Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Shanahan Defends 49ers’ Handling of Troubled LB Foster
By admin
Published 6 years ago on
November 27, 2018

Share

Mug shot of Reuben Foster
(Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

SANTA CLARA — A day after the San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Reuben Foster following a domestic violence arrest, coach Kyle Shanahan said he and the team were unaware of a prior altercation in October between Foster and the same alleged victim.

Foster was arrested Saturday night for an incident at the team hotel in Tampa, the latest in a string of legal issues involving the linebacker. The 49ers cut Foster on Sunday morning before their game against the Buccaneers.

Reports emerged later Sunday that police had been called on Oct. 12 for another incident between Foster and the woman in Santa Clara.

The 49ers claimed they had a zero-tolerance policy this season with Foster, who also was arrested on a domestic violence charge last spring involving the woman. The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of alleged domestic violence.

“Absolutely not,” Shanahan said Monday when asked if he knew about the October incident. “The first time I heard about it, somebody told us about it when we landed (Sunday night) after it was written in the paper. Everyone in our building was the same on that.”

Defending the Team’s Decision to Release Foster

Shanahan spent the majority of his news conference Monday defending the team’s decision to release Foster, the way the team handled Foster during his tenure — and the decision to draft the troubled player in the first place.

“There were things that we believed we could help him with,” Shanahan said. “We worked on him since he’s been here. … We thought he would improve and we were gonna do everything we could to help him. And Reuben did improve in some things.

“But for that to come up … and what happened Saturday with the same (person) at a team hotel, it’s just hard to comprehend how you could put yourself in that situation again.”

There were red flags surrounding Foster leading up to the 2017 draft, including failing a drug test at the combine.

Gun Charge and Marijuana Possession

Though domestic violence charges were dropped against him last spring, Foster served a two-game suspension to begin this season for his arrest on a gun charge and for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

“There’s not many things in this world more wrong than domestic violence and things like that.” — coach Kyle Shanahan

Shanahan said the 49ers had someone checking in on Foster often, doing everything the team could do short of having someone live with him.

“I do believe in his heart,” the coach said. “I hope I’m not wrong on that. Shame on me if I am. But I also know he’s shown that we couldn’t trust his decision-making. … There’s not many things in this world more wrong than domestic violence and things like that.”

Shanahan said he twice tried calling Foster on Monday but only got his voicemail.

There Weren’t Many Football-Related Questions

“Hopefully this is rock bottom for him,” Shanahan said, “and he can fix himself in all those ways and still find a way to go have success in his life, or hopefully with another team someday.”

“Hopefully this is rock bottom for him, and he can fix himself in all those ways and still find a way to go have success in his life, or hopefully with another team someday.” — coach Kyle Shanahan

There weren’t many football-related questions for Shanahan on Monday, but he did say Nick Mullens would remain San Francisco’s starting quarterback this Sunday at Seattle despite a shaky effort in a 27-9 loss at Tampa Bay.

“I know I said Nick didn’t play very well, but no one played well and I didn’t coach well,” Shanahan said. “So it was all of us. Nick did a good job in his first two games. He was not the reason that happened yesterday, so it would be unfair to (replace him).”

NOTES: Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt is day-to-day with a stinger in the same shoulder that’s given him problems recently. . Safety D.J. Reed is expected to miss Sunday’s game with a foot strain and chest contusion. … Receiver Pierre Garcon (knee) will be evaluated Wednesday.

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Seahawks Aim to Reignite Ground Game Against Rams After Recent Struggles

UP NEXT

Where Have the Top Transfers in College Basketball Landed?

UP NEXT

49ers Seek to Shake off the Super Bowl Hangover in the Second Half of the Season

UP NEXT

Dodgers Celebrate World Series Win, Look to Repeat With Ohtani’s Return to Pitching in 2025

UP NEXT

Bulldogs’ DB Cam Lockridge Is Ballin’ Out, Has Sights Set On NFL

UP NEXT

Rams Brace for Reunion With Former Star LB Ernest Jones as Seahawks Matchup Looms

UP NEXT

Cavaliers Blow Out Lakers as Bronny James Scores First NBA Points

UP NEXT

Yankees Star Shines and Stumbles in World Series Loss

UP NEXT

World Series: Freddie Freeman Wins MVP Award After Tying Record With 12 RBIs

UP NEXT

Los Angeles Sees Bus Burned, Store Thefts and Rowdy Crowds After Dodgers Win World Series

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

10 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

11 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

22 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

23 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

23 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

23 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

24 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

24 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

24 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

1 day ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

9 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

9 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

10 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

11 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

22 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

23 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

23 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend