[As you can see, the new issue of Hail! magazine, our free digital publication dedicated to the burgundy and gold is now out. Here is a sneak peak of my feature story in this week's issue on Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, D.C.'s favorite athlete.]

As a 4-year-old, Chris Cooley used to dress up in his John Elway jersey – complete with helmet and pads – and play imaginary football games in the backyard.

Although he was young, Cooley was as passionate about the Denver Broncos as any season-ticket holder.

“I’d bawl if the Broncos lost,” Cooley admitted. “Football is something that’s meant a lot to me from a pretty young age.”

You can imagine how Cooley handled it when Elway and the 1987 Broncos won eight of their last nine games to make it to the Super Bowl – only to get blown out by the Washington Redskins 42-10 on football’s biggest stage.

But even watching the Broncos’ most heartbreaking losses only reinforced what Cooley already knew – he absolutely wanted to be a football player when he grew up.

“As a kid you always aspire to be a professional athlete,” he said. “At least I did. If it’s not sports, then there’s something else you want to be when you grow up. But, as a kid, I was very good at all sports. I excelled at everything I played and it’s what I wanted to do.”

While Cooley knew he could play, he didn’t get a chance to play with the varsity team until he was a senior in high school and Utah State was the only college to offer him a scholarship. Not exactly the kind of start most athletes dream of.

“I always loved football and I always knew I was good at football; I just wasn’t getting the opportunity to play,” Cooley said. “I ended up starting the last four or five games my junior year and we had a pro scout come out and watch our film. He grabbed me and said, ‘Hey, I put a fifth-round draft grade on you. I just thought I’d let you know because you’re probably going to start receiving some attention.’”

Although playing in the NFL was always the dream, until that point it appeared as though Cooley would have to do something else with his life after college.

“I was going to be an art teacher,” he said. “That was the plan. I think it would be fun to do, still. It’s something that I still have in mind. It’s something that means a lot to me. That’s what I was going to do with my life.”

In the days leading up to the 2004 NFL draft, Cooley had his first interaction with the Redskins. The Powell, Wyoming, native visited Redskins Park, and then went out to dinner with Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs and a host of others.

“I was intimidated,” Cooley said. “They said we were going out to dinner, so bring nice clothes. I had a $12 white button-up shirt, some Dockers and Doc Martin shoes. I’m sure I looked like a poor kid from Utah.”

His fashion sense aside, Cooley made enough of an impression on the organization that he was drafted in the third round with the 81st overall pick. And he’s been one of the organization’s most prominent players ever since.

“He came in and had some unbelievable games against Dallas early on, plus the whole Captain Chaos thing and he really took off with the fans,” Redskins safety Reed Doughty said.

Even though his numbers speak for themselves, Cooley’s lighthearted side – whether he’s wearing booty shorts during training camp or introducing himself to the opposition as a fictional super hero – is what has helped him become a fan favorite.

“I’ve always felt really fortunate that so many people here have liked me,” Cooley said. “I’m fortunate to have been given opportunities to excel from Day One. I was starting by the end of training camp as a rookie, which isn’t common. And I think I made the most of it.

“I play hard and I think people recognize that,” he continued. “They see that I play hard all the time and honestly, for the most part, unless you drop a ball, no one really knows when the tight end messes up. For the most part people think I’m doing exactly what I should be doing out there.”

While Cooley might downplay it, his teammates have no issue putting into words what the 28-year-old means to the burgundy and gold.

“All he does is make plays for us,” Redskins center Casey Rabach said. “When we need a clutch catch out of someone, it seems like Chris is always that guy. He’s definitely someone you can build a team around.”

It’s one thing to play football at a Pro Bowl level. It’s another to welcome the world into your life as Cooley has done.

To read the rest of this feature click here and subscribe to Hail! magazine.

[As you can see, the new issue of Hail! magazine, our free digital publication dedicated to the burgundy and gold is now out. Here is a sneak peak of David Elfin's feature story in this week's issue on Redskins left tackle Trent Williams as his rookie season comes to an end.]

Ten years ago, Washington’s rookie left tackle, the third overall pick in the draft, had what he called an up-and-down season during a very disappointing year for the Redskins.

This year, Washington’s rookie left tackle, the fourth overall pick, is equally dismayed with his debut during a very disappointing season for the Redskins.

The tackle from 2000, Chris Samuels, made the first of his six Pro Bowls with Washington in just his second season. So if history repeats again, then Trent Williams, who succeeded Samuels this year while being mentored by his predecessor, has plenty to look forward to in 2011.

“I’m hard on myself,” Williams said. “I always feel like I can do better. Even when everybody says I did great, I feel like I can do better. When I look at film, I see so many things I would like to do better from stepping right to finishing people [off], just everything. I know it’s my first year, but I want to dominate and I don’t feel like I’ve dominated. I’m impatient. I want to be good now.”

Those who have worked with him and against the 2009 All-American from Oklahoma are pretty impressed right now.

“Trent’s had some up and downs like all rookies have, but he’s done an excellent job,” said Samuels, who has worked as a volunteer assistant line coach this year. “The sky’s the limit for the young guy. He can be one of the best ever if he keeps working hard and stays hungry. He’s more athletic than I was.”

Right tackle Jammal Brown, like Williams a first-rounder (13th overall by New Orleans in 2005) out of Oklahoma, likes what he sees from his protégé.

“Mentally, Trent understands the game better,” said Brown, who made two Pro Bowls as a left tackle for the Saints. “When you first come in, you’re so worried about doing things right, you don’t look at the whole picture. He’s starting to see more of the whole picture. I was very athletic, but Trent’s ahead of where I was, especially how he moves lateral and how he moves backwards. Put some technique to that, he’ll be hard to reckon with. “

Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, one of the game’s elite pass rushers, beat Williams for a sack in his debut but said the rookie is no easy mark.

“He’s going to be a really good tackle,” Ware said on the eve of their rematch. “He’s very athletic. He run-blocks very well. He pass-blocks very well. He’s been improving every week. From the first time I faced him ‘til now, the little things that he had problems with, he’s corrected.”

Because Williams holds himself to such a high standard, he looks forward to a rematch with a pass-rusher who he feels might have gotten the best of him.

“Sometimes when they get to the quarterback, it can be a coverage sack or the quarterback didn’t step up in the pocket, but I blame myself if my man touches the quarterback,” Williams said. “When DeMarcus got a sack in my first game, that was my fault. He’s a tremendous player and I’m just excited to have another chance to go against him and kinda measure my progress from Week 1 to Week 15. I feel like my knowledge of the game has progressed a lot. We’re gonna see how much I’ve progressed physically.”

Of course, the 6-foot-5, 318-pound Williams has always been big, strong and athletic. He grew up in Longview, Texas in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house that at times accommodated eight people.

Williams’ best friend dating back to elementary school was a quick running back in training named Chris Ivory, now with the Saints. And when Williams reached high school — where he played with teammates Malcolm Kelly and Robert Henson — he was an offensive power in football and a defensive force in basketball.

“When I was young, I always pictured myself in the Pro Bowl, but I played basketball in high school, too,” Williams said. “I was a center. I was pretty good. I stopped growing when I reached about 6-5. I’d like to say I was an all-around player, but I think my defense kinda kept me on the court. I blocked shots, took charges, the whole nine yards.”

To read the rest of this feature click here and subscribe to Hail! magazine.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

[Yesterday I gave you a sneak peak of my feature story in this week's issue of Hail! magazine on Redskins defensive end Andre Carter and his unique friendship with Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz. In the same issue, we have a fantastic feature written by Joel Murphy on the bond between Redskins backup fullback Darrel Young and his brother David, who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. Here's a preview of that story.]

By the age of six, Washington Redskins fullback Darrel Young already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up – a professional football player.

While some kids change their mind as often as the seasons change, Young never wavered on his dream of one day playing in the NFL.

Once she knew that her son had made up his mind, Geneva Young did what any mother would do – loved and supported her baby boy. To this day Young remembers the advice his mother gave him as he practiced day in and day out in his backyard: “Run the ball like your brother is chasing you.”

And by all accounts, being picked on by his big brother did wonders for Young’s football career. In addition to inspiring him to run harder, Darrel’s older brother David gave him the toughness necessary to realize his dream.

“A big brother is always going to be a big brother, so he bullied me around a little bit but it was just to toughen me up, never to hurt me,” Darrel said. “I’m thankful that I had an older brother that was a little rough with me.”

Darrel and David, who are seven years apart in age, had a typical childhood growing up in Amityville, N.Y. David would torment him from time to time, but he was also fiercely protective of Darrel if anyone else ever tried to mess with his little brother.

To this day, David is still the person Darrel looks up to most and the go-to guy whenever the 23-year-old needs advice.

“He’s the person I go to all the time for everything, regardless if it’s school, football, family, love life, whatever it is,” Darrel said.

While David was more outgoing and a bit of a comedian growing up, Darrel has always been more quiet and reserved. Even still, the brothers still have plenty in common – especially their love of sports.

David ran track and played basketball, two sports that Darrel also tried his hand at, but it was football that Darrel truly loved and excelled at. Watching his little brother’s games, David could tell Darrel was destined for big things.

“He would always stand out over the other kids. As a younger kid, he was always playing one age above,” David remembers.

When asked by his first grade teacher what he wanted to do for a living someday, Darrel didn’t hesitate – he was going to play in the NFL.

“By the time he was nine or 10, he said to me, ‘Mom, I feel it in my heart. I’m going to play football,’” Geneva remembers.

While Darrel dreamed of a life in the NFL, David had his heart set on pursuing a career in the culinary arts. He also had an interest in joining the military, so when he turned 18 he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a cook. His decision took the whole family by surprise, but Darrel was particularly devastated.

“I think I took it the hardest just because I was going through a transition from elementary school to middle school at the same time and I was trying to find my life out just in terms of football and stuff like that,” Darrel said. “So when he left, I did get his room and all the stuff he didn’t want to take, but at the same time, I lost my best friend.”

The two remained close, of course, and David actively followed his brother’s career – through high school, college and now the pros – from wherever the military sent him. David was also there last season to offer advice and support when Darrel, who was signed to the Redskins practice squad as a linebacker, was cut after just two weeks on the team.

“When they released me, everyone said, ‘You’re doing a good job. You’ll be back. It’s nothing you did,’” said Darrel, but he wasn’t entirely convinced. “They brought in another linebacker, so I felt like there was something I wasn’t doing.”

When times are tough, it’s always good to have a big brother to offer reassurance.

“I told him, ‘You’re going to make it to the next level, don’t worry about it,’” David said.

When colleges like Georgia Tech and West Virginia told Darrel he wasn’t good enough to play for them, he used it as motivation to push him harder during his career at Villanova. Likewise, when he was released from the Redskins practice squad during his rookie year, it only added more fuel for the fire.

“I always said if I got another opportunity, I would strive for my best, never give up and just fight until I have nothing left,” Darrel said.

The Redskins brought Young back this season, but on the first day of training camp, Darrel feared history had repeated itself when he came in and couldn’t find his name on the linebacker depth chart.

To read the rest of this feature click here and subscribe to Hail! magazine.

[As you can see, the 15th issue of Hail! magazine, our free digital publication dedicated to the burgundy and gold is now out. Here is a sneak peak of my feature story in this week's issue on Redskins defensive end Andre Carter and his unique friendship with Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz.]

The D.C. sports scene is a tight-knit community, so it’s not uncommon to see star athletes such as Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin hanging out during their free time.

The same holds true for other athletes such as Capitals defenseman Mike Green and Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and Redskins return man Brandon Banks and Wizards point guard John Wall. But the award for unlikeliest D.C. duo has to go to Redskins defensive end Andre Carter and Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz.

Carter, who calls San Francisco, Calif. home, admittedly couldn’t stay upright on a pair of ice skates, and Schultz, who hails from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has never played a down of football in his life. Yet, the two have become fast friends this year. They regularly attend each other’s games, and Carter, and his wife Bethany, and Schultz, with his girlfriend MacKenzie Keeley, hang out whenever possible.

The couples do lunch once a week and enjoy going out to dinner whenever possible. Their get-togethers have even included teammates such as Redskins defensive lineman Phillip Daniels and Caps defenseman John Erskine.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Carter said. “It’s good to mix the two worlds together because, at the end of the day, we’re all normal people. We might do different sports for a living, but there’s a lot we have in common. And honestly, I’m digging the Canadians. They know how to have a good time and can definitely be hardcore drinkers.

“Okay, not so much Jeff, but John Erskine and his girl – they can throw down some drinks,” he said laughing.

And to think, this budding “bromance” likely never would have happened if not for a chance encounter during a charity event.

“We met at the March of Dimes fashion show,” said Bethany. “We were changing in the same changing room, and we were being girls. We got to talking a little bit…”

“And Jeff had mentioned to me that morning how he wanted to go to the Redskins-Cowboys game,” said MacKenzie. “He really wanted to go see that game and we didn’t even know how to get tickets or anything. I didn’t even say anything and Bethany pulls out a stack of tickets from her purse and invited us to come to the game.”

Since then, the four have been inseparable.

“Jeff reminds me a lot of myself when I was that age,” Carter said. “When I was younger, I was really quiet. Of course, I met my wife and she helped get me out of my shell. Jeff is kind of the same. He’s really low-key and humble, but he works hard. I’m anticipating down the road we’ll get him more and more to come out of his shell. That’s my goal – to get him to be a little more outgoing. He doesn’t know it yet, but that’s my mission.”

Prior to his friendship with Schultz, Carter wasn’t exactly someone rushing home to catch hockey highlights on the NHL channel.

“I didn’t know nothing about hockey,” Carter admitted. “I think I went to one Sharks game back when I was a 49er, but that was it. When the Olympics came around this most recent time, I really started to get into it. Since then, my wife started going to games, and now with Jeff, we try to go to as many games as possible.”

While it took Carter 30 or so years to truly appreciate hockey, his 3-year-old son Quincy fell in love with the sport almost instantly. In fact, he already owns multiple hockey sweaters and one of Jeff’s sticks.

“Andre’s been really good about letting us know if they have a couple extra tickets and we try to return the favor,” Schultz said. “I know their son Quincy is a really big hockey fan. When Andre asks him which sport he likes better, he says hockey.”

Schultz isn’t kidding. The Carters are pretty sure at this point that they know what Quincy wants to be when he grows up.

“My son is obsessed with hockey,” Bethany said. “You’d think being a football kid, he’d be in love with football, but he’s totally obsessed with hockey. So the moment he met Jeff and got to go to the locker room, that was it. He still talks about it at school to his friends and tells us to call Jeff. He even tries to sing the American and Canadian anthems. He’s completely hooked.”

With Carter and Schultz regularly swapping tickets to each other’s games this season, they’ve both gained a new-found appreciation of the other sport.

To read the rest of this feature click here and subscribe to Hail! magazine.

[As you can see, the 14th issue of Hail! magazine, our free digital publication dedicated to the burgundy and gold is now out. Here is a sneak peak of David Elfin's feature story in this week's issue on Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall.]

Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall is clearly magnetic because footballs and controversy just seem to find him.

When Hall isn’t getting into with an opponent – whether it be a star receiver like Carolina wide out Steve Smith or a head coach like Atlanta’s Mike Smith – Hall is speaking his mind in the locker room, demanding to cover the top opposing receiver.

One thing is clear – Hall isn’t a shy guy, on or off the field. If he’s got something to say, Hall isn’t going to hold back.

“D-Hall’s a feisty guy,” said Carlos Rogers, Washington’s other starting corner and Hall’s best friend on the team. “He speaks his mind no matter what. It’s his will to win, always wanting to be the best, always wanting to be that dominant corner.”

Since Hall came into the league seven seasons ago, only Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel has more interceptions.

“If I see the ball in the air, I feel like it’s mine,” said Hall, who has recorded six of his 32 career interceptions this season, including a record-tying four in Week 7 at Chicago. “I’ve always felt that way. I don’t know if it’s the receiver in me [he played some at Virginia Tech]. Offense gets the glory, ain’t no secret about that, but defense wins the games. I love the contact of defense. If I had a choice at this point, I wouldn’t go back and play receiver. But I think I’d be a damn good one.”

Hall, who has also returned kickoffs and punts as a pro, certainly has the hands to switch sides of the field.

Chosen eighth overall by Atlanta in the 2004 draft, Hall made the Pro Bowl in his second and third seasons and could well be headed back to Hawaii this January.

“He’s one of the better corners in the league,” said Redskins first-year defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. “I think he can get up there in double digits [in interceptions].”

Hall’s six picks this season are the most by a Redskin since 1999. The last Washington player with more than seven was Barry Wilburn in 1987 and the last to reach double digits was Hall of Fame safety Paul Krause in 1964. No one in the NFL has topped 10 since 1981.

“Leading the league in interceptions would be nice, but it’s not that important,” the 27-year-old said. “I’m so over that stuff. Pro Bowls, they’re cool, but they’re not as exciting anymore. My rookie year that’s all I wanted. Came out the next year and got it and the year after that. But I want to win fucking games. As you get older, you understand that.”

Hall is certainly not an older player, but he has been through plenty during his career. He helped the Falcons reach the NFC Championship Game his rookie year, but coach Jim Mora Jr., whom he loved, was fired after the 2006 season and replaced by Bobby Petrino with whom he clashed.

During a divisional matchup in 2007, Hall held Smith without a catch into the third quarter before drawing three penalties in succession. The rapid-fire calls enraged Hall, who had to be restrained from going after Petrino and an assistant coach when they sniped at him about the penalties.

“Had that happened in the last two years, I think I would’ve taken it from him, kept playing my game, killing Steve Smith, which is what I was doing,” Hall said. “After the game, we woulda sat down and we’d talked civilized or MF’d each other. Instead, for just a second, I lost my head. The whole situation, the way I handled it, that just showed my immaturity.”

Smith and new general manager Thomas Dimitroff took over the Falcons in 2008 and promptly traded the volatile Hall to Oakland. After just eight games, the struggling Raiders stunned the NFL by cutting Hall, who was happy to sign with the Redskins.

“This is the place I always wanted to be coming out of high school [Deep Creek in Chesapeake, Va.], coming out of college, a place I thought was gonna draft me,” Hall said. “When I left Atlanta we were trying to work something out here, but they couldn’t agree on the compensation.”

To read the rest of this feature click here and subscribe to Hail! magazine.

[As you can see, the 13th issue of Hail! magazine, our free digital publication dedicated to the burgundy and gold is now out. Here is a sneak peak of my feature story in this week's issue on Redskins tight end Fred Davis as he opens up about the scandals at USC, what went wrong with the Redskins his first two seasons in Washington and his relationship with Chris Cooley.]

Maybe it’s because he grew up in a small-town community in Toledo, Ohio, but Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis is easily one of the most level-headed and grounded professional athletes you’ll ever find.

When times are good, he’s not going to thump his chest and tell the sea of cameras how great he is. And when times are tough, he’s not the type of player to point fingers and make excuses. That’s just not who Davis is or what he’s about.

Maybe it’s because as a kid, if he and his friends found a way to get into trouble, his parents already knew about it by the time he got home.

“Everybody knew everybody,” Davis said. “So if we got together and did stupid stuff, like toilet papering someone’s car or a prank like that, word always got back. We would do harmless stuff like that. It was cool though. We had as much fun as you could in Ohio.”

It goes without saying that when parents are able to keep such close tabs on their kids, they’re far more likely to stay out of trouble. So when Davis was looking for extracurricular activities, he turned to sports.

Davis first stepped onto a football field when he was in the sixth grade and instantly fell in love. He had already tried soccer, basketball and baseball, but as soon as he started playing football, he was hooked.

“I think it was the physical contact,” he said. “You got to hit people and not get in trouble, so I enjoyed taking my aggression out on the field. And that’s part of it, but football’s not always about being physical. A lot of the times it’s about whose got the biggest heart. Especially when you’re younger and a lot of the players are at the same skill level. The difference in those games comes down to heart. I wasn’t thinking about playing in the NFL or anything. I was just having fun.”

As fate would have it, the first youth team Davis ever played on was called the Redskins. But while it was clear from an early age that Davis was a standout with a football in his hands, he still didn’t think much about playing professionally.

“I didn’t know if I’d be in the NFL, but I knew there was a good chance I could play for any school I wanted to,” Davis said. “In high school I knew I was pretty good, but it all kind of took off from there.”

In his first high school game, Davis caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt for another score. By the time his high school career was over, he’d been recruited by every big-name program in the country.

Davis settled on USC, Ohio State, Miami, Florida and Oklahoma as his top five schools before ultimately selecting Southern Cal.

“I went with USC because it was far from home,” he said. “I didn’t want to be too close to home, they always had nice weather out there and their team was pretty competitive. Even away from football, it seemed like a fun place to be. Plus, you’re living in a big city, but you’re also still in a college atmosphere, so you kind of got used to both.

“I think it really helped me going to a big-city school because you see some guys, by the time they get to the league and get a bunch of money, they don’t know how to handle it. Going to USC, I didn’t have any money, but I learned how to deal with being away from home and living in a big city. By the time I got to the NFL and had some money, I feel like I knew how to handle myself better.”

On the field, USC was dominant. The Trojans went 46-5 during Davis’ career, but that record is marred because of the two-year bowl ban, four years of probation, loss of scholarships and forfeit of the 2004 season because of the scandal involving running back Reggie Bush.

To this day, no one knows for sure exactly what went on and who else violated NCAA rules by accepting handouts or money under the table. Like everyone else, Davis has heard the rumors.

“Nothing would surprise me,” he admitted. “UCLA is in Hollywood and USC is in the hood. And really, that kind of stuff has always been going on no matter where you’re talking about. There’s always going to be people out there trying to get you to sacrifice your college career for a few bucks.

“You’ve just got to learn how to deal with it and tell yourself you’re going to be in the league soon enough,” Davis continued. “Is it really worth it? Do you really want to owe this guy something or sell yourself short? There’s always going to be people like that – especially when you’re a top player at a big school. You’re definitely going to get that kind of attention. You’ve just got to be smart about it.”

Even though he came from a small town, Davis heard enough horror stories about athletes making poor decisions away from the game to avoid those types of situations. On the field, however, Davis continued to make a name for himself, earning the John Mackey Award as college football’s most outstanding tight end in 2007.

The following year, Davis was drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Redskins.

“I was definitely surprised,” he said. “I didn’t know much about them, but they already had a good tight end in Chris Cooley. I knew they had a great history and that they had won multiple Super Bowls back in the day, but that’s about it. I didn’t even talk to them or work out for them.”

Typically, award-winning players end up on a team in need of an upgrade at that particular position. In Washington, Davis found himself behind a Pro Bowl tight end who also happened to be his team’s most popular player. Not exactly a dream scenario for a new guy hoping to make a strong first impression.

“I mean, it does get frustrating sometimes, but you’ve got to think about it and be thankful you’re in the league,” Davis said. “In the NFL, it’s all about opportunity. I get people asking me, ‘Why aren’t you performing better?’ But how do you expect me to show my best and show my abilities when I’m not getting an opportunity?

“He’s the guy getting paid the big money,” he continued. “He’s the guy who has made a name for himself as a Redskin. That’s just the way it goes. I’m not going to sit around and cry about it. I’ve just got to do what I can to be ready so when I get a chance, I make the most of it. I’m either going to do it here, or eventually I’ll end up on another team that needs me more. I’ve just got to continue to prove to everyone that I can do it.”

To read the rest of this feature click here and subscribe to Hail! magazine.

[As you can see, the 12th issue of Hail! magazine, our free digital publication dedicated to the burgundy and gold is now out. Here is a sneak peak of David Elfin's feature story in this week's issue on Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.]

When Albert Haynesworth left Tennessee, where he had played his college ball as well as his first seven seasons as a pro, for a record, seven-year, $100-million contract with Washington nearly two years ago, the Redskins’ 2010 visit to the Titans was already set.

What Haynesworth didn’t know was how difficult life as a Redskin would be, starting with a 4-12 season under a coaching staff he didn’t like followed by a new group of bosses who wanted to move him out of his comfort zone and into the nose tackle position on a 3-4 defense.

And just as the two-time All-Pro was finding a middle ground with Washington’s coaches and settling into being a backup, his half-brother was killed in a motorcycle accident.

That’s a lot to handle, even for a 29-year-old with $41 million guaranteed.

“I think it will be a little weird,” Haynesworth said about returning to Nashville, where he starred for the Titans and where his children still live with their mother. “I practiced with them for seven years. Now it’s going to be a real game playing against the guys I grew kinda grew up in an NFL sense with. I think it will definitely be fun.”

Obviously, being a Redskin hasn’t been as fun as Haynesworth might have expected, but he said that he’s beginning to feel appreciated.

“[Last year] I felt like I was kind of like a showpiece to take up blocks and help the teammates … but as my teammates are playing good, I want to play good, too,” Haynesworth said. “I want to be able to get sacks and stuff. Last year … I felt I wasn’t doing what I could do. But now I’m getting back to it. It’s still a different role, but it’s more similar to what I did in Tennessee. … I don’t have to think as much on the field. I can just go out and play. … You see me standing up. You see me playing a lot of end. You see me doing a lot of things I did in Tennessee, so it’s helping a lot.”

Even though he’s missed three of Washington’s nine games, (one with a sprained ankle, one after his half-brother’s death and one for conditioning issues), Haynesworth has made enough plays that he leads the Redskins in tackles for losses (five), second in hurries (17) and tied for second in sacks (two).

Haynesworth’s best game as a Redskins came in the Week 7 victory at Chicago, during which he stuffed Bears quarterback Jay Cutler at the goal line, giving linebacker London Fletcher time to swoop in, strip the Bears’ quarterback of the football and recover the game-changing fumble. Haynesworth finished the game with a tackle for a loss, a sack and two hurries.

“We’re trying to put him in positions where he can be successful,” said Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who admitted that, when it came to Haynesworth, the Redskins had been trying to fit square peg into a round hole in their base 3-4 defense. “We used him in nickel, goal line, short-yardage and some other things. Actually, he didn’t even know it, [but] he played five snaps of nose [tackle] against Detroit. He was awesome. He did a great job. I just sneak him in there once in a while and don’t tell him he’s a nose.”

Haynesworth’s teammates can see the difference in his attitude even if he doesn’t talk about it.

“You can tell when Albert’s not happy and when he is from his body language, how he walks around practice, whether he’s into it or not,” said linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. “Now they’re using him in the right way, the way he wants to be used, pass rush situations getting off the rock. And when he’s in on run downs, he can just go straight ahead and create some havoc. I think he’s very happy now. And the coaches are happy with what he’s doing.”

Of course, the moody Haynesworth, who spends his offseasons in Knoxville where he starred for the University of Tennessee, can’t help but wonder what life would be like if he hadn’t left the Titans or if the Redskins had worked out the trade to ship him back to his former teams as was being discussed when he was locked in a six-month battle of wills with head coach Mike Shanahan about his role.

“Sometimes I wish I was still back there because I felt like I could still be dominant,” Haynesworth said. “The fact of the matter is, Tennessee, they never pay defensive linemen, so I knew that wasn’t going to change. [So] I wanted to go somewhere else and be appreciated. I think people still think that I’m not playing as good as I can or whatever, but all of it ain’t about the player. Sometimes it’s the scheme, but … we’re getting back to it. They’re letting me play, so you’re seeing a lot more production out of me than you did last year and earlier this year.”

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