TAMPA, Fla. -- Richard Sherman had been a mentor to Reuben Foster since he signed with the 49ers in March.
The veteran cornerback attended one of Foster's court proceedings involving a domestic violence charge that was dropped during the offseason. The team even placed Sherman’s locker right next to Foster's to make their access to each other effortless.
But Sherman was somber Sunday when talking about Foster, who is being released by the 49ers. Foster was arrested at the team hotel on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge the night before the 49ers' 27-9 loss to the Buccaneers.
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“Disappointed,” Sherman said after the game. “I think everybody is. He’s a great kid.
"It’s unfortunate that this situation keeps coming up. I’m so sorry to hear that happened, you just hate to see it. You wish the best for the kid.”
[RELATED: 49ers' decision to release Foster was swift and justified]
49ers general manager John Lynch told the local media prior to the game that he believed Foster most recently had been on the right path.
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Sherman agreed, he said, "100 percent."
"When you grow in the circumstances that he grew up, you don’t have parents, you move from home to home, you just make the best of what you got, and that’s what he tried to do,” he said.
Sherman also understood the swiftness of the organization’s actions as a result of Foster’s arrest.
“It’s what they had to do,” Sherman said. “I think the organization has handled the situation as best they could. Obviously been patient and deliberate and understanding of who Reuben is and what kind of heart he has.
“But it’s a really compromising situation for the team, repeatedly. So, you understand the decision the organization has to make, after repeated offenses.”
While Sherman was willing to freely speak about Foster’s situation, veteran offensive tackle Joe Staley was less than pleased to discuss it.
“Yeah, it’s never right,” Staley said. “Anytime you’re booked for domestic violence. Innocent until proven guilty, but this is his second situation. I don’t know the details, so I don’t know what’s going on.
“Yeah, Reuben’s a great guy. He’s made some bad decisions. I’ve always had good interactions with Reuben. It just pisses me off that we are sitting here talking about this after a game. I wish we could talk about football. That’s my thoughts.”
[RELATED: Shanahan explains the 49ers' decision to release Foster]
Sherman spoke about the effect of Foster’s situation on the 49ers' performance.
“You never want to make excuses like that,” Sherman said. “They played a good game. Jameis [Winston] played a good game. We didn’t play well enough to win. That is what it is.
“You’re not happy about it. You’re not happy to lose a teammate. You’re not happy to lose a good guy. You’re not happy to hear the news that you heard.”
Sherman added that he'll remain available to Foster should the linebacker need or want guidance or support.
“100 percent,” Sherman said. “I will continue to reach out and do what I can as a friend, but at the end of the day, he’s a grown man, and he’s going to have to grow and learn from this.”