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Haynesworth Held Out of Practice

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Albert Haynesworth did not pass his conditioning test on Thursday, so he was held out of the Redskins' first training camp practice.

Instead, Haynesworth stayed inside Redskins Park, working with strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright in the weight room.

After practice, Haynesworth made his on-field debut working with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and defensive line coach Jacob Burney on some drills.

Head coach Mike Shanahan said the goal for Haynesworth is simple: get in shape and pass the conditioning test.

"Obviously, you'd like him to be in the type of shape that most of our players are in," Shanahan said. "If he's going to be on our football team and he's going to play at the level we'd like him to play, then he's got to be in great football shape.

"Hopefully he'll get it done [on Friday], but it may take two or three days, it may take a week. I really don't know. His weight is fine. We've just got to get that cardio at a certain level to make sure he doesn't injure himself."

Haynesworth elected not to participate in the Redskins' off-season workout program, electing to work out on his own with a personal trainer. He also missed all of the team's mini-camps and OTAs, including the mandatory June mini-camp.

Haynesworth, who did not speak to the media on Thursday, was the only Redskins player required to complete the conditioning test. Since all other players participated in off-season workouts, they did not have to do a conditioning test.

Shanahan was asked to describe the conditioning test. He called it a "basic" measure of a player's physical condition.

"We put a lot of our linemen through it, offense and defense," he replied. "We do it through our conditioning drills throughout the OTAs. It's a very fair test. But more importantly, it keeps a guy from getting hurt. I don't want to put a guy out there that's not ready to go and all of the sudden, there's a setback for two weeks.

"Albert's got a lot of ability. We get him in great football shape, he can help us. But I'm not going to put him out there until he's in that kind of shape."

Shanahan said a report that he and Haynesworth exchanged heated words after the conditioning test was untrue.

"I'm not going to share the conversation I had," Shanahan said. "But there were no words. Albert was first class all the way. He understood where I was coming from and he understands that he's got to be at a certain level to go out on the field and practice with the rest of that football team. If he gets there, then he'll be with us, And if he doesn't, he won't."

Heading into training camp, there was some speculation how Haynesworth would be received by teammates.

By and large, teammates welcomed his presence, although many did not get a chance to talk with him.

"Albert is coming here with the right mindset and he is ready to work," said London Fletcher, who a month ago had sharp words for the absent Haynesworth. "Having the right mindset is important because from there a lot can be accomplished.

"I think everyone out here is working hard and trying to get better each and every day. The offseason is just talk, but now is really the time to play football. We need to now focus on our football and move forward."

Even fans seem ready to put the Haynesworth issue behind them.

After Haynesworth was finished working with Haslett and Burney, he walked by a large group of Redskins fans.

He was well-received by the fans, who shouted for autographs.

Haynesworth waved at the fans and then tossed his towel to one of them as he headed inside Redskins Park.

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