SB Nation Cleveland - Scott Fujita suspension: Browns LB has suspension reduced from 3 to 1 game

Scott Fujita suspension: Paul Tagliabue will hear Browns linebacker's appeal

2012-10-19T20:16:38Z

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue to hear the player appeals involved with the Saints bounty scandal that resulted in suspension for four players, including Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Goodell announced Friday.

Tagliabue was appointed after the four suspended players and the players' union requested that he recuse himself as he could not fairly rule. Taglibue was appointed as the NFL Commissioner in 1989 and retired just prior to the beginning of the 2006 season.

Fujita was originally suspended for three games, but that suspension was reduced to just one game. He was a member of the Saints for four seasons before joining the Browns for the 2010 season. He has 598 career tackles and 23.5 career sacks. He was suspended for his involvement in a Saints bounty scandal that featured players allegedly being paid monetary incentives to cause injuries to opponents.

Taglibue is scheduled to hear the appeals on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Scott Fujita injury: Browns linebacker could be finished for season after hurting neck

2012-10-15T23:49:25Z

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has suffered a significant neck injury that could potentially end his lengthy career in the NFL, as ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. The veteran missed Cleveland's win over the Cincinnati Bengals last week with an apparent shoulder injury, but now it appears the problem is actually affecting his neck.

In the Browns' Week 5 loss to the New York Giants, Fujita left the game and never returned, but the initial prognosis wasn't nearly this dire at that time. Subsequent tests seem to have revealed a more substantial problem relating to his neck, though, which has Browns management concerned that he'll be forced to retire.

An 11-year veteran of the NFL, Fujita has also spent time during his career with the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. After being targeting as part of the Saints' bounty program scandal, Fujita was suspended for one game by commissioner Roger Goodell, but he's still awaiting the results of his appeal.

This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.

Scott Fujita suspension: Browns LB rips Roger Goodell

2012-10-10T21:56:21Z

Annoyed by the tone of his personal suspension letter from Roger Goodell, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita shot right back at the league commissioner on Wednesday to Tom Withers of The Associated Press.

"This is an absolute abuse of the power that's been afforded to the Commissioner," Fujita said. '"This seems like an extremely desperate attempt to punish me. I am now purportedly being suspended for failing to confront my former defensive coordinator for his inappropriate use of language."

The veteran linebacker was not found by Goodell to have actively taken part in the New Orleans Saints bounty program during his 2009 season with the team, but was still levied a one-game suspension after Goodell's final review of the situation.

Due to both the tone of the letter and the way he has been treated by Goodell throughout this entire situation, Fujita fully plans to appeal his new suspension and will remain on the field for the time being with the Browns.

Even though it's hard to imagine a quick solution in this case, Fujita readily admits that if things were handled differently on the league's end he would probably not even think twice about appealing.

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita's suspension reduced to 1 game by NFL

2012-10-09T23:46:54Z

After pleading his innocence in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita had his three-game suspension reduced to one game on Tuesday, according to Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald.

Fujita was not found to have contributed to the bounty program in New Orleans while he was a part of the roster in 2009, but was still forced to accept blame for not actively trying to stop things as far as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is concerned.

Goodell, who ultimately deemed a lesser suspension was necessary in this case, was still largely critical of Fujita's actions in a letter informing the linebacker of his final ruling:

"While I have not found that you directly contributed to the bounty pool, there is no serious question that you were aware of the pool and its elements, including that it provided rewards for cartoffs.

I am surprised and disappointed by the fact that you, a former defensive captain and a passionate advocate for player safety, ignored such a program and permitted it to continue. You made clear to me that participation in the program was voluntary and that other players could have refused to participate, as you claim to have done. If you had spoken up, perhaps other players would have refused to participate and the consequences with which we are now dealing could have been avoided."

Fujita will have 72 hours to appeal his new suspension, but clearly has to be somewhat encouraged by Goodell's perceived leniency here. Even though the NFLPA will continue to fight every punishment handed down related to the scandal, only losing Fujita for one game should be viewed as a success for the Browns at this point.

Scott Fujita suspension: Browns LB could meet with Roger Goodell Friday

2012-09-25T17:20:12Z

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and the NFL have apparently been playing phone tag. The two sides were supposed to meet via video conference last week, but the league canceled as they wanted to have the meeting in person. According to Ohio.com, Fujita will "probably" meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday.

The two sides have yet to meet since a panel lifted the suspensions on Fujita and three other players. All three of the others have already met with Goodell, but Fujita has been elusive. According to Fujita, the two sides will work something out "as quickly as possible." It's not often a player and the commissioner can't meet up, and one has to wonder if Fujita is stalling on the off-chance his suspension is re-applied.

Fujita appeared in his second consecutive game with the Browns on Sunday. He didn't get much playing time. The defensive scheme wasn't calling for him and he's been nursing an injury. Officially, he isn't being held back due to injuries at all. Still, the Browns are much better when he's out there and the meeting could lead to Fujita (and the rest of the players) being suspended again.

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Scott Fujita Suspension: Browns LB Unlikely To Meet With NFL Until After Next 2 Games

2012-09-20T13:45:49Z

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita likely won't meet with NFL officials concerning his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal until after the Browns' next two games. Fujita had planned to have a video conference with the NFL on Tuesday, but the league told him on Monday that they'd rather have a face-to-face meeting. With the Browns traveling to Baltimore for a Thursday game with the Ravens next week it is likely that the meeting will take place sometime after that game.

Fujita was initially suspended three games for his role in the bounty program, but an appeals panel recently overturned the suspensions given to the four players in the matter. Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to meet with each of the four players.

Fujita made his season debut in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals and practiced on Wednesday for the first time this season since injuring his knee in a preseason game.

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Scott Fujita's Meeting With Roger Goodell Canceled, According To Report

2012-09-18T16:19:10Z

We'll be uncertain of Scott Fujita's future for a little bit longer, as Jason La Canfora reports via Twitter that the meeting with NFL officials on Tuesday has been canceled. Fujita was never headed to New York, but the two sides have been video conferencing and had one scheduled for Tuesday to discuss pending appeals.

According to La Canfora's follow-up Tweet, the NFL canceled the meeting for one reason or another. There's no reasoning known for certain, but given that it was canceled a full hour prior to the scheduled time of the meeting (1 p.m. ET according to Albert Breer), technical difficulties were likely not an issue.

Fujita is currently rehabbing a knee injury in Cleveland, and played against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, making two tackles. He was eligible to play in Week 1 with the suspension over the Saints' bounty situation temporarily lifted, but he hadn't had any time in practice since injuring that knee in the preseason.

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Scott Fujita Not Named In Gregg Williams Affidavit, According To Report

2012-09-18T13:27:25Z

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita was not named in a signed affidavit former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams provided the NFL on the ongoing bounty scandal, according to a report at CBSsports.com.

According to Jason La Canfora's report at CBSsports.com, many topics were discussed in the lengthy report, and many players' names were stated explicitly throughout the document.

But Fujita, who was initially suspended three games to begin the season, was never mentioned.

Also according to the report, Fujita and other former Saints whose bounty-related suspensions were recently "vacated" are scheduled to meet with league officials Tuesday.

Fujita started Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals and made two tackles. His suspension, along with those of the other implicated players, were lifted for Week 1. But Fujita sat out the Browns' 17-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles while he recovered from a leg injury.

The Browns kick off against the Buffalo Bills at 1 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS.

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