Belichick: Haynesworth ‘really tried'

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FOXBORO -- A day after defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was released from the Patriots, coach Bill Belichick explained his decision.

"I thought that both he and myself and the coaching staff, we really tried to make it work," said Belichick. "He had a few physical limitations to overcome when he got here. I thought he really tried to do what we asked him to do. We tried to work with him. In the end, it obviously just didn't work out. The best we can do is just move on."

When asked if physical limitations prevented him from succeeding in New England, Belichick said "No" and pointed out that Haynesworth missed time early in training camp.

When pressed about Haynesworth again, Belichick said, "It's all done with. It's on to the Jets."

For their part, the Jets were never all that concerned with Haynesworth to begin with, according to coach Rex Ryan.

"To be honest with you, our concern wasn't Albert Haynesworth. Whether you believe it or not," Ryan said. "They've got a lot of big guys. Vince Wilfork is the bell cow in that front. And I'd say Andre Carter is a pickup they had and I think he's playing well. Getting Mayo back -- he never played in our first game -- he's a tremendous player. But Haynesworth wasn't . . . it wasn't like we had to know where he was at."

Reaction to Haynesworth's release inside the Patriots' locker room was just as it always is when a player has been cut, big-name player or not.

The overall theme to Wednesday's pre-practice media availability was simple: Trusting in Belichick's decisions, and focusing on the New York Jets.

"That's what coaches do," said veteran running back Kevin Faulk when asked about Haynesworth being released. "We play football. We don't worry about none of that."

Faulk wasn't the only one unwilling to open up on the roster move.

"During the football season, there's always going to be things that are going to happen to the team," said linebacker Rob Ninkovich. "Injuries are a part of it, and roster moves are also a part of it. So you just have to deal with them and you have to move on. So whatever things that happen on the roster, you have to just turn the page on it, and focus on what you have to do, which is your job, on Sunday.

"I think that whatever the staff does, obviously, is for our team to be competitive on Sundays," he added. "So, whatever their decision is, we respect anything that they do. So, come Sunday, you go out there and give your best effort for the team."

Though Belichick said Love's presence on the roster did not factor into the Haynesworth decision, Love -- who admitted he was once excited when the Patriots initially acquired Haynesworth -- does realize more playing time is on the way for him.

As for the message that Haynesworth's release sends him and the rest of the Patriots?

"Just play harder," said Love. "Guys come in and out. It can happen to anybody. So, just play harder. That's all."

CSNNE.com's Mary Paoletti contributed to this report.

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