Albert Impressed By Work Ethic
November 19th, 2011
Some classic radio last night with Albert Haynesworth sitting down for an hour on the Buccaneers Radio Network to take calls from fans and get peppered with questions from host T.J. Rives.
Haynesworth really opened up and flashed a good sense of humor.
Some highlights:
On Raheem Morris: He’s closer to my age, which is very cool. You can talk to him, not just about football. … He said, ‘I chickened out’ [by not signing with Tampa Bay in 2009.]
On his young teammates: High motivated guys. … I’ve never seen young guys work the way our guys do. … I don’t need to set a tone. … First day I got here after practice, we as a defensive line went out to lunch to Lee Roy Selmon’s. … That’s never happened to me before. … Being on a young team with this much camaraderie. Wow.
On Frank Okam’s dining at Selmon’s: He ate a lot.
On who bought lunch: I picked up the check. A thank you to my guys, to be there. … I actually went back to the waitress [to get the check] before anybody could. An old vet move.
On Aaron Rodgers: I have to put 345 pounds on him a couple of times. … If you kill the head, the body will die.
On his boating obsession: Haynesworth said he has houses on the water in Tennessee and Miami and loves all kinds of powerboats. “I swear [that’s why I didn’t sign with the Bucs in ’09]. I told my agent. ‘No, I can’t go to Tampa. I need to go somewhere ugly, like the Redskins.'”
Haynesworth also discussed why he believes he was wronged in Washington to the point that the Redskins nearly took away his love of football. He said he has the utmost admiration for Bill Belichick and really gave 100 percent in New England.
Haynesworth also explained how important it is to him “to be appreciated,” which was a little bit weird — and telling — to Joe, but Joe’s not going to play amateur shrink today.
For Joe, Haynesworth really comes off as a happy, lovable guy that believes he was a fish out of water in his last two defenses and has found new life in Tampa.
Joe’s on board. Why not? Go break Aaron Rodgers in half, Albert.
November 19th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Man, did anyone see this coming? I’m surprisingly impressed by big Al, and pleasantly so. If he strings together even two good to decent seasons here on the cheap, Dominik gets his rockstar status back
November 19th, 2011 at 11:07 am
I’ve listened to Haynesworth interviews before – this is an intelligent, literate guy who found himself in difficult situations and didn’t handle them well. Albert is no malcontent, he was simply malcontented. There’s a difference! I wish the guy well and hope he works out.
November 19th, 2011 at 11:26 am
I’d be looking for an appreciative team too if I was dealt the BS the Redskins gave that man. Guy was trampled by the fans, media, and team the entire time he was there. Hope he is happy and productive in Tampa.
November 19th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Okam/Rodgers/Haynesworth sandwich here we come.
November 19th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Nice piece of fools gold.
November 19th, 2011 at 11:56 am
“I have to put 345 pounds on him a couple of times. … If you kill the head, the body will die.”
Love it.
November 19th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
“Okam/Rodgers/Haynesworth sandwich here we come.”
Ouch! 700lbs of gut landing straight on Rodgers’ brittle bones. I am glad I’m not a QB!
November 19th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Sounds to me like a bright man who has found a home. This might just work out!
November 19th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Well count me as one of the people that hated on Albert by his conceived behavior; however, in retrospect, he did not shot anybody, he did not do drugs…..he was a slug.
I like a good comeback story as much as the next person, hears hoping that he has indeed finally found a place where he can be the player that he once was.
November 19th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Man i love this kind of a QB killa attitude it reminds me the Sapp times. Just hope this sunday everything goes well for our D and big Al.
November 19th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
It’d be funny if Haynesworth of all people was just the veteran presence that we needed to get this team going.
Is that the Total Access show? Is there a link for that?
November 19th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
He really does love boating, this isnt just something he made up as a simple excuse for not signing with Tampa a couple years ago. I’m not saying it’s a good one, but I saw him at a speed boat competition in Jacksonville during the off-season. Albert likes big fast boats and small agile white girls.