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.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
