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Joe Theismann won't decide if Dwayne Haskins can wear 'his' number until after meeting

Dwayne Haskins wore jersey No. 7 while at Ohio State and in high school at Bullis School.

He’d like to wear No. 7 as Washington’s first-round draft pick and potential long-needed franchise quarterback.

Small problem: he might have get former QB Joe Theismann’s blessing first, and Theismann isn’t certain he’s ready to give it.

{Insert eye roll.}

‘I gotta talk to Mr. Theismann first’

Joe Theismann wants to meet with Dwayne Haskins before allowing Haskins to use the No. 7 jersey he wore with Washington. (AP)
Joe Theismann wants to meet with Dwayne Haskins before allowing Haskins to use the No. 7 jersey he wore with Washington. (AP)

On Thursday night, after Washington drafted him 15th overall, Haskins did an interview with NFL Network.

Told that his longtime number was available, Haskins, who was born in New Jersey but moved to Potomac, Md. in ninth grade, showed a good knowledge of franchise history when he noted that there might be an impediment to him getting it immediately.

“I gotta talk to Mr. Theismann first before I get that number. We’ll see,” Haskins said.

Theismann’s No. 7 hasn’t officially been retired by Washington, but no one has worn it in a game since he last did, in 1985.

‘I’m anxious to sit down and talk to Dwayne’

Theismann seems content to let the process drag out and make Haskins kiss the ring before rendering a decision.

(Remember, this is about a jersey number.)

“I’m anxious to sit down and talk to Dwayne about that,” Theismann said on NBC Sports Washington’s “Redskins Talk” podcast on Monday. “I’m not opposed to it. I’m not saying yes yet, but I really want to sit down and talk to the young man and get a chance to meet him. I know he’s reached out and said he wants to ask me, so as early as I can get back into town and be able to set up an opportunity when he gets into town to be able to sit down and talk to him about it. ...

“It’s what’s inside the jersey that makes a big difference. I’ve been very honored to have the Washington Redskins not have it issued to anyone over 30-plus years, and this is the first ‘7′ that we’ve had come along, I think. I really want to sit down and have a visit with him and talk to him about it and then we’ll sort of decide going forward.”

Theismann wore No. 10 in high school, switching to No. 7 at Notre Dame, and kept it through his professional career.

By all accounts, there are no real character concerns when it comes to Haskins, so we’re not sure what exactly Theismann is looking for to give a thumbs-up.

Here’s a thought: why not look at it as an opportunity to restore the number’s glory? Haskins is the best potential No. 7 Washington has had in years; let him wear it. Haskins is being respectful by wanting to meet with Theismann and ask, but it’s still unclear why Theismann even gets a say.

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