Redskins Draw Ire For Claiming Reuben Foster Off Waivers After Release By 49ers

The Redskins were the only team to make a claim on Foster and the move has prompted outrage from some users on social media given the nature of his arrest.

By claiming Foster, the Redskins are reserving the right to add him to their roster if he is cleared by the league and the criminal justice system.

Redskins President Bruce Allen spearheaded the decision to claim him, while Washington’s front office was far from unanimous about the idea.

The Redskins did not comment beyond releasing a statement from Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Williams that said Washington will conduct its own investigation of Foster and take time to study the allegations.

“The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations made against Reuben,” Williams said in the statement. “If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone.”

It was the third time this year that Foster had been charged with a crime. He was arrested in January in Alabama for marijuana possession; the charges were later dropped because he was considered a first-time offender.

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In April, he was charged with felonies for domestic violence, making criminal threats and assault weapon possession after his girlfriend said he struck her in February. In May, Foster’s girlfriend recanted the allegation, and the domestic violence charge was dropped.

In June, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon and was given two years of probation, a 50-day work sentence and a $235 fine.