Redskins players and fans seem to be fed up with each other
The Washington Redskins’ season is spinning out of control, and as one would imagine, tensions are high.
Linebacker Mason Foster was named one of the team’s three captains before the season. But when a private Instagram conversation was made public, he didn’t have very nice things to say. Here are Foster’s alleged comments, via Les Carpenter of the Washington Post:
“[Expletive] this team and this fan base.”
“I’m not [expletive)]wit it or being a scape goat to make fans feel better about all these big money ppl who ain’t playin or getting dogged out.”
“Yeah I’ll try my chances and go to a winning team next year.”
(UPDATE: Foster apologized through a team spokesman for “inappropriate language and derogatory remarks,” and said his cousin posted the remarks. Foster said his cousin was using the Instagram account to promote a charity initiative, the Washington Post said.)
That’s generally the type of comment that draws a finger wag from the head coach and players gently distance themselves from it.
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But a funny thing happened in this instance. The Redskins players said they understood where he was coming from.
Redskins players frustrated with social media criticism
Carpenter’s story talked about players’ frustration over being ripped on social media. That’s part of the reason why none of the players quoted in his piece had anything bad to say about Foster. Some, like coach Jay Gruden, were more upset that his private conversation was made public.
Players are going to get negative comments on social media, especially in the middle of a losing streak. It doesn’t make it right, and at some point you’re going to have enough.
“You have a lot of people saying a lot of negative things about you, saying ‘you suck at your job’ and things like that, and they don’t understand how much work we really put in to go out there and try to perform your best,” Redskins running back Chris Thompson said, according to the Post. “You’re talking about somebody’s livelihood and things like that. How would you feel if somebody told you you’re bad at whatever it is you do and that ‘you suck.’ At some point you’re going to get upset. And I think he kind of got fed up.”
Not the first time a Redskins player has criticized fans
Cornerback Josh Norman took a shot at Redskins fans earlier this season, saying he wouldn’t mind playing all games on the road. Safety D.J. Swearinger agreed, saying on the road you don’t have to worry about fans booing you.
Needless to say, things aren’t going too well in Washington these days.
The Redskins were in the mix for an NFC East title, and then injuries hit hard, including to quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colt McCoy. Last week they trailed the New York Giants 40-0 at one point, as fans started walking out. Washington had attendance issues long before the injuries and losses started piling up.
You won’t see too many instances where a team’s fans and players are battling against each other. It’s not a fun time to be a Redskins fan, or a Redskins player either, it seems.
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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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