"Lions coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham have a pretty good handle on Albert Haynesworth, who was on the practice field again yesterday with the Patriots, meaning the defensive lineman could play in Saturday night's preseason game in Detroit.

Schwartz was Haynesworth's defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans. Cunningham was an assistant with the Titans during Haynesworth's early years.

Cunningham believes Haynesworth is in the proper environment to succeed.

"I love Albert Haynesworth. I love Bill Belichick. I know what Bill's all about and I know what Albert's all about, so that's easy," Cunningham, speaking with local reporters yesterday, said. "Those are the guys you want to coach. And it's not a difficult thing to coach Albert Haynesworth if you do the right thing. .?.?. If Albert came in here, it'd be the same thing."

Cunningham pointed toward Belichick as being the right coach to push Haynesworth along."