It seems like everybody is putting their two cents worth in on the whole Albert Haynesworth situation.
The latest to do so is the great Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
While Ray might be a little late to the party, he might be the most vocal about it.
This is what Lewis had to say while on 106.7 The Fan’s LaVar and Dukes show.
“I mean, I don’t have to create a response,” Lewis replied. “The response is, whatever you want me to do coach, let’s get it done. If you want to switch the defense because you think it’ll work better in a 3-4 — I played in a 4-3 my whole life, but we switched up to a 3-4.
“Ok, Ray, you’re gonna have to take on more guards, you’re gonna have to do this and that.
“Ok, coach, I’ll adjust. Do I like it? Hmm, nah. But I’ll adjust, so let’s do it, you know what I’m saying? And through that process, I won the defensive player of the year in the 4-3 in 2000, and in 2003 I came back and won the defensive player of the year in the 3-4. So it don’t matter. Bottom line. Bottom line. Football is football, man,…
“No matter what the scheme is, y’all work together as businessmen to get it done. Because that’s ultimately what it is, it’s a business, so let’s come to work and let’s work together to figure this out. Ok, what best fits you? Ok, well, let’s go to this sometimes, and then sometimes you don’t like it, then we’ll switch back to a 4-3, so play with that. But all of this? No, too much. Too much.”
Arrington is obviously very passionate about this issue as well, and he responded with many strong words of his own, to which Lewis then responded with great feeling.
“Without even going long-winded, the word is, bottom line, respect,” Lewis said. “The power of respect is never to disrespect. That’s it. Just don’t ever disrespect the game, because the game will be here, always. Always. All of our time has to pass, and bro, I don’t speak down on him at all. I would love to have a conversation with him, to say to [whom] much is given much is required, brother.
“Sometimes you got to do things you ain’t want to do to get something you ain’t never got. So be ok with it. But you can’t always win selfishly. If you always win selfishly, then I don’t know what the walk of Jesus ever represented then. You’re not winning. You’re not winning. And that’s the things that I would relate to him. Going back to answer the question, if I was one of the spokesmen or leaders on that team, I would say bro, look, I understand you. But look, let’s work this out another way. Let’s get pissed of at somebody that we gotta deal with for 16 weeks,
“And whatever it takes for brotherhood to be formed, that’s what needs to be done. You can take it off the field and I still preach it to every young man that i speak to: do not try to walk through this life by your self. That’s a lonely war. That’s a lonely war. And when you find yourself in the midst, in the midst of these peaks and valleys, it’s too much to deal with yourself bro. And money blinds all of us. Money ain’t the root of all evil, it’s the love of it, and these are the things that are being lost.”
Truer words have not been spoken on this topic.
Lewis hits the nail on the head. You do what your told to do. You might not always like it, but you signed a contract and you should honor that.
Haynesworth signed with the Redksins, not the 4-3 defense. He knew going into last season Jim Zorn was on the hot seat and there was a possibility there would be a new coaching staff, and one that might install a 3-4.
I’m sick and tired about hearing about this story. Hayneworth should either suck it up and play, or if he really wants out that bad then he should work out some kind of settlement with the Redskins and then then can trade him.
After hearing Ray Lewis, that’s who I want leading my defense. That;s what you expect in your leader. Not some grumpy, overpaid, baby who demands a trade after just collecting a $21 million bonus.
