Alex Smith remains Washington’s preferred choice to start at quarterback Sunday against the Panthers, but Dwayne Haskins will not face a suspension for breaking COVID-19 protocols.
Ron Rivera said Wednesday the team opted for a fine rather than a suspension. This marks Haskins’ second fine for such a violation this season. The second-year quarterback was seen without a mask at a strip club in photos recently posted to social media.
The team fined Haskins $40K, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), marking the largest known fine doled out to a player for a COVID protocol violation. This is slightly more than half of Haskins’ weekly salary. Haskins’ infraction earlier this season drew a $4K fine.
“There are a lot of things I could’ve done,” Rivera said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala, on Twitter). “But in conversations with the league and looking at things that were done around the league, we felt that we would fine him and move on.”
With Washington still atop the historically woeful NFC East at 6-8, it is not surprising to see the team ensure it will have its primary backup on the field in a critical game. Smith, however, practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday. The team also revoked Haskins’ captaincy, per Rapoport (on Twitter).
Haskins could have been suspended for up to four games because of his violation. No suspension will keep the Ohio State product’s guarantees intact. But his star continues to fall within the organization, which benched the former No. 15 overall pick early in the season and was open to trading him before this year’s deadline.
Only reason they aren’t suspending him is that they need him to play this weekend.
Captain Obvious saves the day again!
Ron Rivera: “I know you’ll give us your very best effort this weekend Dwayne, while we search for ways to deny you your guaranteed money”.
Yet, the NFL kept all of Denver’s QBs from playing for doing less.
Did you honestly believe that Ronny Rivera was going to suspend Simba and walk into Carolina and Philly with a lineup of Alex 1.5 leg Smith and Taylor Heinicke?
I never understood how the guy on the bench still wore the “C”? He worked hard and earned it by being voted the team captain, but was benched due to lack of preparation.
Hey Dwayne give me that “C” for COVID.
Are you saying they should strip him of it?
HA! I see what you did there.
Hey.. Taylor Heinicke was actually the better quarterback on Sunday.
Rivera just should’ve said nothing. This is such obvious BS. Smith’s not 100% and that’s all there is to it.
so the league cares enough to strip teams for violations, but things like this fall on the team? what a joke.
What is it with Washington that they always have to create a drawn out soap opera with players they don’t intend to make a part of the team’s future? First there was Cousins, then the recent drama with Trent Williams and now Haskins.
Dan Snyder.
My question is what city is allowing strip clubs to remain open? Now if you’re going to say “Washington DC”, you don’t have to say anything more.
DC had them open as late as this weekend, but everything is shut down as of today, clubs, indoor and outdoor dining (although who was going to eat outside in 30 degree weather is a mystery to me), bars, heck even some convenience stores are being closed.
Mayor of DC doing her job to the highest level. No one calling her out. Anyone surprised. No outrage.
My question is why didn’t the NFL suspend him? Like they did with the Broncos QBs
Broncos situation wasnt suspensions
C is for continually bad.
Washington being Washington.
DC being DC – a complete sideshow with fools at every turn
Why does Washington get to choose, and with the Broncos a few weeks back they didn’t get to. The NFL suspended them.
Different definitions of close contact.
again, that wasnt a suspension
What was it then? Just forced to put on the reserve covid list?
Close contacts due to contact tracing, so they were put on the Covid list I believe
I don’t remember reading about close contact just that they violated protocol by not wearing masks in a qb room meeting.
Basically that’s what it is. One of them tested positive, and because they weren’t wearing masks, it makes them close contacts, hence the placement on the Covid list
I don’t think Driskel tested positive, I think he was exposed. That’s the difference-Haskins was being irresponsible, and not necessarily proven to have been exposed to anyone. If one of the strippers, for instance, had tested positive, the league would have acted.
I agree though that this has been arbitrarily and messily handled from the get go. As for Haskins, I think he’d be suspended for going to a strip club the night after a loss. Washington is battling for a playoff spot right now, and being in a strip club with the stakes being what they are is hardly a good look.
perfect scenario for Snyder. I have a QB who can play this weekend and get to save money! where do I sign?
I’m surprised Mr. Snyder didn’t suspend him for 1 quarter so
his guarantees are smoke the way Baby H’s career is going.
What happened to Snyder the terrible human being!!??
Oh, wait! It’s Christmas time!
Yeah, that’ll teach him! You wanna really pass him a message he won’t forget, fine him half a year’s salary. Bet you her won’t forget to mask up in the strip joint next time!