Greg Bedard thinks the Pats may hide Haynesworth all preseason

[Ring 6]

Haynesworth knows how to play, and I am certain the Patriots know what he can do.

I'd rather see him rested up and well-studied in the playbook for the start of the regular season.

I have no problems at all with this approach.

I would rather have him in football shape than live through some kind of conspiracy theory that getting him ready to play would give away some kind of secret.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Reiss said this a week ago, I guess Bedard reads Reiss.

 

[Professor Frink]

Just a hunch, but I think if the Patriots wanted him out there, he could play tomorrow. I think this is part of their strategy to get him through a 16 game season.

I'm gonna predict he comes back to camp sometime after the 3rd preseason game, doesn't play in the 4th, and is ready to go week 1. This keeps him out of the more grueling part of camp, and gives him two weeks to get into "football shape."

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I guess the truth is that none of us know, so we're all taking our best guess.

My best guess is that this is a guy who (a) hasn't played football "for keeps" for over two years and (b) is coming from an organization that held him up to public ridicule over his inability to pass a conditioning test.

The Pats say he passed their conditioning test, so I'll take them at their word for that. But, it's not out of the question that the strength and conditioning coaches feel he needs some work in the weight room and behind closed doors before he's ready and they are going out of their way not to resurrect last year's humiliation.

The guy clearly has the raw talent of Randy Moss at his position. When he's in NFL shape, getting a guy of his talent the practice reps he needs to be "game ready" and in synch with the rest of the D is a matter of days, not weeks.

If that all brings with it the added benefit of "springing" an All Pro player on your opponents at the beginning of the season or even a couple of weeks into the season, well that's a nice added benefit.

 

[jczxohn1]

IMO, I'm good with Albert not playing til November. When BB really needs him is the playoffs. What's he going to do, put him in to practice with a " OK, Albert go play with the other guys but don't hurt anyone?" Besides, the only way to defend against an Albert Haynesworth is to play dirty and go for his knees, like Mawae did to Ted Washington and Seymour. Its only a matter of time once he hits the field.

Talking heads like Felger complain daily that he's not practicing. One suspects he's just fishing for material.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I think this speculation is at least as plausible as the garbage speculation from yesterday. We've actually seen BB somewhat hide an extraordinarily talented (but somewhat misguided) vet free agent for an entire preseason only to unleash him on the rest of the NFL week 1.

It's exactly what he did with Moss, who when he got here was in a similar place in his career. That led to the same crap speculation back then too (remember the "Moss on the bubble" stuff).

We've never seen BB use draft picks to secure talented vets, get them to restructure club friendly contracts, only to cut them to make them an example for rest of the team.

So, while it's unpredictable exactly what BB will do, If I were a betting man, I'd go with the odds on this one.

I can think of a TE from the Bucs(Alex Smith) and a WR from Philly(Greg Lewis) in the past couple of years that we traded picks for who never made the team. I'm sure there are others.

 

[Jared]

I can think of a TE from the Bucs(Alex Smith) and a WR from Philly(Greg Lewis) in the past couple of years that we traded picks for who never made the team. I'm sure there are others.

Except both Smith and Lewis were cut because of inability to produce, not just to "set an example."

 

[Betterthanmost]

Someone found him on Atlantic Ave!

He looks out of shape for a DL

 

[sportsreport360]

Well, this goes to show the world just how frustrated BB was with losing to the Jets last season in the playoffs. Pats fans have to love it. He knows the one thing Haynesworth wants to do to cap off his career is win a championship and he is trusting that on game day Haynesworth will wreak havoc. BB knows every team regardless of whether you like Haynesworth as a player or not has to account for him in their gameplan. Haynesworth should have a very big impact on the Patriots' defense this season.

 

[Bella*chick]

He definitely doesn't look out of shape to me. I don't have a problem with "hiding" him in the preseason, worked out great with Moss.

 

[mgteich]

I wouldn't have a problem with hiding more of our starters for all the preseason, including Brady.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

I hope Haynesworth....gets back fast .....he needs to fill out the ....DL
Patriot "Hood"-lums

:rocker: