Washington announced the choice of 2019’s first round, Dwayne Haskins, on Monday, less than 24 hours after committing three twists in the defeat to Carolina and following another breach of pandemic protocols.
Haskins started in place of injured quarterback Alex Smith, despite being punished for breaking Covid-19 rules by having fun with several people without a mask. He was fined $ 40,000 and stripped of his captaincy, but coach Ron Rivera chose to stay with Haskins because Smith was still injured and had no other QB on the list.
“My time with the WFT has unfortunately ended,” Haskins wrote on Twitter. “I thank the team and the fans for the opportunity to play for the team that I grew up supporting. I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of an NFL QB and I will become a better man and player because of that experience. “
Rivera said Monday morning that Smith or Taylor Heinicke would start the regular season final in Philadelphia with the NFC East title at stake. It was clear that Rivera had finished with Haskins, which he dragged to the bottom of the depth chart for the second time this season.
“Sometimes you have to reach the bottom of the well before digging to get out of it,” said Rivera. “I hope he learns from these experiences. Hopefully, they’ll make him stronger and help him, and hopefully, when he gets his next opportunity, he’ll do his best. “
Haskins was 14 28 years old with two interceptions and a disaster against the Panthers before being replaced by Heinicke, who has not played in the NFL since 2018. Rivera was asked what he would like to see from Haskins next week and replied: “Just improvement . ”
This will have to come elsewhere. He has some tools to succeed as a professional, but he was unable to put everything together in 16 matches.
“You look at your talent and see the arm,” said Rivera. “That’s the thing that I think is his most redeeming quality as a defender, which I think is probably the most important thing.”
But it is far from being the only thing, his behavior outside the field has exceeded his potential. A favorite of owner Dan Snyder of his time at a high school in the Washington area, Haskins missed the last play of his first NFL win last year while taking a picture with a fan in the stands, disappeared from practice due to a mysterious illness after being suspended and demoted in October and twice violated rules of conduct in the middle of a pandemic.
The 23-year-old Ohio State product said it tried not to let it affect his tumultuous week of going to his girlfriend’s birthday party with several people without masks, photos appearing on social media, apologizing to coaches and teammates, being fined and losing his game captaincy. But he was clearly dejected and discouraged in a post-game video call he made after driving home from the stadium.
“It was definitely the most difficult week of my life,” said Haskins. “I’m just going to recover and move on, pray and get my life together.”
Washington’s previous regime called Haskins 15th overall in 2019, the third QB after Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones. He ends his time with the organization 3-10 as a starter, including 1-5 this season, with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
The team’s last elimination in QB in the first round, Robert Griffin III, tweeted Monday: “Wishing the best for (Haskins). You’re only 23! Learn from it and recover. “