Although the Washington Redskins are holding their second voluntary minicamp under new coach Mike Shanahan, the only player staying away is defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, whose ongoing absence from all offseason activities has become a soap opera.
Shanahan said Saturday that he hasn't recently spoken to Haynesworth, who isn't happy about the team's change to a 3-4 defense, and the coach would prefer to talk about something else.
"We've given that area a lot of attention thus far," Shanahan said. "Let's concentrate on the people that work here every day."
Haynesworth is expected to show up at the Redskins' mandatory minicamp in June.
Haynesworth, who has been paid $32 million of the $41 million guaranteed in the contract that he signed with the Redskins last year, stayed away from the first minicamp last month in hopes the team would trade him, possibly for draft picks. However, on the second day of the NFL draft, Shanahan announced that "Haynesworth will not be traded."
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Linebacker Rocky McIntosh also skipped the first minicamp, but he's attending this three-day affair, even though he's still unhappy about his contract situation. He dodged questions about the topic Saturday.
"It doesn't matter to me," McIntosh said. "I came out to play football."
Meanwhile, the rookie class is being indoctrinated to life in the NFL.
Shanahan is sparing the young guys no mercy, putting them through a 45-minute workout at 6:15 a.m. each day before the regular practice with the rest of the team 4½ hours later.
On the first play of his first Redskins minicamp, Trent Williams learned the difference between college football and the NFL.
"When the ball was snapped, everybody was gone," Williams said. "I was still in my stance."
Williams, the No. 4 overall draft pick from Oklahoma, was immediately placed with the starting group at left tackle, protecting quarterback Donovan McNabb's blindside. No sense working Williams in gradually.
"Yeah, I kind of found myself in a trance sometimes," Williams said. "Like, 'Dang, it's Donovan McNabb.' Made me miss a play, miss a snap count or something."
Williams was feeling sore by the end of the second day of camp Saturday, but that's what Shanahan and the rest of the coaching staff expected as the rookies adjust to the speed and intensity of the big league.
"Like all rookies," Shanahan said, "it's a growing experience."
Saturday was one of those days when name tags would have been a good idea to keep track of everything. There were some 110 players on the field, including those invited on a tryout basis. About one-third of the opening day roster from 2009 is no longer on the team.
Some players have changed jersey numbers, and other numbers have been passed along. That No. 17 playing quarterback? It's not Jason Campbell -- who's been traded -- it's Daryll Clark from Penn State, trying to land an invitation to training camp.
Redskins owner Dan Snyder was there watching, but he was a standing spectator -- the big white comfy sideline chairs reserved for the owner are gone. The media contingent was huge for a May workout -- nearly one media member for every two players -- largely a result of Shanahan's decision to bar reporters from the Friday and Sunday sessions.
A few players couldn't practice because of injuries. Wide receiver Santana Moss and defensive lineman Phillip Daniels are both recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Linebacker Andre Carter (biceps), defensive end Jeremy Jarmon (knee) and nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu (Achilles' tendon) are still rehabbing from injuries sustained last season. All are expected to be fine in time for the start of training camp in late July.
Wide receiver Devin Thomas also sat out with sore hamstrings, and linebacker Brian Orakpo took a day off after rolling his ankle during Friday's practice.
Taking over the mantel of oldest player on the field was 38-year-old wide receiver Joey Galloway, who signed as a free agent last month.
"It is good that myself and Phillip Daniels aren't the oldest ones on the team," said McNabb, who's 33.
McNabb also responded to comments made by Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who told The Sporting News that he was "very happy with the decision" to trade the quarterback to the Redskins last month. Jackson also said: "I don't think we lost anything, even with McNabb being gone."
"It's so wild when people get to talking when you're not there, but when you're there everybody loves you," McNabb said. "So I guess people will go deeper into it than I will. I'm a Redskin, no longer an Eagle. I had 11 great years and I'm moving on with my life, so whoever may say things when I'm gone, more power to them, but it's not making you look like a bigger man."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
