[SFREDSKIN]

Albert Haynesworth disputes 'hung over' report on the radio
By Jason Reid

In a lengthy radio interview, Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth expanded on comments he made earlier Monday night to Redskins Insider, further expressing anger about a Comcast SportsNet report that he was recently "hung over" during practice.

Speaking with 106.7 The Fan's The Kevin & Rock Show, Haynesworth lashed out at "cowards" who have made up lies about him. On television and on its Web site, Comcast reported that Haynesworth was out late Thursday night and appeared "hung over" Friday.

"For these people to make up lies to try to make me look bad is ridiculous," Haynesworth said. "I think they are cowards, and if they have something to say, they should come to my face, not run to the media and try to blast me behind my back."

Since the offseason, Haynesworth and Coach Mike Shanahan have been at odds over Shanahan's handling of the two-time all-pro player. Asked whether someone has it out for him, Haynesworth acknowledged he believes he has detractors within the Redskins' organization.

"There are some kind of haters or something like that in the organization, that they don't like me," he said. "I don't know if it's players or coaches. I don't know who it is. Obviously, there's somebody who doesn't like me, which is fine. But when you go out there and start making up lies, I've got something to say."

Despite being physically sound, Haynesworth, for the fourth time this season, was listed as inactive during Sunday's 31-7 loss to the New York Giants. Shanahan said Haynesworth "was sick" last week and declared inactive because he did not practice well Thursday and sat out Friday.

Although teammates have been critical of Haynesworth for his latest problem with Shanahan, no one has approached him about the situation, he said.

"No. Nobody's said that," Haynesworth said. "Be a man. If you've got something to say to me, then you come and say it to me in my face. Don't go running behind and say things behind my back. We're not little girls or something like that.

"I'm a man. If I have something to say about you, I'll say it to your face. I don't have a problem with that. It should be the same way. Not running behind someone's back and go talking about them and start all the rumors and lies, just because they want to make themselves look good or whatever."

Haynesworth has a salary of $3.6 million. At the completion of this season, Haynesworth will have been paid $35.6 million for two seasons with the team. His $5.4 million salary in 2011 is not guaranteed.

The nine-year veteran said he is committed to the Redskins.

"I wanted to play [against the Giants]," he said. "I come in [to the locker room], my stuff is packed up and they tell me I'm deactivated. ... I'm here to play. Everybody's saying I'm not committed. I'm committed. I'm out here to play.

"I've never had an issue with playing. I always play hard. I play hurt. I'd blow out something before I'd quit playing. I'm still the same player I was when I left Tennessee. And if they could put me on the field and let me prove that I would. Getting fourteen snaps a game is not helping anything."