Lots of blame in Haskins' fiasco

FROM WHERE I’M SITTING

Those inside the Washington Football Team have had a field day gleefully leaking information – anonymously, of course – about the reasons Dwayne Haskins is no longer the starting quarterback.

They rip Haskins’ attitude and work habits. They say he lacks motivation, that he’s always had everything handed to him. They grouse that he doesn’t show up as early as veteran Alex Smith. They are angry and bewildered that he gloated about his stats (300-plus yards, one rushing touchdown) after a two-touchdown loss to Baltimore on October 4. They claim coach Ron Rivera has talked to him until he’s blue in the face.

Perhaps all of that is the unvarnished, god’s-honest truth. And all of that is on Haskins.

But let’s be clear: There’s plenty of blame to go around for this fiasco.

Draft picks, especially first-round choices, are investments. There’s an obligation, or should be, for the drafting team to do all it can to develop that investment, not toss it aside like some fast-food wrapper. Haskins has been jettisoned after a mere 11 starts and 350 pass attempts. Mind you, that’s not 11 starts for Rivera. That’s 11 starts for three different coaches in three different systems in a little more than one season.