The aftermath of the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins — the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback was killed in South Florida on Saturday after being hit by a vehicle — sparked a surge of emotional response and personal stories. However, it also drew plenty of criticism aimed at one of the most prominent voices in NFL media: ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.
Among those who blasted Schefter for his insensitivity in announcing Haskins’ death on social media was New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers called Schefter “a real nutcase,” referring to a since-deleted tweet from the veteran reporter:
Dwayne Haskins, a standout at Ohio State before struggling to keep up with Washington and Pittsburgh in the NFL, died this morning after being hit by a car in south Florida, according to his agent Cedric Saunders. Haskins would have been 25 on May 3rd.
The tweet about Haskins wasn’t the first time Schefter showed a lack of understanding of the situation. Whether it allowed then-Washington General Manager Bruce Allen to edit stories – even going so far as to call him “Mr. Editor” — or to conclude Deshaun Watson’s innocence after a grand jury declined to bring charges, he has repeatedly failed to meet journalistic or ethical standards.