The Washington Football Team released quarterback Dwayne Haskins on Monday in a move that was stunning yet predictable given how his career was unfolding.
The Ohio State product never came close to fulfilling expectations in the nation’s capital, but he sure left an imprint on the Washington franchise through a number of defining moments.
April 25, 2019: The laugh at the draft and ‘the league done messed up’
Confident as ever following a sensational college career, Haskins let out a giggle when his childhood team, the New York Giants, chose a different quarterback – Daniel Jones – with the No. 6 selection. Haskins and Jones were battling to be the second quarterback off the board, as Kyler Murray was the consensus top signal-caller in the draft and went first overall.
Wait for it.
Dwayne Haskins’ reaction when the Giants passed on him to take Duke QB Daniel Jones ???? pic.twitter.com/G3bZTcAi0l
— NBC Sports Washington Football (@NBCSWASFootball) April 26, 2019
Washington ended Haskins’ slide at No. 15, drafting the former Heisman Trophy finalist to be its quarterback of the future. The marriage was thought to be a match made in heaven: Haskins grew up in nearby Potomac, Maryland, and vowed to work with a chip on his shoulder after tumbling down the board. “The league done messed up,” he said after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the pick.
“The league done messed up.”
Dwayne Haskins letting Washington Redskins fans know he’s ready to get work ???? pic.twitter.com/ym6tjIFBvr
Haskins’ career got off to a slow start, as early-season reports suggested he looked raw in practices. Washington began the season 0-3 and was losing a fourth game to the Giants when Haskins was inserted for a benched Case Keenum. He went 9-for-17 and threw three interceptions in his first appearance, and Washington fell 24-3.
Oct. 4, 2019: The Jay Gruden report
Five days after the rocky debut, the Washington Post’s Les Carpenter reported that head coach Jay Gruden had opposed drafting Haskins in the first place. Gruden and Haskins played nice publicly, but Gruden’s reluctance to commit to Haskins as the starter in a season that was quickly going down the drain fueled speculation that he never wanted the former Buckeyes star.
Nov. 24, 2019: But first, let me take a selfie
After losing his first three starts, Haskins led Washington to back-to-back victories over the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers in Week 12 and 13. In the first win, Keenum had to come in for the final kneel-down because Haskins was taking selfies with fans, providing one of the most embarrassing moments of his brief career.
Dwayne Haskins takes a selfie with fans while Case Keenum has to do the victory formation pic.twitter.com/Y76AL2cquF
Washington ushered in a new regime over the offseason, and it didn’t take long for quarterback rumors to follow. NFL Network’s Michael Silver reported that new head coach Ron Rivera would consider drafting another signal-caller, adding that Tua Tagovailoa was a “very real possibility” at No. 2 overall. While Washington ultimately didn’t pick Tagovailoa, Rivera later revealed he would have selected Joe Burrow if the Cincinnati Bengals passed on him at No. 1.
Sept. 2, 2020: Haskins named opening-day starter
Eleven days out from the start of the new season, Rivera tabbed Haskins as his Week 1 starter over Alex Smith and Kyle Allen. While he only threw for 178 yards with a touchdown, Haskins led Washington to a surprising 27-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Oct. 7, 2020: Benched
Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty
With Haskins struggling and the shine of his opening-day win worn off, Washington demoted him to third-string duties in Week 5. The 23-year-old hadn’t shown much progress in practice or games and Washington was mired in a three-game losing streak.
Oct. 23, 2020: COVID-19 protocol violation
A few weeks after he was benched, Haskins was fined for breaking COVID-19 protocol. The sophomore reportedly reserved a room for a family friend at the same hotel Washington was staying at before a road game, a clear violation of team rules. The club could have penalized him up to $14,650, but it slapped him with a $4,833 ticket.
Dec. 13, 2020: Back in action
A calf injury to Smith paved the way for Haskins to draw back into the lineup against the San Francisco 49ers (Allen went down earlier in the season with a broken ankle). Haskins only threw for 51 yards, but Washington led when he entered and had no problem holding on for a 23-15 victory to cement its place atop the NFC East standings.
Dec. 20, 2020: COVID-19 protocol violation
Yup, he did it again. After throwing two interceptions to a vulnerable Seattle Seahawks defense and losing, Haskins went out and partied without a mask, allegedly at a strip club. He apologized for his second violation of team rules, though he denied he went to a strip club. Washington punished him more harshly this time, fining him $40,000 and removing him as a team captain.
Dwayne Haskins was finally back as a starter [due to injury] and after losing to the #Seahawks, apparently decided to party at a strip club.
Despite the events of the previous week, Haskins remained the starter in Week 16 with Smith still nursing his calf back to full health. Washington needed a win to clinch the NFC East, but for the second straight game, Haskins failed to deliver. He committed three giveaways against the lowly Carolina Panthers before Rivera pulled him for journeyman Taylor Heinicke, who nearly eclipsed his passing yardage in just two drives.
Dec. 28, 2020: Waived goodbye
Less than two full seasons into his pro career, Washington pulled the plug. The team announced it was waiving the once-promising quarterback, who threw 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions and posted a passer rating of 74.4 over 16 career appearances.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
