Washington Post writer, Rick Maese, broke the story earlier today that Haynesworth has been suffering from (brace yourself), "Rhabdomyolysis." Say what?
"Rhabdomyolysis is basically a condition in which you have extensive muscle breakdown," said Dr. Lynne P. Yao, chairman-elect of the National Kidney Foundation. "It doesn't happen as often in well-conditioned athletes, but if there's really extreme circumstances -- like extremely hot weather -- than that could happen. when you have large amounts of muscle breakdown." Experts say rhabdomyolysis is a breakdown of muscle fibers, which prompts the release of toxic myoglobin into the bloodstream.
If that's not enough, Comcast's Kelli Johnson just reported, "A Redskins team official tells me that Albert Haynesworth has not been diagnosed w/ any condition." Shanahan, who was not available to reporters, felt the need to defend the Redskins and spoke with NFL Fanhouse:
Shanahan: "One thing for sure that is clear to me is that Albert has gotten away in the past with playing without practicing. 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. And that, to me, says it all...We know what type of talent he is. We will keep looking for that.''
Redskins players have been coming to Shanahan's defense. All of this started with Haynesworth's ridiculously selfish post-game statements last night:
What happened this week, with missing practice?: "I don't know. I got told I had 'headaches,' or whatever, and that's why I couldn't go out and practice. I think it was a little bit more than that. I guess they didn't want to disclose it."
Why would they intentionally mislead people?: "I don't know. I guess to make themselves look good, make me look bad for not going to their offseason conditioning program, but I mean next year I'm not coming either. I'm going to be with my trainer again and I'll get back in the same shape I am and feel good about myself."
Read the full transcript if you haven't already...it's one for the diary.
Shanahan is scheduled to speak at tonight's Vikings/49ers game...should be interesting! It's not just Redskins fans chiming in...here are some tweets from Ocho Cinco today:
Albert Haynesworth was so funny in his interview , he did the quotation marks with his hands, when he wants to be, still the best DT! Agree?
Man i already have fun regardless of the money but if i had Haynesworth 100 million dollar deal my celebrations would be off the chart crazy.
100 million dollar celebrations would include, props, hooter girls, scooter, bicycle, toilet paper, water gun, all type of shit!