The Washington Redskins released veteran linebacker Mason Foster ahead of training camp, the team announced on its Twitter account Tuesday.
Foster, 30, is coming off a season in which he made a career-high 131 tackles and intercepted two passes while starting all 16 games.
Foster seemed to be in line for a starting role again, especially after the Redskins lost Reuben Foster to a torn ACL in spring camp, but the release signals that the team is comfortable with second-year pro Shaun Dion Hamilton and Jon Bostic (signed after Reuben Foster’s injury) as the starting inside linebackers.
The Redskins will save $4 million in salary-cap space, according to reports, by releasing Mason Foster.
Foster’s agent, Blake Baratz, was irate with the timing of the transaction.
“If you ever want to doubt that there is zero good faith in the NFL business, look no further (than) the Redskins cutting Mason Foster today, the day he was heading to report for camp,” Baratz wrote on Twitter. “Nine-year veteran, captain of the defense, played 99 percent of the snaps last season and cannot even get a straight answer as to why.
“Keep in mind the team has been off for 5 weeks and he was the starting (middle linebacker) the entire off season. I operate in good faith as a human being and as a business, I expect more from the NFL and certain organizations in particular, we can be better.”
Foster, Tampa Bay’s third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, spent his first four seasons with the Buccaneers before signing with the Redskins in late September 2015. He has 661 career tackles, with 41 for loss and 8.5 sacks, in 107 games (92 starts).
