Every year, just before the season starts and teams converge on the practice field, there are those few players who don’t show up for the “voluntary” practices.  Then, when the mandatory practices start, training camp and mini-camps, speculation abounds over which players will show up and which will scorn their teams.  Albert Haynesworth has already scorned his fellow Redskins, not showing up for practice and letting his desire to be traded known to the press.  Unfortunately for the Redskins, he signed a $100 million contract for seven years with the team and Coach Shanahan and the team fully expected Haynesworth to show.  He is still listed on the team roster.  However, he did not show for the mandatory three day minicamp, simply messaging that he will “continue to work individually to prepare for training camp and the start of the 2010 season.”

Haynesworth is simply pouting.  He doesn’t like the plans Coach Shanahan has for the defense, and the new 3-4 defense alignment which has him lining up in scrimmage in the nose tackle position.  Yes, he can be a thoroughly menacing player, but his frequent injuries left the Redskins wanting for a decent performance from their high priced player.   Now his attitude that he doesn’t need to work with his team has players, coaches and fans wonder if he will even show up for training camp at the end of the month.

Prima Donnas who seem to think themselves above the law are rampant.  Headlines of this running back or that wide receiver being found with a gun, driving drunk, or beating on their spouse are as common place as hurricanes and tornados at this time of year.  In fact, the similarities don’t end there.  A wayward football player stepping over to the wrong side of the law can seem like a hurricane to a team trying to focus and establish plays and routines for the coming season.  Just ask the Oakland Raiders how they feel about the former number one pick, JaMarcus Russell. 

Of course, there are always the “will he retire or won’t he” players like Brett Favre, who hasn’t yet decided what the 2010 season holds.  He did the same thing last year, leaving his team hanging while he weighed his options.  Will Brett play for one more year?  No one knows yet, maybe not even Brett himself, although one would think his intentions for the coming year are clear, at least in his own mind.  Chris Samuels, on the other hand, realised his career as an NFL player was at an end and announced his retirement.

The question is, however, are these players really “all that”?    Do they have the right to treat their fellow players, their coaching staff and their team owners with such disdain and disrespect?

Many of the fans say no.

In fact, I’ve heard it suggested more than once that this group of miscreants should be assigned to play on their own team.  Surely there are enough of them to make a full roster.  In fact, there might be an abundance of players for this particular team.  They could be assigned to Alcatraz Island, a location that would suit them perfectly.  Of course, I know the island is no longer used as a prison, however, the location itself is just too perfect to ignore.  They could be given the name the Alcatraz Asses and have the donkey as their team mascot and symbol.

Ridiculous? Well of course it is, but the behaviors of certain players is unfair to their teams, the owners and especially to the fans.  The owners deserve to have players who show up to play football as do the fans.