High In-Tenn-sity

NASHVILLE - Whatever new leaf Albert Haynesworth turned over last year appears to have been flipped once again.

During this morning's Titans practice - which was carried out in shorts and shoulder pads - the combustible Haynesworth went off a couple of times.

Things initially got chippy when defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch took running back LenDale White off his feet during the touch-but-don't-tackle session. From there, guard Jacob Bell got involved and Haynesworth locked up with him in a scrap that lasted about eight seconds.

Later, after corner Nick Harper picked off Vince Young, Bell whacked corner Reynaldo Hill during the runback from the blindside, infuriating Haynesworth.

With the units switching up, Vanden Bosch, Haynesworth and defensive lineman Tony Brown were jawing and walking toward the offensive group prompting head coach Jeff Fisher to tell them to get back with the defense.

Once there, Young yelled to Haynesworth, "Come on, we're a team here."

An inflamed Haynesworth - who was suspended six games last year for stomping the head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode - said something back to Young which caused tight end Bo Scaife to take up for Young (albeit from a distance).

Haynesworth then said to nobody in particular, "Be a (expletive) man and step up, bitch."

After that practice, Haynesworth told me in the locker room, "That's just how we are here on this defense. The Tennessee Tyrants. That's what we're bringing back. The first few years we were good when I came in and we were the Tennessee Tyrants. We were playing hard, didn't care what anyone thought and that's what we're going to get back to. We can't apologize for going hard."

Asked what set him off, Haynesworth said, "Well, we're playing football. I'm a contact person I just don't like to be snatched down. That's all I've got to say about that."

Haynesworth has gone the demonic route with his eyes. He has on red-tinted contacts from Nike which work as sunglasses.

This afternoon, the Titans are going in full pads for the first time in camp and it could get pretty lively.