Redskins claim Reuben Foster off waivers
Linebacker Reuben Foster, whom the San Francisco 49ers cut Sunday after a domestic violence allegation, has been claimed off waivers by the Washington Redskins.
Per source, #Redskins claimed Reuben Foster off waivers….
Interesting.
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) November 27, 2018
Foster was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in advance of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Foster was arrested at about 9 p.m. Saturday and was cut from the team about 12 hours later.
The Redskins responded to the news in a statement from vice president of player personnel Doug Williams shortly after it broke.
“Today we have claimed the rights to LB Reuben Foster,” Williams wrote. “The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations made against Reuben. If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone. Let me be clear, Reuben will have to go through numerous steps including the full legal process, an investigation and potential discipline from the NFL, as well as meetings with counselors associated with the team before he will ever have the opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Gold as a player.”
Williams continued that the team made the decision to claim Foster after speaking with his ex-Alabama teammates and gaining the support of Redskins players “who were overwhelmingly supportive of taking this chance.”
The Redskins have drafted several former Alabama defenders in recent years, including defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne, linebacker Ryan Anderson and linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton, all of whom played with Foster at Alabama.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Foster has been placed on the Commissioner Exempt list as the NFL investigates and that Washington was the only team to make a claim for him.
Foster has had a series of run-ins with the law and the NFL over the past year, serving a two-game suspension to begin this season following a gun charge. He was also accused of domestic violence this past summer, though charges were dropped when his former girlfriend recanted her original statement.
The waiver claim drew instant outrage on social media, with many wondering how Foster has a job when Colin Kaepernick does not.
Reuben Foster gets arrested three times this year for abusing women, and he's unemployed for less than 72 hours.
Colin Kaepernick doesn't stand for the National Anthem, and he's blackballed by the @NFL.
I think teams drew the wrong line in the sand.
— Chris Yandle (@ChrisYandle) November 27, 2018
Washington #Redskins: “We’re putting in a claim on Reuben Foster.”
30 other #NFL teams eligible to claim him: pic.twitter.com/YquJsL3Dgt
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) November 27, 2018
Colin Kaepernick is out of the NFL because our society tolerates violence against black men.
Reuben Foster is in the NFL because our society tolerates violence against women.
— JRehling (@JRehling) November 27, 2018
Reaction to the #Redskins claiming Reuben Foster from the #Vikings Director of Football Administration https://t.co/kc5QYPcBhb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 27, 2018
Washington’s quarterback broke his leg in half and doesn’t even call Kap. Reuben Foster literally got into another DV incident this year this time at the team hotel and they didn’t even hesitate to claim him. Hypocrisy at its finest.
— Zak (@thatbostonguyy) November 28, 2018
Josh Gordon can miss the apex of his career for smoking weed but Reuben Foster gets claimed off waivers immediately after getting arrested for the 3rd time this year for domestic violence. @nfl it’s like y’all have no pulse on what’s right and what’s wrong.
— TJ (@Knauf_Nation) November 28, 2018
Shoutout to the Redskins conducting a thorough investigation by interviewing a bunch of Reuben Foster’s friends and asking them what they think.
— Kenneth Floyd (@Matty_Moooo) November 28, 2018
Others have pointed to a 2015 tweet from the Redskins charitable foundation to point out hypocrisy from the team.
ICYMI @Redskins wives showed their support to help end domestic violence & attended yesterday's event to help victims http://t.co/RrS75ZeioW
— Redskins Community (@RedskinsCR) March 24, 2015
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
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