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Redskins HC Jay Gruden responds candidly to release of Mason Foster

By Russell Shavatt

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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On the eve of the first Washington Redskins training camp practices in the 2019 offseason, head coach Jay Gruden fielded a host of questions from assembled local and national media members covering the team in Richmond.

One question that came up pertained to the recent release of now ex-Washington Redskins linebacker Mason Foster.  Of course the head coach was his usual candid self with his answer.

On the first day, players were to report to training camp for another grueling NFL season, and  Redskins head coach Jay Gruden fielded multiple questions at a press conference with local and national media members covering the team for camp in Richmond, Virginia.  The Redskins head coach, now entering his sixth season, was his usual candid self when asked about his feelings on topics such as CB Josh Norman running with the bulls in Spain, the recovery and availability of RB Derrius Guice in training camp, and of course, the recent release of the now ex-member of the burgundy and gold, Mason Foster.

The Redskins head coach was asked specifically about the timing of Foster’s release, and the forthcoming Gruden stated the following as transcribed by Redskins NFL Nation reporter from ESPN John Keim:

"There’s no real good timing to release a player like that. Good player for us, great player for us. Led the team in tackles. But we feel really good about the youth we have at linebacker. Adding [Jon] Bostic helped out a lot."

light. Related Story. Five questions the Redskins must answer during training camp

The Redskins are now without a player in Mason Foster that recorded131 total tackles in the 2018 season.  The current team is scarcely thin at inside linebacker with Shaun Dion Hamilton, Jon Bostic, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Cole Holcomb, and others with regards to consistent proven production.

However, while Gruden made mention to the questionable timing of the veteran linebacker’s release, it seems to appear the team is confident in their inexperienced inside linebacker corps.  A player like Foster didn’t fit in with a team trying to get younger and cheaper at the position.  The highest-paid ILB (not counting injured LB Reuben Foster ) for the Redskins in terms of cap hit 2019 is Josh Harvey-Clemons at $666,076, per Spotrac.  The contract details of Jon Bostic are not available at this time.

It is widely believed that none of the current inside linebacker’s on the team will singularly match the production of Foster, but collectively they will certainly provide talent as a more cost-effective option, as Foster’s release freed up $4 million in cap space.

Next. Podcast - Analyzing the release of Redskins LB Mason Foster. dark

The candid Gruden and the entire Redskins organization better hope they are right on releasing a player like Foster as the team cannot afford a losing season like the one that got Jay Gruden’s predecessor Mike Shanahan fired at the end of the 2013 season.  In the 2019 season, players must produce for Gruden, or this might be the last season for the longest surviving head coach in the Dan Snyder era.

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