Albert Haynesworth Missing Consecutive Practices: Mole Hill or Mountain?

Washington Redskins nose tackle Albert Haynesworth left practice early on Tuesday with reported flu-like symptoms, then, after missing practice again on Wednesday, trainers said he was dehydrated.

With most players this would be a non-story, but with Haynesworth it's front page news with everyone throwing out an opinion, and most of those opinions have been negative.

I'll admit that since he demanded a trade I've been pretty down on Haynesworth, and I feel that he deserves the doubt rather than the benefit. 

However, the way Coach Mike Shanahan treated the giant-size diva once he got to camp makes me think that he wouldn't let Haynesworth miss out on practice if he weren't actually suffering from something.

Despite what people may think about Haynesworth, the guy wants to be out on the field. He wants to be a starter, even if that just means he can impress other teams so he can be traded away.

However, unlike the last staff at Redskins Park, nothing is going to be handed to Haynesworth.  He's going to have to earn his way onto the field and skipping practice with a fake ailment isn't going to help.

Despite my personal opinions on Big Al, I'm willing to accept that he isn't 100 percent right now and will practice as soon as he can play.

After all, playing and playing well is the only way he's going to get out of Washington, if that is what he still desires.

The Skins aren't just going to unload him for nothing.  They paid way to much for him, and to just give him away for a fourth round pick would be disastrous for the franchise.

So if Haynesworth wants out of Washington he's going to have to up his trade worth and get back out on the practice field.