FOXBORO (CBS)- There’s no secret that Patriots defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth has something to prove.

His last two years in Washington can be called lost time.  He’s said many times that playing in New England is a rebirth for his career.

Thursday he said he’s ready to take all that energy and bring it to the field.

“It’s time for me, the sleeping giant, to awake and get back out there on the field and play football again,” Haynesworth told reporters at his locker Thursday morning.

“For two years, I was kind of taken out of football a little bit, and now I’m back in it,” he said. “I’m truly enjoying the game again. I’m truly enjoying coming in to practice and coming in to work every day. Just to be able to have a chance again to play and to show what I can do is awesome.”

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Haynesworth said he genuinely enjoys coming to work for the Patriots.  He likes the scheme, the coaches and the players he’s on the field with. The environment, he says, is perfect for him and now he’s ready to perform.

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“We’re just getting after it,” he said. “Coach Belichick is a great coach and he uses what he has.”

Haynesworth may only be on the field for a few downs at a time, but he can certainly make a different on the defensive side of things. With the additions of Shaun Ellis and Andre Carter, Haynesworth will give the Patriots a legitimate threat in the pass-rush. Pair him with Vince Wilfork on the D-line, and opposing offensive lines will have a lot of weight to push around.

If the “sleeping giant” awakens, count on the rest of the NFL having some nightmares.

Tune in the to Patriots season opener at 7pm Monday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub with pregame coverage beginning at 4pm. After the game, tune in to the Postgame show on 98.5, and to Patriots Fifth Quarter on TV38.