No, this is some preconceived elitist notion some of you Pats fans conjured up because you think it has some sort of entitlement to the Patriot nameplate. All teams strive for their players to be in shape, "patriot shape" is no different than any other team, and your team's record has no correlation. The success of the Patriots relative to the rest of the league has nothing to do with the condition of their players relative to the rest of the league.
Or are you suggesting that the Patriots obviously aren't conditioned like say for example the Jets, who had their way with them when it counted in the playoffs, or the Packers since they won the Superbowl, are those players in "Jets" or "Packers" shape? C'mon...
All teams do this, the Pats are no different, not sure why some Pats fans think Belichick and/or the Patriots invented the wheel on what goes on in the league. I agree, I'm sure Belichick knows his condition, and is probably taking the right approach with the hope Haynesworth responds, but as we all know, he was an abject failure in Washington, and his character will always come into question until he proves it on the field, the Pats and Belichick are no different, and Belichick is taking a chance here, he gave up on a high character and quality player in Ty Warren, who did all the "right" things, or using your terms, the "Patriot way," Belichick risks alienating the players on the team if they sense they are giving unfair treatment or considerations to a player with a questionable past, or very questionable work ethic.
His problems with Shanahan from Day 1? What were they? Don't the Pats play a version of the 3-4, he didn't win much by going to the Pats. Maybe he did have a problem with Shanahan, that didn't give him the right to alienate his teammates, he had a locker room to answer to, he was the highest paid player on the team, and he gave up on them, forget Shanahan, what does that say about the rest of the team. He also didn't only have problems in Washington, their was a reason the Titans let him go. There is a reason why this player was available for such low compensation. I don't disagree about the low risk move and potential for reward, but a leopard of Haynesworth's stature, who isn't exactly young, as they say, "it's tough to teach an old dog new tricks," that may apply here.
Not sure why you felt the need to add the barb and spin of 43 years, and considering the current success of the team under Ryan, who has made the "genius" look quite ordinary. I know it makes Pats fans feel better about themselves with the spin about the Jets playoff success, the last couple of years, but two trips to the AFC Championship game is pretty impressive. Maybe Haynesworth should strive for "Jets shape?"