ASHBURN Having failed to assemble a winning football team, the Washington Redskins now have a split in viewpoint between the front office and the locker room. While executives accent the positive, many players won’t play along. They know what a 2-5 record means. They also remember last year: Add this season’s start to last year’s finish, and the Redskins are a 4-11 team since last Halloween.

ASHBURN The big bad New York Giants’ rushing game? Yawn. Really, really big running back Brandon Jacobs? So what. Albert Haynesworth, the Washington Redskins’ new $100 million defensive tackle, was practically dismissive about the prospect of facing the Giants in Sunday’s season opener. In his session with reporters yesterday, Haynesworth made Washington’s NFC East rivals - who had the top running game in the NFL last year - sound no more exciting than a JV team.

The Redskins gave huge contracts to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Now, those players have to not only produce, but produce in game-changing ways. If Haynesworth stays healthy—he’s not played a full NFL season since his rookie year in 2002 and only started three games that year—and pushes the pocket, everything gets easier for the three other linemen. Talented players are next to and behind Haynesworth, and they have to be productive as well.

Coach: Jim Zorn, 2nd year (8-8) 2008: 8-8, last in the NFC East, failed to make the playoffs Offense: Everything revolves around the maturity of quarterback Jason Campbell. The running game is solid with Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts. The receiving corps should be improved with Malcolm Kelly complimenting Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El. Chris Cooley is one of the league’s most effective tight ends. The offensive line will be OK if Randy Thomas and Chris Samuels stay healthy and if Stephon Heyer becomes a solid right tackle. Defense: Redskins owner Dan Snyder spared no expense upgrading this unit. Albert Haynesworth is a force at defensive tackle. The Redskins hope he can make it through the entire season. Brian Orakpo, the team’s first-round draft choice, is a high-motor defensive end who also is learning to be a strong side linebacker. DeAngelo Hall has the ability to be an elite cover cornerback and LaRon Landry is a hard-hitting, ball-hawking free safety. Special teams: Upgrades are needed on just about every unit. Shaun Suisham’s consistency and performance under pressure have put his job in jeopardy. Randle El needs to be more productive on punt returns or someone else needs to try the job. Hunter Smith was brought in to punt and bring that portion of the special teams to a respectable level. Smith also is an excellent holder. Quotable: Defensive end Andre Carter on the Redskins defense—“We have a lot of talent but with talent comes hard work and everybody knows that. We are never content on being dominant. We want to be great and excel on a high level.“ Outlook: Campbell had a tough off-season, dealing with rumors of the Redskins attempts to acquire Jay Cutler from Denver and their thoughts of moving up to draft Mark Sanchez. He has no room for self-doubt when others in the organization obviously have their doubts about him. Campbell has to give a solid performance, move the chains and hit big plays. He’s in the last year of his contract and has to produce to remain in Washington. The defense has the chance to be dominant, and might need to be if the offense is no better than last year. Bottom line: 6-10 and fourth in the NFC East

ASHBURN It’s hard to hold a conversation with Albert Haynesworth without thinking about labels. Troublemaker. The guy who stomped on Andre Gurode. Injury-prone. Maybe a bit of a slacker. The $100 million man. The next Reggie White or Bruce Smith. Haynesworth has said he won’t be labeled a “bust” and would like to finish his career as one of the all-time greats.

Running back Clinton Portis didn’t play in the scrimmage, so he passed time by posing for pictures on fan-appreciation day at Redskins Park. ASHBURN Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn took the microphone yesterday and gave an enthusiastic five-minute speech to thousands who turned out for fan-appreciation day. Nestled near the beginning were two sentences summing up the team on the 10th day of training camp: “We’re especially good right now, I think, on defense. We’re getting better on offense.“

Albert Haynesworth’s knee kept him from a full practice for the second straight day, forcing him and the Washington Redskins to play their best defense against any cause for alarm. “It’s not serious,“ Haynesworth said as he walked off the field following yesterday’s workout. “If I had to play today, I could play today.“ The centerpiece of the Redskins’ offseason acquisitions—with a contract that includes an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money—Haynesworth was off to a good start over the first few days of training camp until he required an injection to insert fluid into his left knee. He was mainly an on-field spectator Sunday and yesterday.

Buffalo is the smallest market to date for the T.O. Show; wide receiver Terrell Owens (top) signed with the Bills after being released by the Cowboys. A rift between Jay Cutler (left) and new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels became irreparable, and the QB was dealt to the Bears. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth cashed in immediately during free agency, leaving the Titans for the Redskins and a $100 million contract. Supposedly, pro football has reached its downtime. Considering how the NFL has ignored for nearly five months that this is the offseason, a break sure would be nice right about now.

Recently signed Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has been indicted in Tennessee on two misdemeanor traffic charges after an accident that seriously injured another driver.

As the Washington Redskins celebrated the signing of Albert Haynesworth on Friday, coach Jim Zorn was asked if the team could only afford one more free agent. “I hope not, but at some point the money dries up,“ Zorn said. Zorn apparently hasn’t learned how business is done at Redskins Park, where there seems to be an endless flow of owner Dan Snyder’s money for big-name free agents.

Albert Haynesworth walked into the front lobby of Redskins Park on the first day of free agency. After being congratulated by Washington’s front office chief, Vinny Cerrato, the All-Pro defensive tackle turned and introduced his mother. Once the pleasantries were done, the parties went to work—completing the paperwork on a seven-year contract that is worth about $100 million and includes an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money.