Dwayne Haskins Foolishly Cost Himself His Job and Millions of Dollars
Dwayne Haskins‘ NFL career has quickly nosedived in his first two seasons. His tenure with the Washington Football Team has not transpired anywhere near what was hoped. Haskins now finds himself without a team and lost millions in the process.
Dwayne Haskins’ whirlwind week
Dwayne Haskins‘ second NFL season hasn’t unfolded in the manner that he firmly hoped.
Haskins lost the starting job during the Week 5 loss to the LA Rams as the coaching staff was unimpressed by his worth ethic and performance. Alex Smith assumed the starting role for the next several weeks and has guided the team into playoff contention.
Things took a more concerning turn for Haskins this past week as he was spotted partying with a stripper without a mask. His actions led to him receiving a $40,000 fine for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols and lost his captaincy with the team. It comes several weeks after Washington punished him with a nearly $5,000 fine back in October for inviting a family friend to the team hotel.
Despite the recent debacle, Washington elected to start him in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers but benched him for fourth-stringer Taylor Heinicke in the fourth quarter. Following the contest, he spoke to the media voicing the necessity to “get my life together.”
The entire matter has now taken another significant turn that has placed Haskins’ NFL future in jeopardy.
Washington releases Dwayne Haskins
Following a whirlwind of a week, Dwayne Haskins’ NFL career has taken another surprising turn.
The Washington Football Team announced on Monday afternoon that they parted ways with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“This afternoon I met with Dwayne and informed him that we would be releasing him,” head coach Ron Rivera said in the team press release. “I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways. We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.”
The 23-year-old still had two years remaining on his four-year, $14.4 million rookie deal, with roughly $8.5 million on the books. The situation cuts deeper than his porous play as his behavior off the field has put his NFL career in jeopardy. His decision to go to a strip club during a difficult time with health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic put him in a more challenging spot.
Haskins’ decision-making in that area is more indicative of his character and the importance he has with his craft. The former Ohio State product now finds himself without a job near the tail end of his second NFL season. He also may have cost himself a chance to prove he can be a reliable starting quarterback in the league.
There is plenty to learn from the experience for Haskins as the next potential opportunity won’t have those lenient parameters around him.
What lies ahead for Washington?
The Washington Football Team can move forward without any lingering questions concerning Haskins’ future.
The focus now shifts over to their critical Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants. Washington remains in the driver’s seat for the playoffs, as a win secures them the NFC East division title.
There is currently no clarity on Alex Smith’s status for the regular-season finale as he’s dealing with a calf strain. Smith was reportedly close to playing against the Panthers, which another week may be enough for him to get medical clearance to take the field.
If he’s unable to go, Heinicke will take the reigns as the starter in the pivotal matchup. The Old Dominion product has limited experience with seven games played (one start). In Sunday’s game, Heinicke completed 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards with a touchdown.
As the week moves along to their rescheduled Sunday night primetime game, there will be more clarity on this front.
