On Monday, the Washington Football Team made the decision to release Dwayne Haskins (quarterback). The former overall no. 15 overall pick did not last two full seasons in DC, and the final week of his tenure in Washington was defined by poor play on and off the field. After Alex Smith came down with a calf injury, Haskins was included in the starting lineup again in Week 15 for Washington’s clash with the Seattle Seahawks. He threw for 295 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the 20-15 loss, and unfortunately picked up hits with what he did after the final whistle.
Haskins was seen in an exotic club not wearing a mask, which was a clear violation of COVID-19 protocols. He apologized to his teammates for his mistake, and was both fined and stripped of his title as captain. Haskins then got another chance to secure an NFC East title in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers, but he threw for just 154 yards and intercepted two before being signed for Taylor Heinicke in the second half. Less than 24 hours later, Haskins found himself out of work.
On Monday afternoon, Haskins spoke to Darren Haynes of WUSA9 to discuss what he described as the “worst week of his life” and to talk about what he would take away from this difficult experience.
“Must be accountable for the decisions you make in life, and be able to move forward and make the best decisions,” Haskins said. “I have no doubt that I can overcome it, grow and become a better person, a better athlete, a better quarterback and a better leader because of this. It’s something I’m praying for and working on. I’m hoping a new scenic change will help.
Haskins says he feels he has the skills needed to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but he needs someone to take another chance on him. He understands there were questions about how he handles himself off the field or about his work ethic, but the former Ohio State star says he is committed to the game of football and does whatever it takes to add value to his next team. to prove.
“I definitely feel like I have the skills to play in the NFL quarter, and that’s just something I need to believe in and give myself the opportunity, and I have to earn it, I have to work for it,” he said. Haskins said. “It’s not going to be easy at all, and I’m definitely willing to put in the work to earn whether it’s right now or in the future. (I) just love playing football, I love the game and I have my life on this and even if there was already a question about it, I will end these questions later. ‘
Haskins will now enter waivers, and any team claiming to be for $ 17,000 for week 17 and about $ 4.3 million will be fully guaranteed for the remainder of his contract, by Dan Graziano of ESPN. We’ll find out this week if Haskins will immediately get a second chance with another club, but he does indeed have a way to go if he’s going to prove he’s the future leader of a franchise.