'The league done messed up': Defining moments of the Haskins era

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.

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.

Sept. 29, 2019: An ugly debut

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.

Feb. 28, 2020: Draft rumors

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

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.

Dec. 27, 2020: Benched again

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.