The catalyst for this latest batch of drama that led to Albert Haynesworth's season-long suspension stemmed from a report that he appeared "hung over" at practice on Friday. Haynesworth arrived a minute late and then did not practice due to being sick, but he vehemently claimed that he was merely suffering from flu-like symptoms and did not consume alcohol the night before.
Haynesworth told "The Kevin And Rock Show" on 106.7 The Fan that he left the bar by 12:30 and would never consume alcohol like that, saying the following about those who spread those rumors.
"For these people to make up lies to try to make me look bad, it's ridiculous. I think they're cowards, and I think that if they have something to say, they should say it to my face, instead of being cowards and running to the media to try to blast me behind my back."
For what it's worth, though, there is one report out there that suggests Haynesworth was not telling the truth. A reader who was at the bar when Haynesworth was there snapped a photo of him and passed along this account to Deadspin. We must consider the source, which is not particularly reliable, but it's worth noting that the reader said Haynesworth was there past 1:30 and did appear to be drunk.
I was out at a bar in Reston Va last Thursday night. It was around 1:30 in the morning and guess who stumbled in but Albert Haynesworth, with two or three very petite young things.
[...]
most definitely drunk on a night before the practice he showed up late for.
We must consider the source before proclaiming it to be true, but it does call Haynesworth's side of the story into question.