Thomas Davis To Retire After 2020 Season
Thomas Davis‘ 16th NFL season will be his last. The veteran linebacker announced (via Instagram) Washington’s Week 17 game in Philadelphia will be his final regular-season contest.
The former Panthers and Chargers defender signed with Washington in March, reuniting with Ron Rivera. He has operated as a part-time reserve in what is set to be his farewell campaign.
The 2005 first-round pick, however, was a full-time starter from 2006-19 and will be most remembered for overcoming three ACL tears early in his career to form a long-term linebacking partnership with Luke Kuechly in Carolina. Davis also played in Super Bowl 50 despite having suffered a broken arm in the 2015 NFC championship game. He made seven tackles in the Panthers’ loss to the Broncos and played all 60 of his team’s defensive snaps.
This announcement comes two-plus years after Davis’ previous retirement indication. He said the 2018 season in Carolina would be his last, but a four-game suspension that year scuttled those plans. Davis, 37, instead went on to play the 2019 season with the Chargers — starting all 16 Bolts games — and sign with Washington on a one-year, $3.5MM deal.
Davis suffered ACL tears in November 2009, June 2010 and September 2011 — a stretch including just nine games — but returned to start in all but two Carolina contests from 2012-17. During that span, the Rivera-led Panthers rebounded their operation — with Davis and Kuechly playing essential roles — and made four playoff berths. Both Davis and Kuechly were first-team All-Pros in 2015, a 15-1 Panthers season that included 5.5 Davis sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles.
Through 199 regular-season games, the Georgia alum has 1,216 tackles, 29 sacks, 18 forced fumbles and 13 INTs. While Davis has only added six tackles to that total this season, he will wrap his career as a three-time Pro Bowler — from 2015-17 — who helped the Panthers to several playoff appearances in the 2010s.
Dwayne Haskins Goes Unclaimed On Waivers
Despite Dwayne Haskins going off the 2019 draft board at No. 15 overall, he is a free agent barely 18 months later. The second-year quarterback went unclaimed on waivers Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Washington waived Haskins less than 24 hours after starting him in Week 16 against the Panthers. The former one-year Ohio State sensation is no longer attached to his four-year rookie contract.
While Haskins went unclaimed, Washington still owes him the balance of that fully guaranteed rookie deal. In addition to dead money coming from Haskins’ signing bonus, his $1.8MM (2021) and $2.46MM (2022) base salaries will be on Washington’s payroll.
The team took a quarterback in Round 1 for the first time since Robert Griffin III in 2012 — a move influenced by Daniel Snyder and endorsed by then-team president Bruce Allen, but opposed by then-HC Jay Gruden — but Haskins will be seeking to start over already. Poor play and two COVID-19 protocol violations led to his Washington dismissal. The now-Ron Rivera-run team was willing to trade Haskins prior to this year’s deadline and only reinserted him into its starting lineup because of Alex Smith‘s calf injury. Smith’s 2018 injury led to Washington drafting Haskins barely a year after trading for Smith and handing him a four-year extension.
Washington will turn to either Smith or former UDFA Taylor Heinicke in a do-or-die Week 17 game in Philadelphia. Rivera said Smith was close to returning last week, boding well for his prospects to lift Washington to its first playoff berth since 2015.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/29/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad shuffles here, so be sure to check back later for all the new updates:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Trayvon Henderson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DB Josh Hawkins
- Placed on practice squad IR: CB Alexander Myres
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: S Ibraheim Campbell, DT Rob Windsor
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Waived: G Earl Watford
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Christian Kuntz, G John Leglue
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: CB DeMarkus Acy, DT Myles Adams
Washington Football Team
- Released: RB Michael Warren
Washington Notes: Haskins, GM
Dwayne Haskins was cut by Washington yesterday, marking one of the earliest flameouts for a first-round pick in recent NFL history. But while he won’t be taking the field for Washington again, his business with the team isn’t quite settled. As a first-rounder Haskins’ entire four-year rookie contract was guaranteed, and he’s owed around $4.2MM over the next two seasons. As a result of his mask-less partying with strippers that saw him fined $40K and his captain status revoked, Washington may have a claim to void his guarantees, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes.
Florio obtained a copy of Haskins’ rookie contract, and points out that the deal specifically says Haskins’ money can be voided even for conduct that didn’t result in a suspension. “Player shall be deemed in Default of the Contract if Player takes any action that Club determines, in its reasonable discretion, undermines the public’s respect for . . . Player’s teammates, Club’s ownership, coaches, [or] management,” it reads. As Florio notes the NFLPA would surely file a grievance on Haskins’ behalf if Washington does try to fight it, and the battle would then spill into a courtroom where an arbitrator would need to decide. The Ravens are currently locked in a similar fight with Earl Thomas while trying to void his hefty 2020 salary after a fight with a teammate caused them to release him. This saga seems a long way from finished. We should find out soon whether any team claimed Haskins on waivers.
In the meantime, here’s more from the league’s East divisions:
- Staying in Washington for a moment, the team has been operating without a GM this season as new coach Ron Rivera essentially runs the show including the personnel department. Although Rivera will likely retain a large amount of power, that setup will change this offseason. Washington is planning on hiring an official GM after the season, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapsheet notes that 49ers exec Martin Mayhew and recently fired Panthers GM Marty Hurney are expected to be considered and interviewed. He also highlights former Texans GM Rick Smith, who has continuously been linked to the team, and Washington reportedly almost hired him last year. Hurney, of course, has a strong connection to Rivera from their time in Carolina together. Meanwhile current VP of player personnel Kyle Smith, who has been the top evaluator this season, will no longer be in charge of roster construction, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes.
- The Patriots are wrapping up a very disappointing season, and they’ve got some big decisions to make this offseason. One of those decisions is what to do with stud corner J.C. Jackson, who is about to be a restricted free agent. The Pats will likely place a first-round tender on Jackson, former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry tweets. He notes they did the same with fellow corner Malcolm Butler when he became a RFA. Corry also points out that it’s virtually unheard of for a team to give an offer sheet to a player on a first-round tender, which means Jackson will almost certainly be back in New England next year unless they decide to trade him. Of course, any team signing a player on a first-round tender would have to give up their first-round pick. Last year’s first-round tender was worth around $4.6MM for the player, although we don’t have exact figures for 2021 yet.
- Speaking of disappointing AFC East teams, the Jets have rattled off two straight wins, but major changes are still coming this offseason. One of those changes will likely be defensive end Henry Anderson, who signed a three-year, $25.2MM deal with the team in March of 2019. Anderson hasn’t lived up to that contract, playing barely over 40 percent of the defensive snaps through the first two seasons. Apparently he isn’t going to make it through the end of that pact, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes “there’s little chance of him returning” since the Jets can save $8.2MM by releasing him this offseason. A fifth-round pick of the Colts in 2015, he was traded to New York before the 2018 season and had a breakout campaign with seven sacks, inspiring the team to give him the big deal. He had only one last year and just 0.5 this time around.
- Anderson isn’t the only Jets player in danger of being cut, as Cimini writes that starting right tackle George Fant is on “the bubble.” Fant has a $9.4MM cap charge for 2021, which Cimini thinks is steep for what he deems “replacement level” play. Fant has started 13 games for the Jets so far after being a part-time starter for Seattle the previous few seasons. As Cimini notes we’ll know pretty soon what New York is going to do with him, since $4.45MM of his salary becomes guaranteed if he’s still on the roster on March 22nd.
Washington Cuts Dwayne Haskins
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been released, per an announcement from the Washington Football Team. The news comes just hours after Haskins was benched and leapfrogged on the depth chart by Taylor Heinicke. 
“This afternoon I met with Dwayne and informed him that we would be releasing him,” head coach Ron Rivera said in a statement. “I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways. We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.”
Washington had high hopes for Haskins after selecting him in the first round of the 2019 draft. It was a move that the franchise came to regret, and Ron Rivera‘s regime had little reason to keep up appearances. Haskins didn’t inspire confidence in his second pro season and his Week 16 performance put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.
Haskins started on Sunday in place of Alex Smith, completing just 50% of his passes for 154 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also lost a crucial fumble. NFL journeyman Heinicke took his place and looked a whole lot better. If Smith can’t go in the regular season finale, it’ll be Heinicke under center for the WFT.
Per league rules, Haskins will be subject to waivers. If he goes unclaimed in the next 24 hours, he’ll be free to sign with any team. As a first-round pick his initial rookie deal is fully guaranteed, meaning that any team that claims him would be on the hook for $1.8MM in 2021 and $2.46MM in 2022. If he goes unclaimed, it’ll be Washington paying him that money.
With those millions coming his way, it’s probably more likely that any interested teams pass on him on waivers and try to sign him to a cheap non-guaranteed deal instead. It’s a remarkable fall from grace for the former Ohio State star who was the 15th pick in the draft less than two years ago.
There were reports that former coach Jay Gruden’s staff never wanted him, and that he was forced on them by owner Dan Snyder. Obviously, Rivera’s new staff had no connection to the pick, making it easier to cut ties. Due to his college accomplishments and draft pedigree we haven’t heard the last of him, but he also certainly won’t be handed a starting job anywhere after what he’s put on tape the past two years.
He’ll finish his tenure in Washington averaging 6.3 yards per attempt with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 16 games and 13 starts. His best bet to salvage his career may be to try to find a team with an aging veteran quarterback he can sit behind with a coaching staff interested in developing him.
WFT Bumps Dwayne Haskins For Taylor Heinicke
Washington head coach Ron Rivera says Taylor Heinicke will start at quarterback on Sunday against the Eagles if Alex Smith can’t play. That leaves former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins as the QB3 on the depth chart and possibly inactive for the team’s critical Week 17 game.
[RELATED: Latest On Washington’s Ownership Turmoil]
Haskins couldn’t deliver on Sunday when he started in place of Smith. Heinicke — who hadn’t taken an NFL snap since 2018, replaced him in the fourth quarter. Washington went on to lose 20-13, capping Haskins’ day with 14-of-28 throws completed for 154 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Heinicke, meanwhile, went 12-for-19 for 137 passing yards and one TD.
Heinicke has been on the fringes of the NFL since going undrafted out of Old Dominion. After a brief stop in the XFL, he’s supplanted the once-ballyhooed Haskins on WFT’s depth chart. And, if Smith can’t go, he’ll have a chance to lead them to the playoffs.
Washington can clinch the division with a win over the Eagles on Sunday night. A loss would turn the NFC East race over to the winner of the afternoon Cowboys-Giants tilt.
Latest On WFT Ownership Turmoil
Though the Washington Football Team may be able to clinch the NFC East with a win over the Panthers today, the club can never seem to escape drama. In addition to quarterback Dwayne Haskins‘ poor decision-making that made headlines this past week, more developments in the team’s ownership dispute continue to take attention away from the on-field product.
As Ken Belson and Katherine Rosman of the New York Times wrote last month, three minority owners — Frederick Smith, Robert Rothman, and Dwight Schar — are trying to sell their combined 40% ownership stake in the team. According to Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (citing the Washington Post), the potential buyers are Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano, co-founders of California-based private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
The problem is that majority owner Dan Snyder has the right of first refusal when minority owners attempt to sell their shares, and Snyder is reportedly willing to purchase the 25% share owned by Smith and Rothman but not the 15% share owned by Schar. Smith, Rothman, and Schar have filed suit seeking a ruling that Snyder must purchase all of the shares or none of them (as their value is higher collectively than individually).
A few days ago, Will Hobson, Beth Reinhard, and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post published a story revealing that WFT paid a former female employee $1.6MM as part of a confidential settlement in 2009 after the employee accused Snyder of sexual misconduct that allegedly took place on Snyder’s private plane. Snyder believes the timing of the article is not a coincidence, and he has filed his own suit claiming that Schar is engaging in a smear campaign and is attempting to gain leverage in the ownership dispute by leaking information concerning the settlement.
As John Keim of ESPN.com details, the Post story was published several days after a New York Times piece which made clear that two separate investigations in 2009 failed to substantiate the former employee’s claims. Plus, Snyder did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement, and Snyder himself said that the team’s insurance carrier ultimately decided to settle the matter.
Of course, a number of former female employees came forward just this summer with allegations of a longstanding culture of sexual abuse within the organization, and an investigation into those allegations is ongoing. But the last we heard, Snyder himself was not directly involved in any harassment or abuse, so unless there are new developments in that regard, Snyder will not be forced to sell the club.
In the minority owners’ suit against Snyder, the court issued an order “requiring the parties to maintain confidentiality and to refrain from disparaging any of the other parties,” as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. On January 7, the minority owners and Snyder will appear in court to answer questions regarding their potential violations of that order. And according to Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal, the NFL has hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to assist in its investigation into Schar’s alleged smear tactics.
As Florio observes in a separate piece, the league does not approve of the minority owners taking their dispute to court, and it obviously wants to prevent other partial owners from forcing the hand of a majority owner by manipulating the media. But the league will also need to investigate the alleged 2009 incident, and depending on the outcome of that investigation, Schar may end up getting what he wants anyway.
Washington Will Not Suspend Haskins
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.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/20
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on practice squad injured list: WR A.J. Richardson
- Released: DL P.J. Johnson
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Anthony Edwards
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: WR Gary Jennings
Carolina Panthers
- Activated off practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ishmael Hyman
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Spencer Ware
- Activated off practice squad injured list: WR Thomas Ives
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Elijah Benton
Detroit Lions
- Signed: C Jon Toth
- Released: OL Marcus Martin
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Anthony Pittman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: K J.J. Molson
- Released: OL Anthony Fabiano
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Willie Henry, CB Brandon Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Elijah McGuire
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE David Irving
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Dee Virgin
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Marquise Copeland, LB Derrick Moncrief
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Marcus Kemp
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Garrett Griffin, QB Trevor Siemian
New York Giants
- Signed: S Montre Hartage
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Tyler Gaffney
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Josh Johnson, WR Kevin White
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: OL Andrew Jones
Washington Football Team
- Signed: WR Jeff Badet
Washington QB Dwayne Haskins Allegedly Violated COVID-19 Protocols
The Washington Football Team can clinch the NFC East if it beats the Panthers this weekend and if the Giants lose to the Ravens. However, WFT’s quarterback situation is suddenly uncertain.
According to John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter), quarterback Dwayne Haskins — who opened the season as the starting signal-caller before being benched in early October — is seen without a mask at a strip club in photos recently posted to social media. Haskins was allegedly at the club after Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks.
Per Keim, the team was aware of the photos yesterday and was trying to decide how to handle the matter. WFT has elected to deal with it internally, but it has been in contact with the union (Twitter links).
It’s worth noting that the team did fine Haskins for a COVID-19 protocol violation earlier this year, when the second-year pro invited a family friend to the team hotel before a game. And as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets, going to a nightclub without personal protective equipment (read: a mask) is considered high-risk conduct punishable by a fine or up to a four-game suspension.
Pelissero adds that Washington has no plans to release Haskins, but if it suspends him, it could potentially void the remainder of the guarantees in Haskins’ fully-guaranteed rookie deal. The Ohio State product has quickly fallen out of favor with WFT, which was reportedly open to trading him before this year’s deadline. Presumably, Haskins will be a trade candidate again this offseason, and a void of his remaining guarantees would also make him a release candidate.
Alex Smith, who has posted a 4-1 record as Washington’s starting QB this year, missed Sunday’s game against Seattle due to a strained calf. His status for this weekend’s critical matchup with Carolina remains in doubt. If Smith is unavailable, and if Haskins were to be suspended, WFT would turn to Taylor Heinicke or UDFA rookie Steven Montez.
On the year, Haskins is just 1-4 with a 77.7 quarterback rating. In Smith’s absence on Sunday, he completed 38 of 55 passes for 295 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He issued a public apology via Twitter this morning.