Albert Haynesworth Showing Too Little, Too Late for New England Patriots?

The New England Patriots' Albert Haynesworth has returned to practice this week ahead of the team's third preseason game with the Detroit Lions.

Haynesworth was in full pads for the first time since August 4th.

It was a huge shock to almost everyone when the Patriots acquired Albert Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins this offseason. The disgruntled defensive tackle had done little in the Redskins' 3-4 defense to suggest that he could prosper with the Patriots.

The former Tennessee Titan built his reputation as a penetrating specialist in a 4-3 defense. Bill Belichick appears to be looking to feature more 4-3 sets this year in his defense, as he made multiple moves after the Haynesworth addition to support that scheme.

However, while Mark Anderson and Andre Carter have also excelled in the past as 4-3 defensive ends, Haynesworth is the key to Belichick's proposed swaying defense.

With Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork playing together in the middle of a 4-3 line, the Patriots would have a pair that could be as good as the Williams Wall—Pat and Kevin Williams of Minnesota—in its prime.

A fully fit Haynesworth is the perfect complement to Wilfork's All-Pro ability to consume space and override blockers. With those two inside, it would be almost impossible for offensive lines to contain either defensive end coming off the edge. There would also be no easy route through with the running game, as Brandon Spikes and Jerod Mayo would likely be coming free through the line of scrimmage.

However, none of this can happen if Haynesworth isn't in shape and on the field.

Belichick doesn't allow for any passengers on his football team, and he will have no problem cutting Haynesworth if he doesn't offer him any sort of level of performances. There was talk of Belichick cutting ties with Haynesworth—as well as fellow new arrival Chad Ochocinco—but he values his draft picks too much to throw them away like that.

That doesn't mean he wouldn't cut Haynesworth if he had no value to the team. Haynesworth is definitely not guaranteed a roster spot because he has too many question marks.

He needs to prove himself in the final few weeks before the start of the NFL regular season. His motivation and determination on the field should be renewed now that he has escaped Mike Shanahan's iron-fist ruling in Washington, but he needs to be on the field to prove that.

The Patriots will be hoping that the 30-year-old will use his recent struggles as motivation to return to the player he once was in Tennessee. However, Haynesworth cannot show that and the Patriots cannot rely on him if he does not prove himself over the coming weeks.

Nothing is a given with Albert Haynesworth—just ask Dan Snyder or anyone involved with the Redskins to understand that.

Whether that statement is fair to Haynesworth or not, it is true. His reputation has been built over the past 18 months, and he partially built it himself, even if Mike Shanahan did take it to a new level.

Albert Haynesworth's performances over the next few weeks will be telling. He has very little time to convince the Patriots that he can be a star for them, but if he seizes that chance, Bill Belichick will take note.