The Washington Football Team supposedly closed a deal with the NFL to allow quarterback Dwayne Haskins to participate in training this week, despite the apparent breach of COVID-19 protocols by the sophomore. But that doesn’t mean that the former first-round pick is totally escaping discipline for coming to an exotic club without a mask after Washington’s defeat in week 15. Before Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, in which Haskins could be holder in place of injured Alex Smith, Washington fined Haskins and deprived QB of his title as team captain.
That is according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, who said on Wednesday that although Haskins was initially elected captain by comrades on the training ground, Washington removed that honor as “part of the internal punishment” for this week’s violations. Haskins’s fine is $ 40,000, by Rapoport, the biggest financial punishment known for a breach of COVID-19 and about half of its standard salary.
The team will not, however, suspend Haskins, reduce his practice repetitions or reconsider his status as the likely holder of Week 16, by Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network.
“There were consequences and we are making progress,” coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday, then insisting that reporters refrain from asking Haskins any more questions and focus on Sunday’s game. “One thing I appreciated was your honesty in the conversation. He and I have probably talked five or six times in the past two days.”
Haskins told reporters on Wednesday that his actions were “immature and unacceptable”. Although he was not yet wearing a mask at a social gathering with more than 10 people around, the defender noted that he was not at a strip club and was at his girlfriend’s birthday party. Even so, he broke the protocol.
“I will learn from this mistake and do everything I can to help this team during this fight for a playoff spot,” said Haskins, via Megan Plain by WTKR. “I am grateful that Coach Rivera is frank with me and gives me another chance. I accept the consequences for my actions and decisions to remove my captaincy. I will do everything in my power to make the most of my second chance.”
Haskins, 23, had a hectic 2020 season, albeit for the wrong reasons. Fined for previous COVID-19 violations earlier this year, the Ohio state product was photographed at a local club, unmasked, hours after Washington’s week 15 defeat to the Seahawks. On the bench Kyle Allen and Alex Smith, he returned to replace Smith earlier in the day, throwing two interceptions.