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Even 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was surprised Washington claimed Reuben Foster

Frank Schwab
NFL writer

When the San Francisco 49ers cut linebacker Reuben Foster after an arrest for a domestic violence accusation, their coach didn’t figure any other team would claim him.

Yet, the Washington Redskins were fine with it, despite the outcry.

“I was a little surprised,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. “I mean, not the team in particular, but that someone did. But someone did, and I saw it just like you guys did.”

While Shanahan is trying to avoid questioning the Redskins with “not the team in particular,” Washington was reportedly the only team to put a claim on Foster.

Washington has tried putting its spin on claiming Foster, with coach Jay Gruden saying the team knew it would have time to investigate with Foster going on the commissioner exempt list, and that Foster isn’t guaranteed to play for the Redskins. It’s still an odd decision.

Reuben Foster’s accuser will cooperate, lawyer says

Even if Washington isn’t too serious about “getting to the bottom of” what happened, as Gruden said a few times, presumably Foster will be punished heavily by the NFL.

The last time Foster was accused of domestic violence, the alleged victim said she made it all up and charges were dropped. The same woman is the one Foster is accused of abusing at the team hotel in Tampa before the 49ers’ game against the Buccaneers last week. This time she plans to cooperate with authorities, her lawyer told USA Today.

“We are moving forward,” Oakland-based lawyer Adante Pointer told USA Today. “She will participate in the process.”

The process has a long way to play out, but at this point it appears Foster will get a long suspension. That makes Washington claiming him even stranger.

Other 49ers not surprised Foster was claimed

While Shanahan was surprised Foster was claimed, as was most of the NFL world, some of Foster’s ex-teammates on the 49ers were not. Foster was a first-round pick last year.

“I’m super happy for him,” 49ers rookie linebacker Fred Warner told NBC Sports Bay Area. “Obviously, I love Reuben the person. A lot of people talk about him as a player. I’m one of those guys who got to be with him in the room and off the field a lot. I know what he was accused of is very serious. At this point, he’s not here anymore, but I’m happy for him.”

Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was claimed off waivers this week by Washington despite his arrest. (AP)
Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was claimed off waivers this week by Washington despite his arrest. (AP)

49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt said the team set out rules and Foster broke them, which was Foster’s fault, but he too wasn’t surprised to see Foster claimed.

“Not at all,” Tartt said, according to NBC Bay Area. “He’s a great football player. He’s my brother. I love him. Wish him the best. I feel like any person, anybody, deserves a second chance in life if they mess up.”

The NFL still has a long way to go when it comes to addressing domestic violence.

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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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