Albert Haynesworth already making noise

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.

"I really don't care what they do," Haynesworth said. "If they're going to run the ball, that's fine with me. That's easier on the pass, so I don't know, it's OK with me. I don't care what they do. I've played a lot of teams that ran the ball and ran the ball well and we played against it and we stopped it, so I expect the same thing here."

Asked about the challenge of tackling Jacobs, who checks in at 264 pounds, the 350-pound Haynesworth said: "They all fall the same."

"It doesn't really matter," Haynesworth said. "What is he, 250? I weighed 250 when I was in the 10th grade."

In New York, Jacobs returned the favor by portraying Haynesworth as a mere mortal.

"I'm taking it as if you run into any defensive lineman in the league," Jacobs said. "He's a human being, he walks on two feet, and he bleeds. He puts his pants on one leg at a time. I mean he is a great player, don't get me wrong. Probably one of the most dominant players in the NFL, but there is no reason to go in there and only think about him."

Haynesworth was the centerpiece of the Redskins' defensive upgrade in the offseason, signing a seven-year contract that includes an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money. He's faced the Giants only twice, in 2002 and 2006, having spent his first seven years in the AFC with the Tennessee Titans.

Notes

Malcolm Kelly has won the three-way battle for the Redskins' No.2 receiver.

Coach Jim Zorn said that Kelly earned the nod ahead of veteran Antwaan Randle El and fellow second-year player Devin Thomas.

"He's gone all of training camp really improving along the way," Zorn said. "His overall explosion along the line of scrimmage has been very good."

Kelly was limited by a knee injury as a rookie. The second-round draft pick from Oklahoma played in only five games and caught just three passes.

"This is what we've been waiting for," Zorn said. "We wish we would have had what he's doing now last year. I think he's earned the right to get out there and mix it up."

At 6-4, Kelly gives quarterback Jason Campbell a sizable target opposite 5-10 Santana Moss. Randle El, who caught 53 passes for 593 yards and four touchdowns last year, will see action primarily as a slot receiver on passing downs.

The decision ends another disappointing preseason for Thomas, also a second-round pick in 2008. Thomas struggled to master the offense last year and caught only 15 passes, but he was considered by Zorn to be ahead of Kelly early in training camp.