Covid wreaked havoc in the NFL this season, with no team being impervious to the pandemic.
Washington had its share of roster changes and inspiring stories during the pandemic. From head coach Ron Rivera battling and defeating cancer to Alex Smith’s emotional return to the gridiron almost two years after suffering a life-threatening injury to his leg in 2018, it’s been an eventful time this fall.
Presented with these challenges, second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins had another chance to take the reins under center and prove the doubters wrong about the 15th pick out of Ohio State in the 2019 NFL draft. He was handed the keys to the door and all he had to do was kick it down and not look back.
Instead, he tripped on the doorstep.
In the first four games of the season, Haskins threw for 178 yards and 1 TD in a win against the Eagles, 223 yards and 1 TD in a loss to the Cardinals, 224 yards and 2 TDs and 3 INTs in a loss to the Browns and 314 yards with 0 TDS and 0 INTs in a loss to the Ravens. After this 1-3 start, Coach Rivera sent Haskins to the bench and let Smith take over, a move which, shockingly, kept them in playoff contention.
Then Smith got hurt and Haskins was given another lifeline, which he proceeded to literally throw away. He threw for 51 yards in a win over the 49ers and then 295 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs in a loss to the Seahawks, after which the team’s captain and starting quarterback, who was already on a short leash, decided to attend a party with strippers and got caught not wearing a mask, his second Covid related violation. This decision, made while the team fought for its playoff life, put others in jeopardy, especially his head coach who is a cancer survivor.
As a result, they stripped him of his title and fined him $40,000. But they still gave him the start against the Panthers in Week 16 before ultimately yanking him because of another horrendous performance consisting of 154 yards passing and 2 INTs. This sealed his fate in D.C. and Washington released him the next day.
“This afternoon, I met with Dwayne and informed him that we would be releasing him.” said coach Rivera in his statement on Twitter. “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.”
In his tweeted response, Haskins showed more poise than he ever did under center, acknowledging his poor decisions and irresponsibility.
“My time with the WFT has unfortunately come to an end. I thank the team and fans for the opportunity to play for the team I grew up rooting for. I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of [an] NFL QB, and I will become a better man and player because of this experience.”
Haskins deserves to be admonished for his lack of maturity and his story is one that should be told to all young Black athletes and their families. Not because he somehow ruined the path for future Black quarterbacks but rather because it’s a lesson to learn from.
How many times have we heard about the young Black athlete who garners the wrong attention and develops the wrong reputation? How many times have we heard about the young Black athlete being surrounded by the wrong crowd who steers him down the wrong path? For every Russell Wilson, there are a thousand other Dwayne Haskins’ who couldn’t cut it because of their attitude, immaturity, poor decisions or recognition of what they represent.
You have to stand up and take responsibility before you lose what you’ve worked so hard to attain. Unfortunately for Haskins, his poor decisions and performances negated his opportunity for success. Now he’s unemployed, missing out on the team’s playoff game against Tom Brady and the Bucs.
To be fair, Haskins isn’t the product of a turbulent upbringing. According to the Washington Post, “his dedication and attitude were praised as much as his rocket arm, even by stern Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer.” He was raised in New Jersey, surrounded by a family of police officers and religion, given proper home training, and bathed with compliments such as “respectful and talented” at a young age, so it appears that his poor decision is more of a blip on the life screen of this talented athlete rather than the norm.
Haskins is 23 years old and has time for an NFL rebirth. But couple his on the field performance with his decision making and he’ll have a challenge convincing teams to take the risk on him. If he wants it, he’s going to have to prove it. Put the Washington experience behind him, get his mind right and earn a starting role once again.
I hope he does make it because this period of time isn’t a manifestation of his upbringing or life to date.
Now, some might think that it’s unfair to use this as a warning signal for all Black athletes, especially as white athletes have amassed similar acts of poor decision making and/or shoddy performances. Johnny Manziel, Ryan Lochte, and, up until recently, Baker Mayfield have all traveled down this path during their careers, so using Haskins’ current situation as a manifestation of the plight of Black athletes is unfair. That should be obvious and understood.
But that’s not the point.
The situation Haskins is facing is one that needs to be stressed to Black athletes mostly because of the stereotypes, misconceptions, pressure and unfair accusations that follow in the aftermath. We know the stigma that “tainted” Black athletes face when trying to rectify a wrong or overcome a false narrative. It’s more challenging to overcome these situations mainly because of racial manifestation, and while it’s grossly unfair to associate the mistakes of one with an entire group, it’s a reality Black athletes often face.
It’s even more exacerbated for Black quarterbacks who have to constantly prove that they’re quarterbacks and, more importantly, leaders.
While there are many, many examples of Black athletes doing great things on and off the field, there’s always one of failure that teaches a lesson. In this case, Haskins’ short story becomes a lesson, or rather a reminder, for Black athletes and their families.
Know your role and choose wisely.
So no, Haskins hasn’t set Black people, or Black quarterbacks, back 25 years with his mistake. He messed up, owned up to it, and will hopefully find a new team soon. And while it’s a story to learn from, it’s also one that is relatively short and unrepresentative of both the story’s protagonist and Black America.
But it’s still one worth reading and noting, even with just a post-it note.
