Redskins Push Back On Foster Criticism
- The Eagles were the lone NFL team to contact the Tampa Police Department for more details on linebacker Reuben Foster‘s recent domestic violence arrest, according to A.J. Perez of USA Today. Foster’s arrest — his third of the year — led to his immediate release from the 49ers. Most observers didn’t expect Foster to get claimed off waivers given his track record and the seriousness of his most recent episode, but the Redskins did place a claim for the troubled linebacker (and were the only club to do so). Washington has been slammed for taking on Foster, leading team executive Doug Williams to push against the backlash in an interview with Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. “The high risk was the beat-up that we’re going to take from PR,” said Williams. “We understood that from a PR standpoint, and we’re taking it. The most important thing is, we’re hoping that things come out and it wasn’t the way that everything has been perceived. We don’t know that. We have to wait and see.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Chris Jones
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Cyril Grayson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Michael Dunn
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Troymaine Pope
- Released: LB Jonathan Celestin
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: WR Malachi Dupre
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Josh Carraway
Latest On Redskins, Reuben Foster
Redskins decision-makers were split over whether to claim Reuben Foster off waivers from the 49ers this week, according to Les Carpenter and Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post. The biggest proponent of the move was team president Bruce Allen, who “masterminded” the idea. 
Foster was arrested at the Niners’ team hotel on Saturday night, marking the second time this year that he has been accused of getting physical with girlfriend Elissa Ennis. Ennis recanted the first allegation, but she is cooperating with authorities this time around and her attorney says she will “participate in the [legal] process.”
The 2017 first-round pick is undeniably talented, but the Redskins’ decision to add him to the roster has been widely criticized. That may explain why Allen chose to have Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Williams quoted in the team’s press release rather than himself.
“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.”
Shortly after claiming Foster, the Redskins announced that the linebacker will not play until his legal situation is resolved. They won’t have the opportunity to do that anyway – the NFL placed Foster on the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning that he cannot play or practice for the Redskins until the league office gives its blessing.
NFL Places Reuben Foster On Commissioner’s Exempt List
The Redskins’ statement indicated they weren’t planning to play recently acquired linebacker Reuben Foster until his latest legal situation concludes, and now they would not have an option to do so.
The NFL will place the second-year defender on its commissioner’s exempt list, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Foster will now be away from his new team — for on-field matters — while the league reviews his situation.
Foster will not count against the Redskins’ 53-man roster but will be paid. He has $257K in 2018 base salary remaining. Foster cannot practice with the Redskins while on this list, but with Washington’s permission, can attend meetings or rehab sessions.
Redskins running back Adrian Peterson spent most of the 2014 season on this list, as did Greg Hardy, who saw a domestic violence case pave his way out of football.
The 49ers cut Foster after he was arrested for alleged domestic violence, his third arrest of 2018, and the Redskins were the only team to place a waiver claim on him. He would have been eligible to play in Washington’s Week 13 game, although Redskins VP of player personnel Doug Williams said he wouldn’t have suited up, had the NFL not placed him on its exempt list.
This could end Foster’s season. It’s hard to imagine the legal process unfolding swiftly enough that the embattled linebacker will be able to return before Washington’s season concludes. This move will be for the future, but the Redskins are taking a major PR risk for a player who may never play for them. The team, though, took a chance on a talented defender that could be under rookie-contract control through the 2021 season.
Redskins Claim LB Reuben Foster
Reuben Foster will be headed to the Redskins, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The recently arrested linebacker made it to the middle of the waiver claim order before Washington swooped in.
Washington sits at 6-5, meaning at least 17 teams passed on adding the former 49ers linebacker. San Francisco waived its 2017 first-round pick after he was arrested for the third time this year. Washington was the only team to place a claim on Foster, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
This move is obviously controversial, given Foster’s arrest over the weekend. But the second-year ‘backer avoided trouble from his first two arrests — for marijuana possession (and a weapons charge) and alleged domestic violence — earlier this year. The repeat trouble Foster’s encountered, though, gave plenty of teams pause.
The initial domestic violence charge led to the alleged victim admitting to false allegations. The same woman, Elissa Ennis, was the alleged victim in Tampa, Fla., over the weekend, complicating matters for Foster, who faces legal action in Florida and another NFL ban.
The NFL suspended Foster for two games, despite the Alabama alum being cleared twice this offseason, and the league could intervene here. But for now, Foster is eligible to play in the Redskins’ Monday game against the Eagles. That would be an interesting look for the NFL, which has experienced trouble on the domestic violence front in recent years.
A Tampa Police statement indicated the 24-year-old Foster and Ennis have been involved in and on-and-off relationship for the past three years and that “Foster slapped [Ennis’] phone out of her hand, pushed her in the chest area, and slapped her with an open hand on the left side of her face. Officers observed a one-inch scratch on the victim’s left collarbone.”
Washington VP of player personnel Doug Williams addressed the Foster claim. The team does not plan on playing Foster until the legal process plays out.
“The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations against Reuben. If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone,” Williams said. “Let me be clear, Reuben will have to go through numerous steps, including the full legal process, an investigation and potential discipline from the NFL, as well as meetings with counselors associated with the team, before he will ever have the opportunity to wear the Bergundy and Gold as a player.
“That being said, we decided to investigate the situation with Reuben further by claiming his rights and after candid conversations with a number of his ex-Alabama teammates and current Redskins players who were overwhelmingly supportive of us taking this chance.”
Alabama products Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Ryan Anderson and Shaun Dion Hamilton are four of six former Foster-era Crimson Tide performers on the Redskins.
Dealing with a hamstring injury, Foster has not played since October. He suited up for six 49ers games this year, making 29 tackles. As a rookie, he was one of the NFL’s best linebackers but only dropped to No. 31 in the ’17 draft because of a polarizing off-field reputation.
Foster’s talent made the proposition he’d have another opportunity likely, but it happening so soon was a slight surprise. He has two years remaining on his rookie contract, with $257K remaining this season. A fifth-year option exists, meaning Foster could be under team control on this deal through 2021.
He’s also changed representation, with CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reporting (via Twitter) he’s now expected to sign with agent Charlie Fields.
Redskins QB Colt McCoy Could Become Free Agent In 2019
Colt McCoy took over as the Redskins’ starting quarterback after Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury last week, and while the veteran signal-caller is technically under contract through 2019, he’s on pace to become a free agent if he stays under center for the rest of the season. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com explains, McCoy’s deal will void if he plays 30% of Washington’s offensive snaps, an easily attainable figure providing the McCoy stays healthy.
However, if McCoy does exercise his option to become a free agent, the Redskins have the right to buy back the 2019 season while giving McCoy a raise. The details of that raise aren’t exactly clear, but Rapoport says it would be worth anywhere from $750K to $4MM, depending on how McCoy performs for the rest of the year.
Rapoport does pass along one example for reference: if McCoy starts the rest of the season and plays in two playoff games, he’d be entitled to a $2MM buyback, a figure that would be fully guaranteed. So instead of earning a $3.5MM and $2MM guaranteed (which is what his contract currently calls for), McCoy could collect $5.5MM in total and $4MM guaranteed.
Whether the Redskins have interest in using their buyback clause will likely rest on two factors: how well McCoy plays, and their optimism regarding Smith’s health. Per Rapoport, Washington would have been comfortable deploying McCoy as its starter this season had it not been able to acquire Smith from the Chiefs, so the club clearly has confidence in the 32-year-old. As far as Smith goes, the Redskins are optimistic that he’ll be ready for the 2019 campaign, but his recovery timeline is uncertain.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Montay Crockett
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB John Franklin III
Detroit Lions
- Released: DB Horace Richardson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Teo Redding
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Je’Ron Hamm, QB Phillip Walker
- Released: DE Anthony Winbush
New York Giants
- Released: K Marshall Koehn
Oakland Raiders
- Released: CB Arrion Springs
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB James Onwualu
Washington Redskins
- Released: T Jarron Jones
Redskins’ Cassanova McKinzy Suffers Injury
Redskins linebacker Cassanova McKinzy suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Thursday’s loss to the Cowboys, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). McKinzy was out of football for two years due to injury, so it’s undoubtedly frustrating for the 26-year-old. 
[RELATED: Latest On Redskins QB Alex Smith]
McKinzy returned to the Thanksgiving contest after exiting with a shoulder injury, but a torn pec is a far more serious injury. The Redskins will be forced to shut McKinzy down for the year and place him on the injured reserve list this week.
McKinzy, an Auburn product, appeared in three games for the Redskins this year. The club has him under control through next season at a $570K cap number with no guarantees.
Latest On Redskins QB Alex Smith
Quarterback Alex Smith will need 6-8 months to recover from the broken leg he suffered on Sunday, according to head coach Jay Gruden. It’s far from ideal, but the injury is not expected to threaten his career, and that’s good news considering the gruesome nature of the break. 
When Smith went down against the Texans, his broken bone actually punctured his skin, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The 34-year-old will face a lengthy and painful rehab process, but the timeline estimated by doctors would put him in line to suit up for training camp in 2019.
The injury sounds like a career-ender to the layman, but as Dr. David Chao writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune, the bone puncturing the skin merely increases the likelihood for infection. Smith underwent immediate surgery to lessen the chance of that happening, however, and modern medicine should take care of the rest.
Thanks to the four-year contract extension he signed in 2018, Smith is under contract with the Redskins through the 2022 season. The 34-year-old is set to carry a $20.4MM cap number in 2019 and his $16MM base salary will be fully guaranteed by remaining on the roster on the fifth day of the 2019 league year.
Redskins To Sign QB Mark Sanchez
The Redskins have agreed to sign free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Sanchez worked out alongside a number of QBs on Monday and apparently made the strongest impression on team brass. 
Its been roughly a decade since Sanchez entered the league as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 draft and secured a five-year deal worth up to $60MM from the Jets. Lauded as a strong leader and a quality game manager, Sanchez was under center for back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances in his first two NFL seasons.
Since then, however, Sanchez’s career has been in decline. He has not attempted an NFL pass since his 2016 season with the Cowboys and he spent the 2017 season as a benchwarmer for the Bears. This past spring, he was hit with a four-game ban for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Unfortunately, Sanchez’s success in New York is a distant memory and the 32-year-old is remembered more for the infamous buttfumble than anything else at this point.
The Redskins’ quarterback plans were turned upside down this week when starter Alex Smith suffered a broken tibia and fibia. Sanchez will now serve as the one and only backup to Colt McCoy, who just attempted his first throw since 2015.
Sanchez has some ties to the Redskins’ coaching staff and that familiarity likely played a role in the signing. Redskins offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh was the Jets’ quarterbacks coach from 2009-12, offensive line coach Bill Callahan was the Jets’ assistant head coach and offensive line coach from ’08-’11, and Redskins QB coach Kevin O’Connell was teammates with “San-chise” for a bit in New York.
E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, Kellen Clemens, and Josh Johnson also participated in the Redskins’ workout on Monday.