Cleveland Browns LB Scott Fujita says to appeal a game ban in bounty scandal – NFL News
Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has said he plans to appeal his one-game suspension ruled by the National Football League (NFL), which came after a recent in-person meeting with the league commissioner Roger Goodell.
The linebacker said he was angered to receive a letter from Roger’s office notifying him of the suspension. He went on to accuse NFL’s boss of abusing his powers as a commissioner.
Scott elaborated his view on the issue that safety of a player was a personal matter to him. Although he did not utter in clear terms that it is not a responsibility of the league office, the commissioner was taking it as a liability.
Fujita was a linebacker at the New Orleans Saints when the bounty scandal was being run and according to the league investigation, which brought the illegal reward-for-hit programme to the limelight, he had financially contributed for the fund. The player
has denied the charge throughout.
After suspension of these players earlier, the league boss met each one of them again to give them another opportunity for their defence.
Now the office has reduced their respective bans. Fujita, who as per earlier ruling was to serve three games ban, will now serve only a single-game suspension. This still does not please the player and he has lashed out at the league’s boss soon after hearing
about the latest verdict.
In a statement he said:
"For me, the issue of player health and safety is personal. For the league and the Commissioner, it's about perception and liability.”
He added:
“His positions on player health and safety since a 2009 congressional hearing on concussions have been inconsistent at best. He failed to acknowledge a link between concussions and post-career brain disease, pushed for an 18-game regular season, committed
to a full season of Thursday night games, has continually challenged players' rights to file workers compensation claims for on-the-job injuries. His actions or lack thereof are by the league's own definition, 'conduct detrimental.' "
Fujita has taken the matter of his suspension seriously. He has vowed to defend himself against even a single-game suspension. He said he will not sit idle until he gets his name cleared.
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