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The Washington Redskins have a long and storied history that hasn’t really been in existence in my lifetime. Sure, I respect the Joe Theismann’s and Doug Williams’ of the world, but, in the past 25 years, the team hasn’t really done sh*t — well, other than piss people off by refusing to change their team name, but that’s a story for a different day.
Well, the Skins found a new reason to make people upset today after they claimed troubled linebacker Reuben Foster off of waivers from the San Francisco 49ers, a move that caught many fans by surprise given the severity of Foster’s release from the Niners the other day. For those unfamiliar with the situation, Foster was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor domestic violence just three days ago, and has had problems staying out of trouble even before he entered the NFL. That didn’t stop the Niners from taking a chance on him in the 2017 NFL Draft, though, selecting him No. 31 overall.
With the Washington Redskins formally signing Foster, they sent out a statement to justify the addition of the troubled linebacker, tweeting this out to fans.
A statement from the Washington Redskins Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Williams: pic.twitter.com/zdxA8hmWtb
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 27, 2018
While that may have been an attempt to quiet any noise, it may have made things worse, because Twitter let the Washington Redskins have it, completely laying into them for being hypocritical by signing a guy involved in a domestic abuse case, but not even consider bringing in Colin Kaepernick for a look at quarterback. Take a look at some of these reactions from fans.
https://twitter.com/DavidDTSS/status/1067554130384904192
-Claim Reuben Foster after multiple arrests and with a potential pending suspension
-Go with Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez at QB
-Don't sign Colin KaepernickGot it
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 27, 2018
Reuben Foster gets arrested three times this year for abusing women, and he's unemployed for less than 72 hours.
Colin Kaepernick doesn't stand for the National Anthem, and he's blackballed by the @NFL.
I think teams drew the wrong line in the sand.
— Chris Yandle, Ph.D. (@ChrisYandle) November 27, 2018
Yo @Redskins you won’t give Colin Kaepernick a tryout but you’ll claim Reuben Foster?
Where’s the line in the Nation’s Capital?
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) November 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/1067600036182327297
so you mean to tell me, rueben foster gets arrested AGAIN for DV, and finds a job less than 72 hours later? but colin kaepernick can’t even get a backup job? 🤦🏻♂️ @NFL is a joke man
— Kyle Lenkey (@kylenkey) November 28, 2018
Reminder, Redskins won’t pick up Kaepernick because he kneels.
— you merely adopted the X, I WAS BORN INTO IT! (@X15) November 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/Fookoo_/status/1067608433384292352
https://twitter.com/BuddyZ13/status/1067611276954779648
Kaepernick won his case today https://t.co/9vvBiuPEwj
— B17 Bomber (@B17Fortres) November 28, 2018
With the Redskins lacking depth at quarterback after starter Alex Smith’s horrific leg injury a couple of weeks ago, one would think the team would at least consider a guy who has had success in the NFL in Colin Kaepernick. Unfortunately, it seems as if the former Niners signal-caller won’t get that chance, yet a guy like Reuben Foster — baggage and all — gets scooped up within 72 hours of his arrest. The NFL is so messed up.
Kaepernick and the NFL are currently going toe-to-toe in a collusion case with the quarterback believing he’s being blackballed by NFL teams. I won’t say this latest example is the cherry on top that it’s proof, but, I mean…