On Friday, 49ers rookie linebacker Reuben Foster was arrested within a few miles of his alma mater, The University of Alabama, for second-degree possession of marijuana. Yet, the unusual details around Foster’s arrest have many in the league, including NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, interested to see what comes next.
“Based on past precedent, he only faces a one-game suspension,” Rapoport said on Murph & Mac Monday morning. “This is actually kind of a weird one. Obviously, in San Francisco he does not get arrested. I’m not sure we’ve dealt with this before as a league where a guy gets arrested in one state for something that’s not illegal in the state where he lives. It might not matter because laws are laws and he still got cited, arrested or whatever it was. But it’s legal where he lives.”
Because of his arrest, Foster will forfeit the $2.5 million of salary guarantees in the final three years of his deal, per a provision in his contact. No news has been released on the punishment Foster will face from the NFL, but Rapoport guesses that he will receive a one-game suspension based on past incidences; such as Ahmad Bradshaw of the Indianapolis Colts, who served a one-game suspension after being cited for the possession of marijuana in 2015.
However, Foster lives and works in California, which is one of eight states that legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use, but was arrested in Alabama, where marijuana is still illegal. These differing laws regarding marijuana give Foster unique leverage should he choose to challenge an impending punishment from the NFL.
“Should be a one-game suspension,” Rapoport said. “But if you’re Reuben Foster you surely can make an argument. If you’re the 49ers, you surely can make an argument too.”
To listen to the full interview check out the podcast below, and skip to 10:46 for Rapoport on Foster.
