Browns' Fujita says Goodell abused power
Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita accused commissioner Roger Goodell of abusing his power in his handling of the New Orleans Saints' bounty case, and also slammed the league's recent record on player safety.
Fujita had his three-game suspension reduced to one on Tuesday by Goodell. In a statement Wednesday, Fujita expressed anger with a letter he received from Goodell about his reduced suspension.
Fujita said in the statement that he's pleased Goodell acknowledged he never participated in the program in which defensive players would be paid for injuring opponents, but told reporters that he didn't like what was in the letter he received from Goodell.
Goodell wrote that he was "surprised and disappointed" that Fujita, "a former defensive captain and a passionate advocate for player safety, ignored such a program and permitted it to continue."
Fujita said he was most troubled by the "condescending tone used in his redetermination letter was neither accurate nor productive."
He continued: "Additionally, I am now purportedly being suspended for failing to confront my former defensive coordinator for his inappropriate use of language. This seems like an extremely desperate attempt to punish me. I also think it sets a dangerous precedent when players can be disciplined for not challenging the behavior of their superiors. This is an absolute abuse of the power that's been afforded to the Commissioner."
