San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to the media for the first time since the Washington Redskins claimed linebacker Reuben Foster off waivers. The 49ers, of course, officially released Foster on Monday following his latest arrest over the weekend on suspicion of domestic violence.
It was assumed that NFL teams would steer clear of Foster until the legal process plays out. Shanahan, like most of the media and fans, was surprised to see a team gamble on the troubled linebacker.
"I was a little surprised," Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. "Not at the team in particular but that someone did (claim him)."
Foster was the second draft pick of the Shanahan era and figured to be a prominent defensive player for the foreseeable future. Does losing a player that important to the future success of the franchise and who was liked within the locker room take anything away from the players who remain?
"The team is made up of a bunch of people, so it's got to be a lot of people feeling that way for me to personally feel it," Shanahan responded. "I'm sure it's affecting a few guys like that, but I haven't felt a difference in our team meetings, being around the guys. I know it's tough for the guys, and the guys were disappointed in it, but we'll see how this plays out. But, no, I haven't felt that."