Analyzing Adam Schefter and Gil Brandt’s Comments on Dwayne Haskins
I found out this afternoon that former NFL quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, who was competing for the starting quarterback position for the Pittsburgh Steelers along with Mason Rudolph and recently signed Mitch Trubisky, died in a tragic accident after being struck by a vehicle while jogging — some reports say jogging, some say walking — on the highway.
I found out later that former NFL scout and analyst Gil Brandt and sports writer/analyst Adam Schefter were getting backlash, particularly Brandt, for comments — you can find the comments and interview here — they made regarding Haskins. Let’s look it at:
Starting with Schefter, who reported Haskins’ death in a tweet, basically stated how he was a standout at Ohio State but struggled to catch on with the Washington Commanders (then-Redskins) and the Pittsburgh Steelers respectively.
Before I comment on Schefter, there was a tweet by Dez Bryant that caught my attention. Paraphrasing, he basically stated how athletes, I’m sure he meant “Black” athletes specifically, are viewed as nothing more than entertainment. Typically, I don’t agree with the likes of a Dez Bryant, but this is something I’ve been saying for years. “Blacks” are nothing more than a commodity/entertainment to the world, and it’s not just football. You name it: basketball, baseball, wrestling, show business, etc. That’s a subject for another post.
However, while I agree that Schefter throwing in Haskins’ struggles was unnecessary, I think the backlash he got was a bit of an overreaction. People acted as if he made a racial slur or something. He later deleted the tweet with a revised one, but the damage had been done.
Gil Brandt was more vocal than Schefter, stating how “It was always something” with Haskins and “He was a guy that was living to be dead.” His final comment stating that “had he stayed a final year in school, he wouldn’t do silly things like jogging on the highway.” The last two comments are what caught my attention, starting with “He was a guy that was living to be dead.”
The Dwayne Haskins situation aside, the thing is a lot of “Black” men, particularly young “Black” men live their lives this way. Everyday is a roll of the dice starting with the jacked up way they were brought into this world (i.e., a dysfunctional family structure, typically in the form of a single parent household) the lack of proper parenting/home training, to the dangerous lifestyles they choose to live. So, while I understand why people would view the timing of his comment concerning Haskins considering the man just died as inappropriate, I hate to say it, but in general, it’s not far-fetched, either because for most part, this is the fate — at least it seems to be — of most young “Black” men in this society.
Now, the comment about him staying school would’ve prevented him from doing what he did was fucking stupid. What does staying in school an extra year have to do the decision he made? How was that going to help? I think what was more offensive was the bullshit apology. You already made the statement, if that’s your thoughts, stand by it.
I also saw where some people was calling for his Hall of Fame bust to be removed. I understand most of what he said was asinine, but to suggest his Hall of Fame bust should be removed based off comments he made is overkill.
It seems since being in Pittsburgh, Haskins stayed out of trouble, and was actually in line to compete for the starting quarterback position left by recently retired Ben Roethlisberger. Despite his “struggles,” who knows? The dude might’ve got his career back on track and won the starting quarterback job. Things like this reminds me of how short life is. Make the most of it while you’re here; go out and accomplish things (i.e., goals, aspirations, etc.) but also live wisely.
