Washington Cuts Dwayne Haskins Jr.
Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) walking on the field before the start of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Landover, Md. Susan Walsh/AP
This week, the Washington Football Team released QB Dwayne Haskins Jr.
Haskins had aspirations to become the face of the franchise, and Washington showed their belief in him by drafting him in the first round with the 14th pick overall. Since then, it’s been a rough outing for the QB.
He struggled tremendously to adjust to the speed and skill of the NFL teams he faced and was benched twice between two head coaches in the span of two years. Haskins, a promising prospect from Ohio State, was shrouded in criticism for his off-the-field behavior just as much as his on-the-field performance. His final days in the NFL were spent apologizing to his team for breaking COVID-19 protocols, where he was fined $40,000 by the team and lost his status as a team captain after being seen maskless at a strip club during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In his last game, he threw three interceptions in a game that was a must-win for the franchise to advance to their first playoff appearance in four seasons, crowning a game they ultimately lost.
It seemed that he just wasn’t ready for the responsibilities and expectations of being a starting quarterback in the NFL, and a departure was the only step that made sense for both parties.
For athletes and fans alike, it’s hard to see the dreams of a player come crashing down in the manner that Dwyane’s did. Not put off from his dream, Haskins will continue to pursue a job as a professional quarterback. “It was a dream of mine playing in the NFL ever since I was a little kid... I’ve been through a lot in this league and have rebound and overcome... I’m willing to do whatever is possible in order to have a role in this league and have an opportunity to play on a football team and never take that for granted and never take this game for granted... When I do get another opportunity to play in this game again, I will be better because of it.”
