LISTEN: Why all positions (Except QB) Should Be In Play In The Draft →
placeholder image

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports


49ers’ GM John Lynch breaks silence on Reuben Foster situation

Feb 28, 2018 at 10:51 AM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
"With this, we've been a little quiet," San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Wednesday. "And that's for a reason. There's places I can't and won't go."

It was the first time the 49ers have spoken publicly about star linebacker Reuben Foster's second arrest of the offseason. On February 11, he was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence, threats, and possession of an assault weapon. Just a month earlier, Foster was arrested and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana in Alabama.

The 49ers continue to actively follow protocols with both law enforcement and the NFL, according to Lynch.

Foster's troubles put the 49ers into a troublesome spot. Under the NFL's domestic violence policy, players are subject to a baseline suspension of six games without pay following the first incident and a lifetime ban from the league for a second infraction. The 49ers may have to plan on Foster not being available for a significant portion of the 2018 season.

"That would be something that we have to take into account, whether it be in free agency or not, whether it be re-signing our own guys or whether it be in the draft," Lynch said.

RELATED In a year of success, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's biggest mistake

Last offseason, the 49ers acted swiftly by releasing starting cornerback Tramaine Brock when he was arrested in Santa Clara on a domestic violence charge. Brock had his charges dismissed four months later. Lynch addressed the two situations.

"Listen, I know there's a lot of conjecture as to, 'Well, of course Brock wasn't the player that Reuben is,'" Lynch said. "I would counter to say that he was a starting cornerback for us. We didn't take that lightly. I think anybody who watched us play -- I don't want to say a weakness -- but an area of concern for us was the cornerback position. And that had a large part to do with it. It wasn't something we took lightly. It was the decision that we felt was best for everyone involved."

Foster met with Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan the day after his latest arrest. Not much has been revealed about what was discussed during that conversation.

"The context, in a broad sense, of what we discussed with Reuben, is just our expectations for him and our expectations for all of our players," Lynch said. "We have a high standard. I think we made that very clear. We remain in communication, but a lot of that's gonna remain private between us because of a lot of things such as the ongoing legal matter and protocols that are in place."

(Thanks to Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group for the quotes)

Related News





Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

49ers GM John Lynch attends Michigan Pro Day

By David Bonilla
Mar 22

As expected, Michigan's Pro Day has a significant NFL presence. The event features 18 draft-eligible players from the national champion's roster. Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy reports that San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is among those in attendance. Lynch is one of nine general managers on hand to evaluate the draft hopefuls. PRO-DAY UPDATE: Only fitting that national champs @UMichFootball, with record 18 Combine invitees, have biggest NFL turnout for pro-day.Here's list of NFL attendees who'll


placeholder image

49ers actively negotiating with Brandon Aiyuk, not discussing trades, says John Lynch

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

General manager John Lynch addressed reporters at the NFL owners meetings on Monday, emphasizing the San Francisco 49ers' active pursuit of a contract extension for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. There has been significant speculation surrounding Aiyuk's status this offseason. The receiver is slated to play on his fifth-year option, which guarantees him $14.124 million in 2024. While the team would be content with Aiyuk playing on that fifth-year option, it would prefer to secure the star receiver to a long-term deal before he returns to the field. RELATED: Brandon Aiyuk reacts to John Lynch's latest contract negotiation


placeholder image

John Lynch explains 49ers' draft penalty

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

A week ago, the NFL penalized the San Francisco 49ers for payroll accounting errors. As punishment, the team forfeited a 2025 fifth-round draft pick and had its fourth-round pick in next month's draft moved to the end of the round. On Monday, general manager John Lynch addressed reporters at the NFL owners meetings and explained the punishment more thoroughly. "I have a difference of opinion on the severity of the discipline. We take accountability for what happened," Lynch said. He revealed that the 49ers overpaid an unspecified player $75,000 during the COVID era, labeling the mistake as a "clerical error" after implementing a new system. "We own


placeholder image

John Lynch explains 49ers' free-agency moves

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch addressed reporters on Monday at the NFL owners meetings, shedding light on the team's recent free-agency moves. The most notable move was signing pass rusher Leonard Floyd to a two-year contract. The 49ers also secured defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos on a two-year deal. Lynch explained the rationale behind opting for multi-year contracts, highlighting the desire for stability on the defensive line. "We did some two-year deals on the D-line, so we don't have to do this every year. It gets hard," Lynch remarked with a smile. Lynch delved into the specifics of each signing, starting with Floyd, emphasizing the player's consistency and high level of competitiveness. DE Leonard


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone