Redskins Suspend Haynesworth Rest of Year

The Redskins have suspended Albert Haynesworth without pay for the team’s next four games -- i.e. the rest of the regular season -- for conduct detrimental to the team.

The team said Haynesworth was notified of the decision Tuesday morning by General Manager Bruce Allen at Redskins Park.

Redskins’ head coach Mike Shanahan issued the following statement:

“Despite the club’s numerous attempts to persuade Albert Haynesworth to abide by the terms of his contract, he has repeatedly refused to cooperate with our coaching staff in a variety of ways over an extended period of time. Among other things, he has consistently indicated to our defensive coaches that he refuses to play in our base defense or on first-down or second-down nickel situations. He has also refused to follow the instructions of our coaches both during weekly practices and during actual games as well.

“Yesterday, when Albert was at Redskins Park, he told our General Manager Bruce Allen that he [Haynesworth] would no longer speak with me. Although suspending any player is not a decision that a head coach enters into lightly, I believe the situation has reached the point where the club clearly has no alternative.”

"The accusations made by coach Shanahan and Bruce Allen are vague and without merit," said Chad Speck, Haynesworth's agent. "Since training camp began today's notice was the first that Albert received informing him that his conduct was not consistent with the 'terms of his contract' as coach Shanahan claims."

Haynesworth's final act in nearly two seasons of drama came Monday after rumors swirled about why he was listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Haynesworth went on local radio talk show "The Kevin and Rock Show" on 106.7 The Fan and denied media reports using unnamed sources that said he appeared to be hung over the Friday morning before the game. 

"I believe there's some kind of haters in the organization, that they don't like me," Haynesworth told The Fan. "I don't know if it's players, I don't know if it's coaches, I don't know who it is. Obviously somebody who doesn't like me, which is fine. But when you go out there and start making up lies, then, yeah, I've got something to say."

He went on during his 26-minute interview to talk about the entire soap opera between him and the team.

"It's too much stuff going on right now, too much stuff that doesn't have anything to do with football going on. It's just ridiculous. Let's just concentrate on playing football, because this is what we're paid to do, and win games. I hope it's what everyone else wants, but it's just all the other kid games that's going on that's making me sick. I'm sick about it."

He also said that if the team would just let him loose, he would start making plays like he did in Tennessee.

Haynesworth summed it up like so:

"I'm not going into the office tomorrow. I'm still heated over this. I just got sick of it."

The Redskins made sure on Tuesday that he won't have to return to this office again this season, but expect an appeal regarding his paychecks. Haynesworth stands to lose about $847,000.

"Bruce confirmed to me today that there have been no other letters or formal notices of any kind sent to Albert during the regular season suggesting that he was engaging in conduct detrimental to the team," Speck said.

NFL players' union spokesman George Atallah tweeted, "All I can say at this time is that the NFLPA is reviewing the details."

So to sum up Haynesworth’s two seasons in Washington:

  • Signed a seven-year, $100 million contract, including $41 million guaranteed, in February 2009.
  • Was repeatedly seen sprawled out on the field during his first season, either out of breath or in pain.
  • Skipped offseason workouts before this season.
  • Boycotted mandatory minicamp.
  • Consistently failed conditioning test to return to field during training camp.
  • Didn’t want to play in the Redskins’ 3-4 defensive scheme.
  • Butted heads with Coach Mike Shanahan.
  • Became a constant source of controversy among fans, teammates and the front office.

The team maintains the suspension has nothing to do with Haynesworth's comments on the radio last night.

Stay with NBCWashington.com for more information.

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