What a disappointing week with controversy swirling around Dwayne Haskins again, as the young embattled quarterback had to admit to breaking team rules for the second time this season after screenshots from a video reportedly revealed that he was partying (maskless) after Sunday’s loss against Seattle. Alledgedly, Haskins was celebrating his team’s loss at a “strip club” and in violation of the team’s Covid policies, as well as a poor personal decision. He once again embarrassed his team off of the field and screwed up again on and off the field with Alex Smith out with a calf injury. Character matters. Alex Smith has it and Haskins does not.
Washington brings their 6-8 record into this game which was still good enough for sole possession of first place in the NFC East, and a win today coupled with a Giants loss would clinch the NFC East division and homefield advantage for the first round of the playoffs. Of course first things first and Ron Rivera needs to beat the team that fired him a year ago in December 2019. Ironic in so many ways.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Haskins will start this game and Smith will be inactive. In other player news, running back Antonio Gibson, could play today and wide receiver Terry McLaurin is out with an ankle injury. But the big news is Haskins by default, will get another opportunity. Haskins punishment for breaking team rules was reportedly a $40,000 fine which is a drop in the bucket for a player who will earn at least $14 million guaranteed under this contract, and yes, he was stripped of his team captaincy.
Head coach Ron Rivera made the decisions on Haskins and in a press conference to explain the lack of severe punishment, he said, “don’t make what’s interesting important.” Of course, it is the team who will be punished unless Haskins snaps into superstar mode. They could trade Haskins for a case of Doritos or release him after the season and eat the remaining portion of his guaranteed contract. His value at this point in trade really is next to nothing.
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