NFL Sprites

- Albert Haynesworth is certainly a sizeable little baby. He spent the spring trying to whine his way into a trade. Washington did put some effort in on Draft Day One, because no one wants to deal with Haynesworth-sized diapers, but they weren't going to sell themselves short either. Now Haynesworth is refusing to work out with the rest of his team, despite the fact that a coaching change has produced a completely new defensive system. Granted, the system is the reason Albert is pissy in the first place. Word is that the Redskins are willing to let him play end in the 3-4 so he doesn't have to play the clogging nose-tackle position. Adam Schefter made a great point in a mailbag of his that you would think a man being paid $100 million could show some goddamn appreciation and do what his team asks of him. But as I've driven home, we are not dealing with a "man" here; merely an infant.

- Brian Cushing apparently tested positive for performance enhancing drugs back in September. I guess he was able to play the season while appealing. I understand that you need to have an appeals process, but it is quite frustrating, as with something like PEDs you would think that they would have the greatest effect on performance when a test comes back positive. Because of the appeals process the NFL has to let players play with these drugs in their system, with their performance being enhanced. Sure, they may eventually face suspension, but there is just something fish about that idea. The AP is re-voting on the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. I'm pretty confident Jairus Byrd will win the award now that Cushing has tested positive, but I'm curious to see how many votes Cushing will get. Clay Matthews has had my vote from the beginning.

- The Lions have signed former Giant safety C.C. Brown, and I can hear th Giant fan's rejoicing from 200 miles away. Brown was tough to stomach as a replacement for Kenny Phillips last season. He got playing time based on pick-up Aaron Rause's mediocrity. Brown was bearable against the run, but couldn't cover a slug.

- DeSean Jackson is an idiot, but he has proved that several times over. I am admittedly not the biggest fan of Donovan McNabb, but that doesn't mean Jackson should be tossing him shit as he leaves. McNabb is the man who provided Jackson with the opportunity to be a star. 1/2 the QBs in the league don't have the arm to lead Jackson on those routes. I understand you want to show confidence in your new guy, but shut the hell up about a Hall of Fame caliber veteran, when you've been in the league 2 years and haven't proven the ability to catch passes from someone who is not that Hall of Fame caliber veteran. At least TO was already established on a Hall of Fame course himself before stepping to McNabb, not that I forgive TO everything he's done. It does beg one question though, as McNabb takes a ton of shit. Maybe he's not the greatest guy in the locker room. You don't really hear a ton about that part of him. He does seem oversensitive at times and combative at others. But, I'm going to assume it's just the continued idiocy of Jackson.

- Speaking of TO, he still doesn't have a job. The rumors of the McNabb/TO reunion have seemed to die down a touch, however when you look at teams with a chance to win that need a wide receiver, Washington sticks out. Pittsburgh is the other spot that seems to be calling for him. You would think Mike Tomlin can handle a heavy personality, but there has been a lot of trouble in Pitt lately so maybe they are trying to avoid more. Though, say what you want about TO's mouth, he has never brought problems when it comes to effort or behavior off the field. As a citizen of America, he certainly merits some admiration. I would look for a sleeper team like, perhaps, Carolina to come out nowhere, like the Bills did last season.

- I would write about Rex Ryan's plan to win the next Super Bowl, except that I'm so completely unsurprised. I think I'd write something on it if he said anything but that.

- Pacman was signed by the Bengals last week. I don't really have a problem with it. Other than a run-in with a bodyguard that he was forced to have around by the Cowboys, a run-in that, for all we know, could have been instigated by the bodyguard, Pacman was okay enough in Dallas. He definitely didn't do anything that makes another chance seem ridiculous. We'll see what he has left. The Bengals have a solid first 2 corners in Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, so Pacman just has to play nickel and maybe return punts.

- I didn't really review the draft at all. Maybe we'll do that as training camps pick up and we get to see a little action from these upcoming rookies.

- JaMarcus Russel is now available for all. I honestly have no idea where he'll end up, because after 3 years in the league, he is still a project. I don't know who's in the market for that kind of pick-up. If I have to guess, let's say the Skins pick him up and let McNabb chat with him. Maybe he'll be ready in 3 more years.

- Random May prediction: David Carr, not Alex Smith, leads the 49ers to the playoffs.

-APT