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TAMPA, Florida – The 49ers' decision to release Reuben Foster has nothing to do with what happened on Saturday night at the team hotel.
Executive Director John Lynch said the organization had clearly defined their expectations of Foster. And the arrest of the linebacker on a probable cause of domestic violence clearly violated these standards.
"We have set very specific ground rules for Reuben, as for all of our players," Lynch told Bay Area reporters one hour before the start of the 49ers' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"We had a set of standards in place that the players were involved in the development. In this case, he was communicated with exceptional clarity and to the point of what was expected of him. Unfortunately, what happened yesterday was not a comment on what happened there, because it would be speculation on our part. Rather, it is a comment that he does not respect what we have communicated, his energy and the time we have invested for him. "
[[[[Maiocco: Foster's release is quick but justified]Foster, 24, had previously been charged with domestic violence following an incident in February in Los Gatos. The accuser in this case, Elissa Ennis, aged 28, later retracted her story under oath and admitted to lying to the investigators.
Foster had another girlfriend, according to several sources. But Ennis visited him Saturday at the hotel 's team, where the incident occurred. Ennis told the Tampa police that Foster had slapped his phone from his hand, pushed it into the chest area and slapped it with an open hand on the left side of his face. .
Lynch refused to answer the specifics of the instructions that the 49er put in place for Foster to stay in good standing with the team.
"Unfortunately, in life, your actions have consequences," said Lynch. "And when you show bad judgment, especially after something has been communicated very clearly to expectations, there are consequences.
"And I think one of the lessons I've learned from playing in this league for almost 30 years now is that no one is bigger than the team. And that's ultimately what this decision was for us. "
[[[[RATTO: Talent strategy / tolerance failed 49ers]Lynch said the incident had occurred in an area of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay unsupervised by the security personnel of the team. As a general rule, the 49ers occupy the two floors of a hotel for their rooms and meeting spaces.
"It was not in our floors, I can say unequivocally," Lynch said about the location of the incident.
Lynch said he met his coach Kyle Shanahan on Saturday night. They met the club owners and the decision to release Foster was accepted as an organization.
Foster was a first-round pick among the 49ers in 2017, and he was considered a character risk coming out of Alabama. Lynch stated that he did not regret choosing Foster with General Selection # 31. He said that he will use it as a learning experience.
"In the end, we must own it, and I must, too," said Lynch. "But I especially think it's a disappointment.
"One of our principles is: protect the team. He did not protect the team. As I said, no one is bigger than the team. As a talent of a player that he was, as many positive steps as he did, we thought it was the best decision to make. "
Lynch said that members of the organization still had a lot of love and support for Foster, who, according to Lynch, had shown signs of turning life around and was becoming a reliable professional. Foster remained in jail as the 49ers' game approached and Lynch said he was eager to talk with the linebacker.
"Unfortunately, yesterday showed an extremely poor judgment," said Lynch. "And for that we made this decision."
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