential to create that kind of ongoing distraction, I would argue to release him. We made a big mistake making him a Redskin. If he isn't going to pay off on the field, at some point it doesn't matter how much you've paid the guy. I think things may calm down now, and maybe he'll just play. And as you said, a half-assed, only partially motivated effort from AH is better than a lot of guys at their determined best.

 

[fansince62]

Depends.

If the goal was to a) determine just how awful a shape AH was reporting to camp in, and b) sending him the message that he'd play by the team's rules just like everyone else if he wanted to be a significant part of the team, I support the way this was handled.

If the intent was simply to humiliate him, rub his face in the dirt, with a plan to marginalize the guy, with no plan for him to be a real key part of the team, then it was just wasted energy.

Anyone with a brain would have to believe it was the former, not the latter that was Shanahan's strategy - simply because, horrible and outrageously expensive pickup that AH was, you can't take that kind of investment and flush it down the toilet. Not if you are a responsible employer.

I will say though, at times through this debacle, it did feel as if they were simply ****ing with Fat Albert. He had it coming - bigtime. But hopefully, today marks the end of the nonsense, and he can start earning some of that ludicrous money he's been paid.

kinda captures my feelings/thoughts

 

[fansince62]

I hear you - I don't really disagree with any of that. Hopefully, this is the last of the drama. We don't need it, it produces nothing of value, and there are 1000 things this team should be focused on that don't involve Albert Haynesworth.

I will say though, that no amount of on the field talent, is worth an ongoing distraction that rises to the level of, say, a Terrell Owens. If I thought for a moment that AH had the potential to create that kind of ongoing distraction, I would argue to release him. We made a big mistake making him a Redskin. If he isn't going to pay off on the field, at some point it doesn't matter how much you've paid the guy. I think things may calm down now, and maybe he'll just play. And as you said, a half-assed, only partially motivated effort from AH is better than a lot of guys at their determined best.

does make one wonder what the team thought about the on-hand d-line talent at the time AH was signed

 

[fansince62]

Can't agree with you on this part Mike. This isn't some routine situation where the negative nancy's are just bitching to bitch. We're talking about a guy the team spent enormous money to bring in, money that could've been spent in a thousand other ways to help win - who's done nothing but communicate that he doesn't care - almost from the day we brought him on board. The very least fans should have to expect from the guy is to show up, work hard, and do his best. He hasn't even been able to do that. Yeah. I know. He didn't have to.

But he should have.

He hasn't done what he should have, and fans have given it to him loud and clear. I can't see how you can blame them. I agree with you on the whole fan negativity thing - I always have. But sometimes, the fans just have a point.

part company here. while I think fans have a right to voice frustration......I also think they have been largely ignorant of what has been going on and what the immediate people involved have been thinking since OTAs started. the reality is that AH made a play to be traded...and the Redskins tried to trade him. no takers. the die was cast at that point.....too much money on the table.

the trick now is to turn the dynamic on its head and make this a positive for everyone. Haslett certainly understands this! Shanahan appears to also.

 

[Boone]

the trick now is to turn the dynamic on its head and make this a positive for everyone. Haslett certainly understands this! Shanahan appears to also.

And that's where I think all real Redskins fans can find common ground.

 

[Neophyte]

And that's where I think all real Redskins fans can find common ground.

Good, bad or indifferent, the opener with Dallas will provide that common ground if nothing before then does. One of three things will happen:

1. Al's a rock star with plays in the backfield, maybe stacks or forced fumbles and RB's stoned at the LoS.

2. Al plays but is "invisible" with his name and number ignored by commentators except for discussions about what a distraction he was in the off season and early camp.

3. Al gets hurt or dogs it and takes himself out of the game.

Does not take the Amazing Kreskin to figure out which scenarios go with which above possible fan reactions...

 

[Lanky Livingston]

The truth of the matter is, if Tony Romo isn't wearing a burgundy and gold #92 jersey all evening on the 12th, the majority of Skins fans will be calling for Fatty's head. I just hope he does his thing and frees up the rest of the D to make plays, and makes a couple plays in the backfield himself. Hopefully he doesn't step on Gurode's head again either...

 

[fansince62]

Shanahan handled it well.

The fanbase had its head up its collective XXX.

 

[fansince62]

Good, bad or indifferent, the opener with Dallas will provide that common ground if nothing before then does. One of three things will happen:

1. Al's a rock star with plays in the backfield, maybe stacks or forced fumbles and RB's stoned at the LoS.

2. Al plays but is "invisible" with his name and number ignored by commentators except for discussions about what a distraction he was in the off season and early camp.

3. Al gets hurt or dogs it and takes himself out of the game.

Does not take the Amazing Kreskin to figure out which scenarios go with which above possible fan reactions...

one game isn't going to spell gloom and doom for 92. It's kinda obvious at this point that he will have a limitted role in the Dallas game. I'm not even sure he starts. He'll be part of the rotation.