49ers GM John Lynch addresses decision to release Reuben Foster

November 25, 2018

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The San Francisco 49ers supported Reuben Foster after his domestic violence charge was dropped earlier this year, but the team wasted no time releasing the linebacker after he was arrested again on Saturday night. According to general manager John Lynch, the decision was an easy one.

Lynch told reporters on Sunday that San Francisco’s front office was all on the same page with releasing Foster after he was arrested on another domestic violence charge. He described the situation as “extremely disappointing.”

#49ers GM John Lynch said organization was in "lockstep" on decision to release Reuben Foster after domestic-violence arrest.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 25, 2018

John Lynch: "I can tell you it’s extremely disappointing for me. For Kyle. For ownership. For everybody in here because we care a lot about Reuben." #49ers

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 25, 2018

When Foster was arrested back in April, the 49ers said they have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence. Foster was accused of assaulting a woman and leaving her with a ruptured ear drum and a swollen lip, but the woman later recanted her claims and said she sustained the injuries in a fight with another woman. After the felony domestic violence charge against Foster was dropped, Lynch said the 49ers fully believed his story.

The thing that we were confident (in) because one thing since Reuben’s been here — he hasn’t done everything perfect, but he’s always been honest with us,” Lynch said in August, according to Kirk Larrabee of 247 Sports. “So that led us to really believe in the kid, and his story, it never changed. It continued to add up. As other details – and we don’t do an investigation – but as other details came to fruition, it’s just the kid’s telling us the truth.”

Foster’s Saturday arrest took place at the 49ers’ team hotel in Tampa Bay. The victim is reportedly the same woman from the previous incident, and the allegations against Foster are once again quite disturbing.