Foster’s arrest could cost him

If nothing else, Reuben Foster’s arrest for marijuana possession Friday night probably cost him some security.

The 49ers’ inside linebacker arrived in the NFL with off-the-field concerns that prompted his new employer to place at least one notable provision in his contract: He will forfeit his $2.5 million of salary guarantees in the final three years of his deal (2018-2020) if he is fined under the league’s drug policies, CBS Sports’ Joel

Corry reported.

Foster was arrested in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for second-degree possession, which is a Class A misdemeanor in the state. Last year, at the NFL combine, he failed a drug test for submitting a diluted sample.

A player’s standing in the league’s drug program is confidential, but a player generally is placed into Stage 2 of the program if he enters via a positive test. A first violation for marijuana in Stage 2 results in a fine of two game checks.

Foster’s arrest followed a rookie season in which he showed why the 49ers say they rated him the draft’s third-best prospect before trading up three spots to select him with the No. 31 overall pick.

Foster, the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for November, ranked second on the team in tackles (72) despite missing five games with a high ankle sprain, another with back spasms and frequently suffering shoulder stingers during games.

However, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Foster’s shoulder issues were not connected to the pre-draft surgery he had for a torn rotator cuff. The injury, along with off-the-field issues, was why Foster, viewed as a top-10 talent, nearly tumbled out of the first round. The MMQB.com reported that a team with a top-15 pick didn’t have Foster on its draft board because of his “immaturity” and “issues with life skills.”

Foster was kicked out of the NFL combine in early March after an altercation with a hospital employee. About two months later, his draft party was sponsored by a marijuana and tobacco-vaporizer company.

The 49ers hosted Foster for a pre-draft visit and later sent team pastor Earl Smith and Keena Turner, a former linebacker involved in their player-engagement department, to visit with Foster in Tuscaloosa for two days.

General manager John Lynch repeatedly has said the 49ers were drawn to Foster’s enthusiasm and passion for football. The 49ers also have said they have surrounded him with a strong support system that includes two former NFL linebackers on their coaching staff, Johnny Holland and DeMeco Ryans, the latter of whom also attended Alabama. Last week, the 49ers hired Ken Norton Jr., who is known for his close relationship with players, to serve as their inside linebackers coach.

Foster had no known off-thefield incidents during his rookie season.

On Oct. 16, hours after the 49ers returned from a loss at Washington, Foster and sincereleased teammate Ray-Ray Armstrong had guns pointed at them in attempted robbery as they left a San Francisco nightclub around 2 a.m. Foster and Armstrong were able to run to safety.