Redskins

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Albert Haynesworth finally passed the Washington Redskins conditioning test Saturday morning, ending a daily soap opera that had overshadowed the first week-and-a-half of training camp. Haynesworth arrived early at Redskins Park and completed both 300-yard back-and-fourth shuttle runs in the required times -- and with no controversial bathroom break. Haynesworth's success came on the 10th day of camp, and it meant he would be allowed to put on pads with his teammates for the first time.

It's well known by now that Mike Shanahan typically doesn't reveal his preseason game plans ahead of time, so the answer was predictable Tuesday when the coach was asked who will start at quarterback in the Washington Redskins' second preseason game. “You know me better than that,” he said. Nevertheless, Shanahan kept on going. “Just so you know,” he added, smiling, “John Beck will start.” The choice is not a surprise - which is probably why Shanahan was willing to say it - but it does reaffirm that Beck and Rex Grossman remain on equal footing in the battle for the starting job, despite the groin injury that kept Beck out of the first game.

John Beck uttered words that seemed out of place in August. Asked when he first knew he might be in for a good night in his first major audition for the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback job, he had an interesting answer. “Really, in pregame, I felt our team came ready to play,” Beck said. “I felt like immediately I could tell from the offensive line and skill players that they were ready. And I think that when you're in warmups and you feel that, you just want to carry it over into the game.

On one hand, it seems harsh to deny John Beck the Washington Redskins starting quarterback job based on his performance in the first half of the final preseason game. Beck wasn't playing with the starting receivers or running backs, and his 21 passes represent just a sliver of his body of work in the context of the thousands of balls he's thrown in practice since the start of training camp. On the other hand, Beck had the golden opportunity he has wanted for so long. With Rex Grossman given the night off, Beck could have seized the moment and claimed the job outright with a solid performance, leaving all doubters behind.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Once again, the Minnesota Vikings collapsed under the weight of late-season pressure. How, then, will they be able to handle postseason pressure? They'll get a chance to find out. The Vikings qualified for the playoffs Sunday despite a .500 record and a second straight December swoon. With a chance to secure a berth on their own, they played an uptight 21-18 loss to the Washington Redskins and clinched their spot only because New Orleans beat Carolina.

The first week of the playoffs, or wild-card week, was very exciting. It was a tough defeat for the Washington Redskins. They went ahead of the Seattle Seahawks 14-13 in the fourth quarter, but it all came crashing down after Seattle's offense scored followed by two Seattle interceptions-for-touchdowns. The New York Giants beat Tampa Bay, 24-14. Giants quarterback Eli Manning uncharacteristically threw no interceptions. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-29.

Welcome to the hot seat, Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell. Nice of Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb to leave it warm for you. Last month, the mob was all over Reid and McNabb, ready to run the longtime coach and franchise quarterback out of town after a three-game winless stretch that put the Philadelphia Eagles into last place in the NFC East and off the charts of most playoff scenarios. An impressive three-game winning streak has the Eagles back in play, and it is now rookie coach Zorn, young quarterback Campbell and the Washington Redskins who have lost three in a row and five of six. They have moved into the cellar with virtually no hope of making the postseason and every chance of being scrutinized to the nth degree.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans are in discussions about a trade of disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The people spoke to the AP Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential. Washington signed Haynesworth to a $100 million contract in 2009 as a free agent, and the tackle accepted a $21 million bonus in April. It's been a nonstop battle of wills between Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and Haynesworth since then.

Rex Grossman's opening statement in his case to become the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback was an 89-yard drive that didn't produce a point. He made up for it, sort of, with an 82-yard drive for a touchdown against a second-string defense. Hoping to gain an early edge over an injured John Beck, Grossman completed 19 of 26 passes for 207 yards Friday night to help the Redskins beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-7 in the preseason opener for both teams. While the proceedings were ho-hum August routine for a stable Steelers team coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the ever-changing Redskins put more stock than usual in the first preseason game.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Albert Haynesworth didn't show. Teammates called him selfish. Now the Washington Redskins want their money back. The Redskins are going to see if they can recoup all or part of a $21 million bonus from the disgruntled two-time All Pro defensive tackle, an official within the league with knowledge of the deliberations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The team decided to take the action after Haynesworth failed to report for a mandatory two-day minicamp.