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Return stories come in all shapes and sizes.
The most prolific return is that of an injury. Alex Smith is familiar with this form, having won the most incredible comeback in NFL history, and is the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year nominee.
Another type of comeback isn’t the type so easily discussed or illustrated: a player who has struggled both on and off the field with the rigors of the NFL, turning his career around after calling him very prematurely.
Smith’s former teammate Dwayne Haskins plays a player trying to make that kind of comeback.
Smith, 36, who has mentored people like Colin Kaepernick and Patrick Mahomes, said in a recent interview with Charles Robinson and Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports that Haskins can turn the tide if he can cut out the outside noise limiting his capacity in the field.
“The first thing I hope with Dwayne – and I told him – is that you don’t stand a chance until you eliminate a lot of the distractions in your life,” Smith said, via NBC Sports. Washington. “It’s tough as a young player, as a young draft pick, certainly as a quarterback with a lot of weight and expectations.”
Haskins was a high-profile first-round pick from Ohio state. It lasted less than two years in Washington before Ron Rivera and his team saw enough. The football team cut the QB after just 13 career starts. Not only has Haskins struggled on the ground, but he has also been criticized for his poor preparation and violation of the COVID-19 protocol in 2020.
As Smith noted, the talent is there for Haskins to change his career.
“Certainly there was a lot of work against him the last couple of years that didn’t allow him to reach his potential. He’s a guy who is crazy gifted. Crazy talented. And, he’s a good kid,” Smith said.
After being cut by Washington before the end of the season, Haskins sparked the interest of the Carolina Panthers and this week signed a reserve / futures contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The immediate interest in Haskins underscores the talent he brings to the table.
Getting another shot at Pittsburgh, a franchise as stable as it is in the NFL, might bring out the best in Haskins.
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