Mike Shanahan’s expectations for Albert Haynesworth have not changed since he met with the disgruntled defensive tackle in mid-March.

That’s when Shanahan told Haynesworth that if he didn’t want to be a part of the team, the Redskins would oblige him and cut him before a huge pay day was due April 1. When Haynesworth took the money – all $21 million of it – that was a sign he was willing to do what was asked of him. If that happens now or not, we’ll find out soon enough.

“To be honest with you, I’m looking forward to camp starting,” Shanahan said in an interview with WFAN, one transcribed by sportsradiointerviews.com. “And my understanding is that Albert’s going to be there. As we talked before, I talked to Albert right before, well, about a month after I got the job and I sat down with Albert and said that if he does not want to be part of the Washington Redskins, I’d let him go. I wouldn’t trade him, I’d let him go to another football team.

“But if he did take the check for $21 million, I’d expect him to play any position that we thought was in the best interest of the Washington Redskins – be it nose tackle, defensive end, if we wanted to play him at free safety. So expected him to come in in great shape and do the things we expected of him and that he’s capable of doing. Hopefully he does that. He didn’t show up at minicamp, so guys are going to be looking at him and seeing what type of shape he’s in, if he’s doing to do the little things the right way. Time will tell. If he is buying in and he is in great shape, we know what type of talent he is and we know he can help our football team win.”

Haynesworth’s trainer has claimed that the tackle has dropped more than 30 pounds this offseason since they started working together in early April. Here’s what is not known – how big was Haynesworth when they got together? Shanahan is right – all eyes are going to be on Haynesworth and his teammates have already made some pointed remarks.

Shanahan hasn’t spoken to Haynesworth since their one meeting in mid-March. He doesn’t know exactly what the player’s state of mind is, or at least that’s the story he’s using right now.

“I really don’t know to be honest with you. I have not talked to him since the one conversation I did have,” Shanahan said. “But I made it crystal clear to him that if he did take that $21 million dollars, we expected him to play at the position we feels gives us the best chance to win.”

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